Vétérinaires Sans Frontières thinks it's important that everyone can get the chance to help out, that is why we contacted different businesses from all over the world, to ask them if they offer any internships.
Ben je geïnteresseerd om op stage te gaan of om vrijwilligerswerk te doen, kijk dan vooral in ons handboek!
There are of course more options available on the internet, so we encourage you to also look for internships yourself! Just keep in mind that there are also a lot of untrustworthy businesses on the internet, especially when you want to work with exotic animals. We tried our best to approach businesses who we think have animal welfare as #1 priority. So, no walk with the animals, no physical contact and limited financial contribution. Do you have a business in mind, but also some doubts?
Don't hesitate to contact us, we think it's important that you put effort in a business that you support 100%.
Be critical with businesses you find online and make sure research well.
We invite everyone to have a conversation with us about different internship possibilities. Are you interested in one or more businesses on our website, do you have questions about why something is or isn't recommended, want to know how you can find trustworthy organizations or do you have tips? Contact us via student@dierenartsenzondergrenzen.nl
Note: We offer no guaranties that the internships will be exactly like they are described down below. A program depends on the season, the present veterinarians and on yourself! We are only the mediator, you can always ask us questions, but we are not responsible for how the trips turns out.
For more information about the negative effects of wildlife tourism, go to:
In collaboration with Stichting Dierennood, every year students of veterinary medicine go on internships where they will learn about castration in different parts of the world to help animals and improve on their skills. Students can contact Stichting Dierennood through the http://vsf-international.org/ to negotiate with different clinics who offer castration-internships.
After securing an internship students can get materials like sterile gloves, needles and sewing supplies from VSF-Student.
There is an opportunity for every (work)internship to pass the night as cheap as possible. Most of the time the accommodation will be provided by the veterinary clinic of the internship. This will sometimes be a house or apartment. But sometimes also a guestroom or a nearby hostel or pension. More information about prizes you can find on the website.
Almost all the animal shelters are located nearby an international airport, which means that there are usually a lot of budget flight connections.
A lot of the internships are only for 6th year students/graduates, and the minimal duration of stay is for most locations 2 weeks. It is not always possible to castrate yourself, this depends on the clinic and your experience.
For negotiation there is a contribution of 39 euros p.p. exclusive of VAT.
In the Amazon Jungle of Peru there is a fantastic rescue center that shelters and rehabilitates wild animals and protects the rainforest. Their goal is to work closely with the local communities. The animals that get protected in the center come from the wild, but there are also animals which have been confiscated from trafficking or private ownership.
As a volunteer, you will help with maintaining and building the enclosures, and with medical and daily care. There are also some different projects like planting the rainforest. But taking care of the animals, and their health, is the number one priority.
The living arrangements are quite primitive because of the lack of electricity and hot water. There is a limited source of sun energy for charging phones and laptops. It's a 1-hour drive to the nearest internet café where you can Skype and make calls.
The minimal duration of stay is 8 weeks, as a volunteer you pay around 95 euros for housing and food each week. This money goes directly to the center for maintenance and food for the animals.
If you would like to do a research internship, this is also possible. Then you will pay around 110 euros each week.
For more information, open the link for a comprehensive overview of work activities and the housing accommodation. Or visit http://vsf-international.org/.
Amazoonicorescue is a Wildlife Rescue Centre where wild animals who got illegally got trafficked, get rehabilitated to be put back in nature. There are also activities that get organized for educational purposes.
There is a veterinary program, a caretaker program and a biology volunteering program. As a volunteer for the veterinary program you will help take care of the animals, make enrichment and do maintenance around the centre, tours about conservation, assist the veterinarian, help with checkups and take care of animals who have special needs.
For housing and meals, the costs are €260,- monthly. Most of the time you will get your own room, but sometimes this can be a shared one.
You will work 5 days a week from 7:00 to 16:00, for a minimum of 4 weeks.
Elephant Nature Park is a project in Chiang Mai, Thailand and Elephant sanctuary, Cambodia. These are sanctuaries and shelters for elephants. There are other animals that also get help here like dogs and buffaloes and many more animals. The centers are also busy with reforestation, cultural preservation, and education.
There are multiple programs in Thailand and the surrounding area, of which one is a veterinary program. All the programs cost around 350 euros and last for 1 week. Of course, you can participate in multiple programs. You will get a clean accommodation and 3 meals every day.
You take care of the elephants in the elephant program. Reforestation and creating a safe habitat can also be part of your work activities.
With the medical program, you will assist the veterinarian in any way possible. You will also help in the clinic.
The organization also plans fun days out with the elephant. However, the elephants will not be ridden and sometimes there can't be a walk with them or bath time. In this program, you will have to help with feeding the animals.
Always stay critical of organizations that offer work with wild animals!
Heaven’s Wildlife Rescue Rehabilatition & Education centre – Canada
Heaven’s Wildlife Rescue (HWR) is a non-profit organization that rehabilitates injured and orphaned wildlife in their area. Sadly, wildlife gets hit by traffic or moved without checking if the animals have babies often in Canada. These young animals can't survive without their mothers. This is why the work HWR does is so important. They rescue injured or orphaned animals, give them the proper care and release them back in nature when they are healthy again.
As a volunteer, you will work a lot with the animals themselves. From feeding the animals with a bottle to cleaning the enclosures, there is always work. Because HWR is run by one woman, there are also lots of activities around the centre like cleaning and building new enclosures.
Next to the rehabilitation program, HWR also educates people from around the area. Thy give lectures and presentations at schools and libraries to show them that wildlife are not pests.
You will stay with the other volunteers in a room with 6 bunk beds. There are good
facilities and Wi-Fi. The housing itself is free! However, you still have to pay the plane trip and weekly groceries yourself. The minimal duration of stay is 6 weeks.
Don't hesitate and send us a message if you want more information! People who have been at the internship before you will happily tell you about their experiences!
Internship / volunteering at Travelling Animal Doctors
TAD stands for Travelling Animal Doctors and its purpose is to improve animal welfare, of both wild and domesticated animals, by organizing and facilitating veterinary projects. Currently, there are no projects.
The projects that Travelling Animal Doctors Foundation is focused on:
Madagascar. This project ran from June 5 to July 2. The cost was €460 per student for 2 weeks. Each additional week costs €230. In 2019 more than 500 animals were castrated and they will be happy to achieve that again this year. TAD was charity of our Run4Rabies 2019.
Bonaire. The project in Bonaire, called "Flamingo Island Veterinary Center," also provided castrations for dogs and cats. Internships were offered throughout the year. A castration campaign for cats was organized in July/August.
As a volunteer you will mainly be an assistant in the surgeries that are not performed under minimal conditions, but there will be plenty of practice opportunity in preparing the patients, giving medication and probably performing surgery (e.g. cat castration). There are no requirements in terms of study progress, but they will be taken into account in the operations that may be performed. In Madagascar, you will make days from 07;00 to 18:00, with exceptions. The length of the days depended very much on the amount of animals brought to the mobile clinic.
Housing in Madagascar (Andasibe) was very good and is generally in a guest house, with running water (not always hot), electricity, wifi and 3 vegetarian meals a day. Lunch is eaten at the project.
The minimum length of stay is 2 weeks, but longer is appreciated because after getting to know the process, castrations etc. can be performed much faster.
In terms of costs, you may be asked to pay €500 to cover the cost of accommodation and the purchase of medication, but it is also possible to bring materials. Be sure to come by the loft/ mail to inquire about the materials that may and can be brought.
Please visit the TAD website for more information on the other projects.
Animal Care España (ACE) | SHIN is a rescue organization in Spain. They catch stray animals and look for a golden basket for them in the Netherlands and Belgium. There is a veterinarian present 5 days a week and a full-time veterinary assistant for aftercare. It is also possible to volunteer at this organization. The work will consist of cleaning the kennels, grooming and socializing the animals and of course assisting the veterinarian with aftercare. Working hours are generally from 8.00-14.00.
There is an apartment for students where it is possible to stay for €100 per week. Availability depends on the period.
For more information about the foundation go to http://vsf-international.org/
Roxsha apartments Curacao - Internships and housing
Based in Curaçao, this organization rents apartments and internships mediated for students of all fields of study.
There are many stray animals in Curaçao so there is definitely an opportunity to do an internship there. The organization is currently in contact with two foundations: Rescue Paws and stichting Dog. These organizations cooperate with the local veterinarians and help is received with open arms.
Mediation by this organization costs €325. A suitable internship site is then arranged, a contract through the school/company, an introductory interview at the internship site and they are always present as a point of contact during the internship period. Minimum visit is 4 weeks. You only pay housing which is about €900 per month. They are nice neat apartments each with its own bathroom and kitchen. Roxsha also rents out cars and can tell you a lot about Curaçao.
No students have ever gone on an internship here (through us), so we cannot share experiences.
This is a place where you can volunteer at that is close to the Netherlands, yet has a vastly different perspective on animal welfare. Paws Patas is an animal shelter for neglected animals. The animals receive the necessary medical attention at the shelter and are rehabilitated to then be given to a good home. There are generally about 80 dogs and 20 cats there.
There are two shifts at Paws Patas. The first shift runs approximately from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm and the second shift is from approximately 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm. There may be days when you have to work both shifts. This depends on the amount of work. Daily work consists mainly of cleaning the enclosures, feeding, grooming, socializing the animals and medical assistance. Every Tuesday a veterinarian comes to do a round at the shelter, for such things as vaccinations, so there is an opportunity to be involved in that. However, it is not possible to perform castrations yourself.
Housing is available at the shelter. These are two mobile homes and a caravan, which are shared with other volunteers. A small studio is also available. There are two shower rooms and a washing machine is available.
Staying in the housing is allowed if you work > 5 days per week, and costs €10 per week for electricity and maintenance. Food and other activities are at your own expense. The minimum stay is 3 weeks and you must pay a deposit of €50.
So this is definitely an appropriate place to go as an undergraduate student to learn about socializing and caring for traumatized and neglected animals.
Volunteering at VSF - Czech Republic in Somaliland
Somaliland is an autonomous region on the north side of the African horn. The country underwent a complicated development, and after a long civil war, Somaliland gained independence. Because of this complicated history and geographical position, Somaliland is a major hub for illegal trade with endangered African animals, which is dominated by the trade in cheetahs. Together with international organizations, the current government fights against wildlife smuggling. This leads to the confiscation of several wild animals and an increase in the number of animals requiring care in captivity. Since early 2019, the wildlife refuge in Hargeisa received nine cheetah cubs and two lion cubs, in addition to a number of other animals. Currently, the center in Hargeisa, managed by Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) and Heritage Somaliland, houses 23 cheetahs of different ages. Since 2018, the Vétérinaires sans Frontières Foundation - Czech Republic (VSF-cz) has participated in this conservation effort.
The growing number of confiscated cheetahs and other endangered African animals in the Horn of Africa requires capacity building and development of both preventive and curative veterinary care and animal welfare in close collaboration with CCF. We are focusing on the following issues:
- Ongoing development of veterinary facilities at the Hargeisa center. For example, diagnostic equipment, veterinary tools and therapeutics.
- Gradual development of enrichment programs for captive carnivores, continuous education and training of existing veterinary staff and organizing volunteer residencies for foreign veterinarians and veterinary students.
It is possible for veterinarians, advanced students of veterinary medicine, animal care or conservation, preferably with some experience with wildlife, to come and volunteer here. This volunteer program grew out of an initiative by VSF-cz to promote working with wildlife, including basic health care. Given the need to improve knowledge in these areas, several organizations joined forces to care for confiscated cheetahs in Somaliland. The collective knowledge and capabilities of these institutions allow students and volunteers to be immersed in wildlife care.
While you will help care for various species of confiscated animals, cheetahs will be your focus. Therefore, the CCF's cheetah volunteer guide will be left, which you are expected to have read carefully as a volunteer and which will also be useful during your stay.
If you are interested in joining the volunteer program, for questions about the program or trip preparation, contact: modryd@vfu.cz and bara.cervena@gmail.com.
Consider the following before contacting them:
Normally, stays of less than 4 months are not accepted.
Start planning and contacting several months prior to the trip.
All communication will be in English
Candidates must be prepared to live and work in fairly basic conditions of an African country, although in a very safe and friendly environment.
There is room for up to two volunteers at a time.
Volunteers must cover their own travel costs, courtship, visa and part of the cost of living. Also consider the necessary vaccinations.
The project is being implemented with the following key partners:
University of Hargeisa
University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Romenia
Siaprom is an institute in Uganda, Mukono, dedicated to training farmers to become basic veterinarians. They also offer training for students to become certified veterinarians. The idea is that a healthy and vibrant livestock industry in an agricultural country like Uganda has potential to increase youth employment and food security and ultimately transform rural communities.
Since June 2022 SIAPROM has a partnership with DZG-Student and it is now possible for the students of Veterinary Medicine to get involved in this foundation. SIAPROM would greatly benefit from gaining the knowledge we gain here in the Netherlands. As a student it is possible to transfer this knowledge to the veterinarians in Uganda. The students are trained, in cooperation with the University of Uganda.
Length of stay: minimum 1 month, maximum 6 months
Residence: in the home of Mathias, the veterinarian who works for SIAPROM. Men and women are hereby separated
Cost: accommodation costs are free. There is a charge only for food (and, of course, your own travel expenses).
Animal species: cows, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, dogs and cats.
There is also a pharmacy available.
The program:
Get up between 06:00 and 07:00 for breakfast.
Next will be veterinary operations for the animals which include: cesarean sections, castrations/sterilizations, dehorning, eye surgeries and other specific case related operations.
Break
In the afternoon, students have college, where it is possible for the volunteer (you) to teach some of these classes.
In addition, SIAPROM also visits private farms to look at the problems there. These visits are also part of this volunteer internship. You will then prepare a "Farm improvement plan" together with the veterinarian. For this you will also be trained and supervised.
If you think this is a fun experience, please contact us! You can send an email to student@dierenartsenzondergenzen.nl.
Volunteering / Internship at VSF - Belgium
Internships are regularly offered on the VSF-Belgium website. So keep an eye on the website to stay updated. Even if VSF-B is not actively offering an internship, you can contact the foundation. After all, they are, as stated on the website, always looking for interns brimming with ambition and talent!
Are you looking for study project or looking for a topic for your thesis? Then check out this information about the Global Goals. These are 17 sustainable development goals launched by the United Nations in 2015. Perhaps there is an interesting topic for you among them.
Together, we can work on food security all around the world. With your gift, we improve the future of African families by keeping their herds healthy.
Als de kudde ziek is, sterft het dorp
Als Afrikaanse veeboeren hun kudde verliezen door ziekte, droogte of conflict, verliezen ze alles: hun trots, cultuur, spaargeld en voedsel. Jij kan hen helpen. Maak van de wereld een betere plek en geef Afrikaanse families een betere toekomst.
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In collaboration with Stichting Dierennood, every year students of veterinary medicine go on internships where they will learn about castration in different parts of the world to help animals and improve on their skills. Students can contact Stichting Dierennood through the http://vsf-international.org/ to negotiate with different clinics who offer castration-internships. 
In the Amazon Jungle of Peru there is a fantastic rescue center that shelters and rehabilitates wild animals and protects the rainforest. Their goal is to work closely with the local communities. The animals that get protected in the center come from the wild, but there are also animals which have been confiscated from trafficking or private ownership.
TAD stands for Travelling Animal Doctors and its purpose is to improve animal welfare, of both wild and domesticated animals, by organizing and facilitating veterinary projects. Currently, there are no projects.
