Predeparture Volunteer Work

In preparation for my service work I volunteered at a free clinic. My job while in the clinic was to work in the filing room putting up and taking down charts. This was a tiny part of what goes on in the clinic but it was greatly needed. The clinic is a very busy place and they rarely find the time for chart filing. There are many important tasks to complete before the end of the day, so filing usually gets put off.

After three hours in a tiny room filing away, the volunteer coordinator for the clinic gave me a tour of the clinic. While she was giving me the tour I began to realize how much goes on in one tiny, free clinic. In one day this coordinator wrote grants, aided volunteers, and helped the homeless. The clinic is funded by grants, aided by volunteers, and used by low income families. The clinic had a shower program for the homeless. People, who are homeless, in the Morgantown area, can come to the clinic and take a shower. This gives them a little privacy from the overcrowded homeless shelter. While Morgantown does not have a very large homeless population, the clinic is already taking steps to alleviate the situation. Shouldn’t we all take a problem that is not our own and attempt to fix the problem? Isn’t that what I am doing in Africa? The clinic did not have to design programs around the homeless. The whole experience showed me the importance of taking on challenges that are not necessarily my own. Since, I had decided to take on a service trip to Africa I already understood this idea. I learned from this experience that even when applied on a smaller scale the impact can be large.

At the end of the day I really felt good about being able to help the staff at the clinic. My only regret is that I did not get to interact with very many people. While in Africa I hope to interact with people. I was mostly alone in the chart room. I really want to get to know their way of life and customs. It will be in this manner that I will become a better global citizen. It will be interesting to see how an American clinic compares to ones in Ghana. How will they be different? How will they be similar? Would I see the clinics differently if I was from Europe? However, I do recommend volunteer work to everyone, even if you can only spare one day. Not only will you be helping others but you will be helping yourself to become a better person. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and create more life experiences.