This project welcomes medical personnel and disabled care specialists as well as social workers to spend one to three months short term, or at least ten months medium-term. Join the staff of this expatriate-run project and work with disabled people in this welcoming Middle-Eastern culture to give them a chance at a normal life including health care, mobility, education and training opportunities. Visit people in their homes and at the local Disabled Society, passing on your skills to local volunteers. Translators will be available for short-term staff. Adaptability and coping without most home comforts are important.

A period of Arabic language learning is strongly recommended before beginning work, appropriate in length to the period of work. For example, a four-week intensive course costs around £250.

In all cases listed below you will be an important part of a rehabilitation project helping needy people improve their quality of life. You will receive most job assignments from the project manager and will keep records of work done. The project involves working with a team of local people and a few expatriates, carrying out home visits as well as treating people at rehabilitation centres. Hours of work and exact duties are to be proposed by the Doctor, Nurse or Therapist and agreed upon with the Project Manager.The job will require up to six hours per day, five days a week, once a suitable amount of Arabic study is completed.

Physiotherapy / Occupational Therapy: The volunteer will carry out therapy. This will involve home visits and sessions at a Physiotherapy Centre. Home visits are for the purpose of assessing patients, instructing family members in home therapy exercises and carrying out therapy in cases where the disabled person cannot easily travel to the Centre. If indicated, treatment will be based in the home. Evaluation and initial treatment will be done by the the therapist, but continued therapy may be with the therapist, or with a trained teacher or family member.The Therapist gives advice and recommendations to the project manager concerning methods, equipment and other aspects of the project in order to improve the standard of care given.

Nursing: The Nurse will visit disabled people, either in their homes or at a Centre for the Disabled, to make a needs assessment, to instruct family members in care of the disabled person and to assist in their continuing care. This involves working with project staff to decide the best care and treatment that will lead to the patient's greater comfort, mobility and ability to take part in society. When appropriate, this means passing on relevant skills and knowledge to the local staff for continued treatment. If indicated, treatment will be based in the home. If necessary, treatment will be at a local hospital, after liaison with staff there.The Nurse gives advice and recommendations to the project manager concerning methods, equipment and other aspects of the project in order to improve the standard of care given.

 Doctor:  The doctor will work with disabled people of any age, but prioritising children, to help them towards greater mobility and self-reliance. The doctor will also liaise with other project staff and the relevant Disabled Societies, and the local hospital responsible for helping the physically disabled, as necessary. The doctor will visit disabled people, either in their homes or at a Centre for the Disabled, for diagnosis and recommendation of treatment. This involves working with local care workers and project staff including nurses and PT/OT therapists to decide the best care and treatment that will lead to the patient's greater comfort, mobility and ability to take part in society. When appropriate, this means passing on relevant skills and knowledge to the local staff. If indicated, treatment will be based in the home. If necessary, treatment will be at a local hospital, after liaison with staff there. The doctor will be responsible for ongoing follow up and evaluation of the treatment and necessary adjustments.The doctor will give advice and recommendations to the project manager concerning methods, equipment and other aspects of the project in order to improve the standard of care given.

Costs: The overall cost for a three month placement would be £3000, which includes flights, visa, travel and health insurance, food, transport and accommodation and the Christians Abroad administration fee. It does not include 'spending money' for tourist activities during the placement. Please be aware that air fares vary according to season. 

Christians Abroad has not yet been able to recruit volunteers for this project but is confident of the quality of the organisation.

Country Information: Yemen. Visit the BBC website news.bbc.co.uk and select 'World'/'Middle-East'/'Country Profile'/'Yemen' for up to date information.