Volunteer with Operation Ethiopia

The main activity of our volunteer trips are running our Mobile Eyecare clinics in rural villages (watch here for an example). Laypeople are trained to operate devices that screen for glaucoma and auto-refract for vision. They also check patients in, manage medication distribution, fit patients with reading glasses, and more. It is a very hands-on experience and we all work hard together. The pace of the trip is very intense and we work long days treating patients, in not the most comfortable conditions.  

We have a mandatory training session in Israel for all volunteers about a week before each mission.

EMTs, in addition to participating in our Mobile Eyecare Clinics, teach first aid and CPR to people in the areas we work.

The areas we work are third world in every sense. The conditions of the trip are challenging. There are no public bathrooms, accommodations are on the level of a very simple youth hostel, there are times when the electricity is off, where running water is not available, WIFI and connectivity in general is never guaranteed, and we work long days in the field. Things often change at the last minute, and flexibility and resiliency are essential. We are looking for people with a lot of energy, stamina, and who can adapt in difficult situations.

Requirements:

• At least 18 years of age (no exceptions, for legal reasons)

• Fluent in English and Hebrew

• Flexible even in uncertain conditions and situations and must have no problem with physically challenging accommodations, surroundings, and with high altitude (the areas we work are at 2400 meters)

• Highly motivated, takes initiative, and pitches in where needed

• Leadership experience in youth groups, army, or other settings is preferred

• Works well as part of a team

• Can participate in the pre-training session we do in Israel a week before the mission to train volunteers how to work in our Mobile Eyecare Clinics

• Can help with fundraising efforts for the mission pre or post-trip

• Can 100% COMMIT to the dates of the trip — Our volunteer teams are small and carefully balanced among ages, skill set, and if people cancel after committing, it causes problems for the mission. If you are interested in a trip that is close to a family event, personal event, army enlistment, or if your workplace may not approve your leave, please do not apply

Lodging:

The places we stay are on the level of a very, very basic youth hostel. They have different standards for cleanliness and comfort than you might be used to. For example, there is often hot water available for showers but not always. Electricity and running water are not always available throughout the day.

Food:

In Addis Ababa our hotel has a kitchen with separate kosher dishes for vegetarian, non-dairy food. The kitchen serves both Kosher and non-Kosher food and the Kosher certification is overseen by Rabbi Menachem Waldman of Haifa, Israel, who has been the religious leader of the Ethiopian community for decades. In Mekelle we have made our own set up for Kashrut by supplying the hotel with separate pots and pans, and we do our best but there is no mashgiach or official kashrut certificate or supervision.

We recommend bringing non-refrigerated foods and snacks that you enjoy.

Water can only be drunk from sealed bottles that you can purchase daily at the hotel or locally.

We do not recommend eating any uncooked vegetables or fruits.

Of course! Each trip varies slightly but our current general itinerary is:

• Fly as a group from Israel to Addis Ababa on a Saturday night, arrive in the early hours Sunday
• Sunday: run Mobile Eyecare clinics in the Addis Ababa Jewish community, followed by home visits to members of the Jewish community
• Monday: Early morning option to attend services in the Jewish community. Run Mobile Eyecare Clinics in the Mother Teresa Mission of Charity. Dinner at Chabad.
• Tuesday: Consult at Eye Clinic at St. Paul’s Millinium Medical center, a fascinating inside view of an Ethiopian public hospital. Possible meeting with the Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia. Afternoon flight to Mekelle, Tigray region.
• Wednesday: Spend the early morning assisting in post-op care at Operation Ethiopia’s sight-restoring cataract campaign. Rest of the day running Mobile Eyecare Clinics in one of the IDP refugee camps.
• Thursday: Spend the early morning assisting in post-op care at Operation Ethiopia’s sight-restoring cataract campaign. Rest of the day running Mobile Eyecare Clinics in one of the IDP refugee camps. Evening flight back to Addis to connect to late night return flight to Israel.
• Land back in Israel early Friday morning.

• We schedule an in-person training session in Israel with all of our volunteers a week or so before we fly. Attendance is required for working in our Mobile Eyecare Clinics. For applicants from the US or any other country, please keep this in mind when you apply.
• We ask all our volunteers to help us fundraise for the medical mission, medications, eyeglasses, equipment, etc. 
• We take photos throughout the entire trip and by going with us you agree to us using photos from the mission on our website, social media, blog, emails and more.
• We have a post-trip get together with all our volunteers and their families a week or two after we return from our misison.