MDA Overseas Volunteers Program
Magen David Adom has over 26,000 volunteers. Out of these volunteers, 14,000 are teenagers between the ages of 15 and 18 and 12,000 are adults between the ages of 18 and 75. The volunteers are active in providing medical care to patients whether that be on an ambulance, in an MDA station, or at a blood drive. Annually, participants complete over a million hours of volunteering, accounting for a third of the organization’s work in society.
The volunteers are especially valuable in regard to critical accidents. Typically, volunteers reach the site of an accident within minutes and are able to assist the MDA team with any tasks at hand. Volunteers have proven to be an invaluable asset to MDA, especially in cases of terrorist attacks that have occurred in the past few years.
MDA volunteers have received awards on numerous occasions, including the President's Award for Volunteering in 1976 and once again in 1998, the year of Israel's Jubilee. In addition, MDA volunteers have won the Minister of Labor and Welfare Award in 1998, the Speaker of the Knesset Award in 1989, and the Minister of Health's Award in 1999. These awards reflect some of the appreciation endowed upon MDA volunteers for their activity within the community in Israel.
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Why volunteer for MDA overseas?
Israel offers volunteers a unique experience both in a professional and personal sense. With MDA overseas volunteer program, participants are exposed to Israeli culture while learning critical lifesaving skills.
Volunteer in Israel with the country’s national rescue organization, Magen David Adom. Experience life as a first responder and work on ambulances throughout Israel! MDA works with the organization, Israel Experience to expand volunteer’s social and cultural perspectives by working alongside Israelis and experiencing Israel from the inside. Participants have the opportunity to learn about emergency medicine in Israel while volunteering on ambulances in the city of their choice for 5 weeks. Volunteers complete eight-hour ambulance shifts fostering bonds with their fellow paramedics. The knowledge gained throughout this experience is invaluable. Not only will participants learn to save lives, but the experience will enhance their resume with up to 88 hours of world-renowned emergency medical training.
Guidelines:
In order to participate in MDA’s overseas volunteer program, you must me between the ages of 18 and 30 years old. The program costs differ depending on the level of training desired.
The cost of a 6-week basic first responder program is $1,300 without application fees. This includes 10 days of MDA emergency medical service training, living accommodations for 10 days, and 6 weeks of medical insurance.
The cost of a 6-week advanced first responder program is $750 without application fees This includes 8 days of MDA advanced emergency medical training, living accommodations for 8 days, and 6 weeks of medical insurance.
Components:
- 60/88-hour ambulance first responder training
- 8-hour ambulance shifts in different cities throughout Israel
- Experience and opportunity to save lives
Testimonials
"It’s been over 4 years since I attended the MDA courses, 4 years during which I saw death and life, from CPR to babies being delivered. These moments were difficult but gave me strength to get through situations both physical & moral. Some would argue it’s all about enriching your resume. Some would enjoy the action. But this is avoiding the real purpose of volunteering. It’s all about giving something from you to someone else, without expecting any payoff. Because if you are expecting any “Return on Investment”, you might miss what life, society or being simply human is all about."
Jonathan Muller
"It was an incredible experience to be trusted, relied on and required in some of the most private places at the most difficult times. I have met so many people and learned so much about myself and others because of the MDA program. I am so grateful for this opportunity."
Hallie Dobkin
"Few experiences in my life have been so thought-provoking. Few experiences have challenged me so emotionally and physically. But most importantly, few experiences have jarred me so violently to do more - to appreciate my family and our health above all else, to exercise better, to eat better and to maximize each day, because it could all be over in an instant."
Daniel Farahi
