Health Matters

I have a disability. Can I volunteer with ORM?

I have a health problem. Can I volunteer with ORM?

What if I get sick while I am on my volunteer placement?

I have a disability. Can I volunteer with ORM?

We are committed to investigating every possible option to enable disabled people to volunteer. We ask you to tell us about your disability on your application form. When you apply our ORM support team will work very closely with you. He/She will identify area that would be suitable for you before you come to assessment.

Some of the environments in which we work are challenging. It may be difficult for us to match your professional and personal circumstances with a volunteer job. We will make every effort to consider all possibilities and think flexibly to prevent this.

To discuss disability further, you can contact a medical member of our staff in complete confidence on 01 2190268.

I have a health problem. Can I volunteer with ORM?

Having a current or previous health problem does not automatically mean that you can not be considered as a potential volunteer. However Moldova has many challenging environments, with limited medical facilities. It is important that you are in good physical and mental health when you apply to ORM. Any chronic medical condition should be well controlled such that you would not require frequent on-going medical attention while overseas.

We would encourage you to consider the implications of volunteering overseas on your health. If you have a significant medical condition, due to the standard of medical care available in Moldova, it may be impossible to provide an appropriate level of medical support.

If you would like to discuss this further, you can contact one of our medical team in complete confidence on 01 2190268.

What if I get sick while I am on my volunteer placement?

Your health and well-being are important to ORM. ORM has comprehensive medical insurance and procedures put in place for all of its volunteers.  During your placement, you will normally consult with local doctors about health problems. We have an appointed medical adviser whom your can consult (contact details will be provided during your in-country training). You will also receive the programme office's emergency contacts and medical emergency procedures on arrival.

If a decision is made to evacuate you for medical reasons, ORM can call on the best available emergency services to evacuate you to a hospital with better facilities. All volunteers are covered for medical repatriation except for medical emergencies resulting from hazardous sports.

Please note: ORM's medical insurance policy requires you to have medical clearance from your doctor prior to departure and to take the preventative measures we advise, for example, vaccines.

 People meet as strangers and return home having made friends for life.