Volunteer FAQs

Generally speaking, CURE requests at least six months from the time you apply until the time you depart on your trip.

CURE’s Global Outreach Office will provide step by step guidance once your trip has been approved. Until then, these few tips will help get you started.

• Valid Passports are required. Passports must be valid for up to six months after your desired return date.
• Immunization and shots are recommended and you should allow 6-8 weeks before your trip for maximum shot effectiveness.
• Register your trip with the US Department of State.
• To learn more about the country you will be traveling to visit:
  • CIA World Factbook
  • Lonely Planet

You will be sent information via email and snail mail. This will include a Pre-Trip Orientation packet containing trip expectations, cultural information, and pre-trip planning instruction.

After arrival in the country, CURE staff will guide you through understanding the new culture and processes of the hospital. You are welcome to contact the Global Outreach Office with questions at any time. Also, processing your experiences after you get home is vital. CURE will provide guidance to help you debrief and effectively incorporate the incredible experiences you had on your trip into your daily life.

Please reach out to our team if you would like to talk through whether your skills match any current volunteer needs. Email [email protected].

At the moment, CURE is primarily recruiting healthcare volunteers with at least two years of pediatric post-graduate experience, and interest in, orthopedics, ENT, plastics and reconstructive surgery, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, nursing, and physical and occupational therapy.

There are occasionally opportunities for third or fourth-year medical students to serve with CURE.

• Prayer supporters will intercede for you pre-field, on-field, and post field.
• Financial supporters will help cover the cost of your mission trip experience.
• Logistical supporters will help you with logistics at home while you are away.
• Re-entry supporters are your debriefing partners and will help you process your experience.

CURE International is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization. Donations to CURE are generally tax deductible as long as CURE International has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds. Because CURE International maintains the required discretion and control, donations cannot be refunded.

If you need to cancel your trip, you have the following options for funds received:

• Funds can be transferred to another team member.
• Funds can be used on a future trip taken within 12 months.
• Funds can be donated to the General Children’s Fund.

Yes, as long as the ticket is purchased through CURE’s travel agent. All funds must be received before a ticket is purchased.

No, this is a personal expense paid by you. Any additional funds raised in addition to trip costs will be put towards other team members’ expenses or will be funneled into the General Children’s Fund.

Trip payments can be made in two ways:

• You can pay online via our trip payment portal.
• Send a check made payable to CURE International and include a note saying this is for, “YOUR NAME, DATE, LOCATION.” Mail checks to:
  CURE International
  Attn: Global Outreach
  70 Ionia Ave. SW Ste. 200
  Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Each short-term trip sent through CURE International is unique. Trip fees will differ greatly based on time of year, destination, length of stay, etc. Most often a trip cost will include food, lodging, in-country transportation, travel medical insurance, and administrative fees. Trip fees are based on what it takes to mobilize and host with excellence. No donated monies are rerouted from patient care to accommodating visiting volunteers. A detailed, itemized list of your trip expenses can be supplied upon request.

We require information to be up to date in our system (i.e. address, passports, medical licenses.) If these have changed or expired, then please notify the Global Outreach Office. Otherwise, every 5 years we will ask you to update our records (i.e. address, background check, forms).

Yes, CURE International has limited spaces available for third- and fourth-year medical students in orthopedics or neurosurgery.  If you meet that criteria, we would encourage you to fill out the application.

Yes, CURE mobilizes nurse volunteers to serve in a variety of ways at our hospitals. We are looking for nurses to consider volunteering in the following ways:

• Short-term: (two months or less):
  • Roles and responsibilities include short educational modules; training in administrative/computer or professionalism courses; assistance with ongoing projects; sharing with spiritual training and Bible studies for nurses; sharing with children in play/art/recreation therapy; AHA training; and any other areas or requests from a specific hospital.
• Long-term (two months or longer):
  • Roles and responsibilities: specific project or implementation of the program, new wards or specialty areas (i.e. PACU training), safety officer training, infection control nurse training.
  • Legal requirements: work visa, nursing license, or permission to practice, and other in-country requirements.

Our Nurse Volunteer Brochure will answer many of your questions.

Students should first check with their learning institution to see if this can be done. If so, when you apply let the Global Outreach Office know what the requirements are and they will look into this option more closely for you.

CURE has no formal lectures for trip participants. There are no Continuing Education Credits offered.

One of the most effective ways you can stay involved with CURE is by becoming a CURE representative and sharing your story with friends and family to help raise awareness and funds for CURE.

There are many ways to be involved in the work of CURE without visiting our hospitals.

• Join us in praying for the children and families we serve.
• Make a gift that provides surgical care and the love of Jesus to children in need.