Volunteers : Non-Medical Volunteers
Most non-medical positions are filled by Rotarians from the sponsoring Club and Districts. 
Nevertheless, we welcome applications from anyone who is interested in becoming involved. It is important to seek non-medical volunteers whose commitment to Rotaplast goes beyond the scope of the immediate medical mission. With a limited number of spaces each year, volunteers become part of Rotaplast Alumni. As such, they help expand our efforts by creating public awareness of the program.
To apply, download the Non-Medical Volunteer Application and mail it along with your supporting documents to Rotaplast International.
Once received, your application will be reviewed by our Staff and filed according to your skills and District/Club. Non-Medical Teams are typically made up of volunteers from the sponsoring District/Club so it may be some time between when your application is received and when you are contacted about a mission. Please be patient, but feel free to follow-up on your application's status.
Below please find a list of volunteer positions that non-medical volunteers will be assigned to during a Mission.
Mission Director
The Mission Director is a veteran of multiple Rotaplast missions who has been trained and reviewed by experienced Mission Directors and Staff. This team member is always assigned to a mission by Rotaplast. It is the responsibility of the Mission Director to set the tone for the entire trip. The Mission Director must be a Rotarian and supervises the smooth flow of operations. Included in the responsibilities is facilitating communication among the team and between the team members and our hosts. The responsibility for the safety of the team rests with the Mission Director. S/he takes care of assigning tasks to the non-medical staff and making sure that the medical team is able to function efficiently and with as little stress as possible. In addition, the Mission Director handles communications with the local media and acts as an ambassador of goodwill. Knowledge of the language is helpful.
Assistant Mission Director
The Assistant Mission Director is a veteran of multiple Rotaplast missions who has been recommended by Mission Directors they have worked with to become a Mission Director in training. This team member is placed on the mission by Rotaplast. The Assistant Mission Director helps the Mission Director with the preliminary preparations for the trip and backs up the Mission Director at the site.
Quartermaster
The Quartermaster coordinates the moving of equipment and boxes from the United States to the host country and back again. S/he deals with customs agents, counting boxes and unpacking equipment on arrival and re-packing upon departure. The Quartermaster should be in excellent physical health, able to lift boxes that weigh 50lbs and have the stamina to handle the transport of boxes and medical cargo.
Medical Record Keeper
The Medical Record Keeper must be a detail-oriented person, be computer literate and be able to work with Microsoft Excel. The responsibility for keeping track of all the records, including names of all children seen, procedures performed and final medical values, is handled by this individual. S/he must also make sure that all medical record forms are appropriately filled out by the medical team and complete the medical summaries after the mission is over. Approximately 2 hours of training in advance of the Mission is provided and required.
Equipment Sterilizer
The Sterilizer makes sure that the instruments are cleaned and sterilized as the surgeries progress during the day. The Sterilizer also ensures that the instruments are counted and accounted for throughout the day so that no important medical equiptment is left behind.
Interpreter
The Interpreter acts as a liaison between the medical staff and the patients and between families and local hosts whenever necessary. The role of the Interpreter is to interpret exactly what is being asked and not to comment unless so requested. An Interpreter must be flexible and be able to work under intense, emotional and often times confusing conditions.
Photojournalist
It is the responsibility of the Photographer/Journalist to record the trip in daily updates, to take photographs and to communicate back to the office a record of what is occurring on site. The Photographer/Journalist job does not end upon return. The volunteer provides Rotaplast International with a PowerPoint presentation, digital photos and personal stories of patients and team members in a 1,500-word document we use to create a Mission Newsletter. Knowledge of the language is helpful. The Photojournalist also assists the Medical Records Keeper during the Opening Day Clinic.
Ward Coordinator
The Ward Coordinator is in charge of preparing patients to be moved from the ward to the surgical area when requested by the Head Nurse. S/he checks that patients arrive at the hospital when scheduled. S/he arranges for patients to replace those who do not arrive or are disqualified for surgery. This volunteer works with the Pediatricians and brings any problems to their attention.
Recovery Room Helper
Helpers in the Recovery Room area help the Recovery Room Nurses. They may comfort a child or a parent, run errands for the Recovery Room Nurses or serve in any way they can to allow the medical personnel to function effectively. They should be comfortable with exposure to body fluids and have the stamina for long hours in this environment.
Patient Transport
This volunteer may or may not be needed depending on the proximity of the ward to the operating room. If needed, the Patient Transport volunteer wheels patients to the pre-surgery area and, if possible, remains with the patient until s/he is taken to the Operating Room. The Patient Transport volunteer may also function as the Recreation Therapist.
Recreation Therapist
The Recreation Therapist works either in the ward or in the pre-surgery area entertaining and occupying the time of our patients before surgery. S/he may read to the patients, help them with puzzles or art, engage them with magic or create other activities with the purpose of easing their anxiety.