Your generous donation helps to save and change lives every day.
Your charitable investment will go toward ongoing global relief to care for the underserved and vulnerable people of this community. As a member of this medical mission team, you will elevate the long-term impact of sustainable, capacity-building efforts that improve the health, wellness, and quality of life of those most in need.
Overview
The Need
Join International Medical Relief (IMR) on this medical mission and health education tour in Turkey.
Our volunteer team will partner with local professionals to serve very vulnerable women and children who migrate to the region and work to pick potatoes and grapes. Every year thousands of agricultural workers from the east and southeast, together with their families, migrate to the agricultural regions of the country for the plantation, irrigation, hoeing and harvesting seasons. Workers and their families often experience challenges while moving around the country as they have limited to no access to health care services and there are concerns related to hygiene conditions at the farms.
Migratory and seasonal agricultural workers and their families face unique health challenges which result in significant health disparities. Challenges faced can include: hazardous work environment, poverty and insufficient support system, inadequate or unsafe housing, limited availability of clean water and septic systems, inadequate healthcare access, continuity of care issues, lack of insurance, cultural and language barriers, fear of using healthcare due to immigration status, and lack of transportation.
Migrant farming populations experience serious health problems including diabetes, malnutrition, depression, substance use, infectious diseases, pesticide poisoning, and injuries from work-related machinery. These critical health issues are exacerbated by the migratory culture of this population group, which increases isolation and makes it difficult to develop a relationship with a healthcare provider, maintain treatment regimens, and track health records.
Some of the more common diseases in this area include skin disease and disorders, GI issues, dehydration, dental caries and infections, and pain. Dermatologists, dentist, family medicine providers, emergency medicine providers, optometrists, and OB/GYN specialists will be in high demand.
Our Work
International Medical Relief began its service to the Turkish people shortly following the devastating earthquakes in the Hatay region in February 2023. Subsequently, IMR has organized dozens of medical teams to serve our Turkish friends.
Prior to the natural disaster, IMR had been working on being able to send clinical teams to this area. Now after having served during this critical time, IMR has established relationships that can be leveraged in parts of this magical country not affected by the earthquakes.
This Mission
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe. The region of Cappadocia will treat to you breathtaking sunrises and sunsets that pass over jagged ridges of the historic landscape.
Cappadocia has a unique history and energy. This beautiful region in central Turkey famous for its fairytale scenery, cave dwellings, remarkable rock formations, and, of course, the hundreds of hot air balloons that soar in the sky during sunrise each morning. There is also world-class hiking in Cappadocia. You can spend time after clinic exploring all of the diverse outdoor trails in the region by foot or ATV, adventure to the ancient valleys, or become mesmerized at a scenic overlook viewing the hot air balloons where you will be blown away. If you are a photographer, this is your destination as it is truly a magical place to serve.
Lodging/Transportation
On this Medical Mission T
rip, you and your fellow team members will be staying at an accommodation with safe, clean, comfortable rooms. Transportation will be provided to and from clinic each day.
Highlights
From the moment you arrive in Turkey the people and culture make you feel as welcome and comfortable like nowhere you’ve ever visited. The natural beauty of the country and the inviting culture of the Turkish people are the highlights for this mission!
Extend Your Stay
You’re journeying across the globe. Why not extend your stay in Turkey to experience some of its top tourist attractions?
On an exclusive trip extension provided by our partner, Worldwide Navigators, you will marvel at the fascinating landscape of Cappadocia from high above in a balloon…and from caves deep below, prowling an underground city where Christians once hid out. Explore troglodyte ghost towns, shop for sheep at the market, and chat with an imam. Then journey to the Bosphorus Sea where you will tour the main city sites of Istanbul.
Prepare to be awed by Istanbul’s magnificent architecture, rich history, and eclectic bazaars as you discover the unmissable highlights of the Old City on this 1-, 2-, or 3-day private tour. Marvel over the glorious Hagia Sophia, learn how the Blue Mosque earned its famous nickname, and see the ancient Basilica Cistern. Tour Topkapi Palace to gain an insight into the lavish lifestyles of the Ottoman sultans and their harem, and browse the legendary Grand Bazaar, where you find everything from carpets to Turkish delight.
Flexible daily itineraries:
Day 1 – Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome Square, German Fountain, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar.
Day 2 – Bosphorus Cruise by Public Ferry, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Cicek Passage, Galata Tower (from outside), Spice Market.
Day 3 – Suleymaniye Mosque, Fener and Balat Districts, St. Stephen Church (Iron Church), Pierre Lotti Panoramic Hill by Cable Car, Rahmi Koc Museum (or alternative sites).
Worldwide Navigators offers unique opportunities to extend your time and create an amazing vacation following your humanitarian work. Contact Worldwide Navigators to book one of these extensions or get more information.
Itinerary at a Glance
Arrivals, Orientation
Clinic
Clinic
Clinic
Clinic
Cultural Day
Departures
Please View Full Itinerary in the Next Tab
Sustainable Impact
Your Journey
Weather
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Average High and Low Temperature in Kayseri, Turkey ©WeatherSpark.com
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Average Hourly Temperature in Kayseri, Turkey ©WeatherSpark.com
Clinic Photos
Gallery
Full Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change without notice.
You will need to arrange your flight destination to be Kayseri Erkilet Airport, airport code ASR. If you need assistance booking flights, please contact Worldwide Navigators, our preferred travel agency, at travel@worldwidenavigators.com.
Arrivals, Orientation
You need to fly into Kayseri Erkilet Airport, airport code ASR. The airport is a major hub for travel to Cappadocia. Please arrive by 2:00 pm. The team will take the chartered transportation to your accommodations check in, then gather for dinner and team orientation. During orientation, your team leader will assign roles for the clinic, discuss our community health education efforts in detail, present IMR’s clinic protocols, and provide an overview of the communities your team will serve. Our partners will join us to explain the cultural components, medical landscape and overview of the medical conditions prevalent in the area.
Meals: Dinner,
Clinic
After enjoying a group breakfast full of native, Turkish delicacies and flavors, your team will transfer to the location for your clinic days ahead. Your team will take a tour of the facility, set up for clinic as needed, and have a site orientation. After preparing the site, your team will begin to see patients.
Clinics begin in the morning and run into the evenings. Your days will be long and hard, but also incredibly rewarding. After the clinic, regroup with your team at your lodging facility for a clinical debrief and team dinner. You will also be turning in your worn scrubs for laundry.
Although all your meals are all included, you are welcome to go into town with your fellow team members to enjoy the excellent cuisine that Turkey has to offer. Cappadocia’s landscape looks almost alien. Soft tufa rock, spewed from volcanoes millennia ago, created a series of ethereal “fairy chimneys” that have been shaped and sculpted by nature. Rising above the Anatolian Plains of central Turkey, this historic region is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site that draws in thousands.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
Clinic
The clinic sites are small, rural health centers. You will be joined by local physicians, nurses and pharmacists who can consult on difficult cases or those who need a higher level of care.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
Clinic
Some of the more common diseases in this area include skin disease and disorders, GI issues, dehydration, dental caries and infections, and pain. Your patients will welcome education on basic healthcare and hygiene that they can take with them.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
Clinic
International Medical Relief will bring sustainable community and public health education and training to vulnerable communities, local physicians, nurses and patient care technicians are eager to learn! Our hosts will share their needs and we will develop training that brings value longitudinally.
Education is as important as medical and dental care for our patients. Each clinic includes basic health education according to the specialties and skills of the IMR volunteers, as well as the needs of the local people. When communities become empowered to take health and wellness issues into their own hands, they become self-sufficient. IMR provides learning opportunities for the local communities through classes and hands-on learning to sustain their well-being beyond our visit.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
Cultural Immersion - Hot Air Balloon Viewing and Underground City Tour
Rise and shine early for an amazing opportunity to view the spectacular hot air balloon display. Afterwards, you’ll be treated to a tour of Derinkuyu, an underground city. The soft rock in the Cappadocia area created winding cave systems and natural caverns that became home to underground cities in medieval times. When marauding armies arrived in the area, thousands of people would escape and survive below ground, sometimes for months on end. Spanning 18 floors to a depth of 85 meters, Derinkuyu is one of the largest and deepest subterranean cities in Turkey. You will have plenty of time to explore the beautiful city. You can also take an afternoon hike or just relax in the splendor of your accommodations.
Meals: Breakfast,
Departures
On your last day in the country, enjoy a complimentary breakfast with your team. Take one final walk around town and say goodbye to beautiful Cappadocia, Turkey.
Meals: Breakfast,
Your Journey
Clinic Photos
Extensions
You’re journeying across the globe. Why not extend your stay in Turkey to experience some of its top tourist attractions?
On an exclusive trip extension provided by our partner, Worldwide Navigators, you will marvel at the fascinating landscape of Cappadocia from high above in a balloon…and from caves deep below, prowling an underground city where Christians once hid out. Explore troglodyte ghost towns, shop for sheep at the market, and chat with an imam. Then journey to the Bosphorus Sea where you will tour the main city sites of Istanbul.
Prepare to be awed by Istanbul’s magnificent architecture, rich history, and eclectic bazaars as you discover the unmissable highlights of the Old City on this 1-, 2-, or 3-day private tour. Marvel over the glorious Hagia Sophia, learn how the Blue Mosque earned its famous nickname, and see the ancient Basilica Cistern. Tour Topkapi Palace to gain an insight into the lavish lifestyles of the Ottoman sultans and their harem, and browse the legendary Grand Bazaar, where you find everything from carpets to Turkish delight.
Flexible daily itineraries:
Day 1 – Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome Square, German Fountain, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar.
Day 2 – Bosphorus Cruise by Public Ferry, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street, Cicek Passage, Galata Tower (from outside), Spice Market.
Day 3 – Suleymaniye Mosque, Fener and Balat Districts, St. Stephen Church (Iron Church), Pierre Lotti Panoramic Hill by Cable Car, Rahmi Koc Museum (or alternative sites).
Worldwide Navigators offers unique opportunities to extend your time and create an amazing vacation following your humanitarian work. Contact Worldwide Navigators to book one of these extensions or get more information.
Minimum Donation
Your generous donation of $2900 will go toward the ongoing global relief to care for the underserved and vulnerable people of this community. As a member of this medical mission team, you will elevate the long-term impact of sustainable, capacity-building efforts that improve the health, wellness, and quality of life of those most in need. A small portion of your donation includes:
- Clinic supplies and medications for patients
- Clinic participation
- Transportation, accommodations, and meals as outlined in the itinerary
Donation Payment Deadlines
$2700 due by June 10, 2024
$2900 due by August 11, 2024
Early Bird Savings Opportunity
To be eligible, the participant must upload ALL your required documents and forms, sign their liability form and make your 50% donation including your $35 application fee by June 10, 2024. This savings opportunity does not apply to disaster relief missions.
Featured Enhancements
**To purchase any of the above Featured Enhancements for your mission, please contact our office at office@imrus.org or call at (970) 635-0110.
Your Donation to IMR for Your Mission Cost Includes:
All group costs from the time you arrive at the team meeting point in country until you separate from the team or when the team arrives at the departure airport, including:
- Transportation
- Lodging
- Costs associated with the clinic
- Food
- Tips for services provided to the IMR team
- All logistics, including translation services and security as needed
Additional Costs That You Are Responsible For:
All group costs from the time you arrive at the team meeting point in country until you separate from the team or when the team arrives at the departure airport, including:
- International and Domestic flights to the country.
- Passport fees, visa fees, and transit fees, including baggage or overnight accommodations/meals while in transit
- Required or recommended insurance
- Vaccinations and medications common for travel
- Spending money for souvenirs and personal purchases
- Required or desired mission supplies, personal equipment, or small gifts for the special people you meet
- Any lodging, meals, and transportation outside of the scheduled team mission, payable at the time of service to the local vendor
- COVID-related fees such as testing, vaccinations, and quarantines as required by in-country arrival/departure or USA arrival/departure
- Each team member is responsible for carrying medical supplies for the deployment. All fees associated with transport are the responsibility of the volunteer.
Financial FAQs
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