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Volunteer/Work Abroad (like the Peace Corps)
I'm wondering if any of you have done a volunteer/work abroad experience (like the peace corps) where you go abroad and work at an NGO in a deveoping country.
Where did you go & for how long?
What did you do (what was your position)?
What was your experience like?
I'm currently considering doing this and was just curious to hear some different perspectives from those of you who may have done this OR perhaps are in the process of applying for an opportunity like this.
Would love to hear some different stories!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Harley Jane on -
Bumping, because I really want to do something like this and someone here MUST have done it at some stage, surely?!
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Permalink Reply by R...RAWR on -
Erm, I currently work 'abroad' and will do so for a while yet. I work for an INGO, but I didn't apply through a placement service or anything.
I work in the Philippines and have been here for a year and a half. I'm on a contract as a full member of staff though, so that's slightly different to volunteering abroad. I'm the Communications and Youth Affairs Officer- I run the two programmes.
I come from a slightly different context of knowing that I'll always work in a country that is not my country of origin (been an expat my entire life), so 'working abroad' doesn't hold the same goals/objectives for me, I'd imagine. However, I know a lot of people who did do these volunteer/work abroad programmes and I'd be happy to share their views- or mine, if you find them interesting/helpful.
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Permalink Reply by kay* on -
I would love to hear some of their experiences and views if you don't mind sharing!
Actually, you're current setup is what I think I may want to do...be an expat full time. I'm thinking I'd like to pursue a career in international development and live/work abroad permanently. This potential 1 year in India would be me testing the waters to see if it really is for me.
I'd still love to hear your experience as well. How long have you been living abroad and where are you originally from? How did you land your current job? How do you like the Philippines and where else have you worked?
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Permalink Reply by R...RAWR on
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A lot of the people I know who worked with the Peace Corps or similar projects (AYAD- Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development, VSO-Voluntary Services Overseas etc.) enjoyed their experiences for the most part. I don't know if they learnt anything of consequence that went on to help their careers in development- if that's where they ended up. Most people utilised the opportunity to travel within the country and explore, which is always a plus if you can find the time & funds! They worked in different programmes- from health (say HIV/AIDS programmes) to education or gender-related studies. Something you may want to keep in mind, is that these development initiatives are government run and government funded; so reflects the views of the state..which may not be what is most needed in some of these countries.
Here's a head's up: working with the corps or AYAD etc may get you a bit of hostility from the long-term dev. workers. Tend to refer to them as 'voluntourists'. This is because usually a lot of the volunteers aren't there to actually grasp the depths of the issues or fully understand the complexity of the existing structures. They're also seen as people who'll be here for 6 months to a year and then be replaced; which doesn't allow for anyone to really understand and then begin to tackle the issues. To be fair to the volunteers, a lot of the in-country support is missing as well.
If you go the independent route and just volunteer/work with I/NGOs, you should definitely check about what their in-country support systems are like. It's terrible to be in a whole new country where you likely don't speak the language and have to fend for yourself without ever getting your bearings. You're also more likely to be expected to hit the ground running and pick up the relevant information almost immediately. Most of these programmes tend to have very short introduction sessions.
Are you planning to go through a placement agency? Do you know what field of development you'd like to work in? Have you travelled to developing countries before or have you visited any of the development-related project sites?
India's a great country, I love it to bits. But, it's a hard country and may not be the best place to start- that's my opinion anyway :)
Here's the short version of my story: I'm originally Indian. I grew up in the Middle East, bounced around there a bit and then went to India for my Bachelor's (Development Communication) and then to Austria for my Master's (Peace and Conflict). I've worked in pretty much most of those countries, but like I said, my set-up was kind of different. In India and in Austria, I worked/volunteered/interned with development-specific organisations.
My current job. Well, after my MA I applied like a lunatic to everyone possible. It was smack dab in the middle of the markets crashing and a lot of the programmes ended up being cut, which sucked. So it came down to either the Philippines or the Netherlands. I'd never been to the Philippines before, so I said why not and flew out a few days after the new year. I've been here for a year and a half now.
I like what I do. It's something I've definitely had to build up my expertise on very quickly (sexual and reproductive health and rights), as it's not my main field of interest or knowledge (conflict resolution). It's definitely something that'll help me further my career though; as concrete, long-term experience in the development world is a base requirement for most jobs.
It's extremely difficult to break into the development world if you don't have a clear idea of what it is you want to do. It is about having mobile expertise, so to speak. Knowledge that can be relevant in most contexts and can adapt to it very, very quickly. Development and development workers are also a quagmire to navigate. Subtext is important, and definitely be aware and know the arguments and divisive lines that underscore the issue.
Hope that helps!
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Permalink Reply by kay* on
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Hi R -
Thanks for responding, so quickly and so throughly! (you never know if people are going to check back for comments/questions lol. You've given some really really great info and I think for someone like myself, or others in this forum perhaps considering going abroad to work/volunteer, this will be valuable information - so thank you for sharing!
I hope you don't mind if I connect with you via your email? I've started to type up a response and realize it's perhaps better if I send you it directly...
Thanks!!
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Permalink Reply by kay* on
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whoops! i see that we have to be 20-something friends before i can send you a message :) so I've sent you a friend request :)
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Permalink Reply by Eilis M. on -
I've been thinking about doing something like this as well. I'm currently looking into a couple programs. Right now, I think I'll probably do something in the US first because it's slightly more "practical" for me at the moment.
I'd love to hear stories!
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Permalink Reply by Crystal Salewski on -
Im just getting ready to take a volunteer teaching position in haiti for a year
crystal-salewski.blogspot.com
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Permalink Reply by kay* on
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Very exciting! I will definitely check out your blog. Is this your first time abroad for an extended period of time?
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Permalink Reply by Crystal Salewski on
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for this long, ive been to haiti a few years ago but it was only a three week trip
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Permalink Reply by kay* on
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well it definitely sounds like it's going to be an adventure! i look forward to reading along :)
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Permalink Reply by Janet Newenham on -
I volunteered with 'Project Trust' in South Africa for 12 months when I was 18. I was teaching Business and Economics in a very poor and rural school in the northern province and it was without doubt the BEST YEAR OF MY LIFE.
The next summer I travelled to the turkans region of Kenya and volunteered teaching English in a missionary school which I organized through the chaplian in my University. I pais for my flights and the I had free accomodation in the missionary compund near the school and VERY cheap meals.
I fundraised a lot of money too to contribute to the profects I was working at and built a new library and new toilets.
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