You've seen the pictures of misery in Third World countries and you want to make a difference. You don't want to just settle down and focus on collecting possessions now that you've graduated, but all the positions advertised ask for experience. How do you get started?
Getting a job in a development organisation is not so easy these days because many of the poorest countries have work permit restrictions, qualified national applicants, and plenty of candidates who want to work there. Without a unique qualification, many years of experience, and some knowledge of a foreign language you will probably not even get an interview. On the other hand, foreign language skill and even a short period of overseas experience will help you to obtain connections and qualifications that will set you apart from other candidates.
You can learn a foreign language at home and then polish it overseas on a short-term volunteer assignment, or you can head overseas as a volunteer and obtain both language and experience simultaneously.
Longer volunteer programs are run by governments and include Peace Corps (US) and VSO (UK) and others, and also Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as Food For The Hungry, World Vision, and Rotary. These usually give the volunteer a small stipend, basic living and travel expenses and language training as well as taking care of visa requirements. Some Mission Boards also offer similar programs which are worth considering.
You can also organize your own volunteer experience by teaming up with a small private school or university and offering to teach for them while learning the language. In some cases they will provide you with some form of stipend, but at the least they will help with your visa application. These arrangements can vary in length from several weeks to a year or more.
Students can often arrange to complete their thesis and data collection on location and gain valuable language and cultural information at the same time. NGOs are often happy to sponsor such students in return for access to their research.
Volunteers of all kinds will need to live economically, which can be quite stressful but has the advantage of helping you to identify more with local people. It is often possible to live with a local family if you are only there for a short time, rather than setting up house for yourself. This gives you greater insight into their lives and many opportunities to improve your language.
With some language under your belt, and even brief experience overseas you will have a great advantage when submitting your applications for positions, and you may even make valuable contacts during your period as a volunteer.
Getting a job in a development organisation is not so easy these days because many of the poorest countries have work permit restrictions, qualified national applicants, and plenty of candidates who want to work there. Without a unique qualification, many years of experience, and some knowledge of a foreign language you will probably not even get an interview. On the other hand, foreign language skill and even a short period of overseas experience will help you to obtain connections and qualifications that will set you apart from other candidates.
You can learn a foreign language at home and then polish it overseas on a short-term volunteer assignment, or you can head overseas as a volunteer and obtain both language and experience simultaneously.
Longer volunteer programs are run by governments and include Peace Corps (US) and VSO (UK) and others, and also Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as Food For The Hungry, World Vision, and Rotary. These usually give the volunteer a small stipend, basic living and travel expenses and language training as well as taking care of visa requirements. Some Mission Boards also offer similar programs which are worth considering.
You can also organize your own volunteer experience by teaming up with a small private school or university and offering to teach for them while learning the language. In some cases they will provide you with some form of stipend, but at the least they will help with your visa application. These arrangements can vary in length from several weeks to a year or more.
Students can often arrange to complete their thesis and data collection on location and gain valuable language and cultural information at the same time. NGOs are often happy to sponsor such students in return for access to their research.
Volunteers of all kinds will need to live economically, which can be quite stressful but has the advantage of helping you to identify more with local people. It is often possible to live with a local family if you are only there for a short time, rather than setting up house for yourself. This gives you greater insight into their lives and many opportunities to improve your language.
With some language under your belt, and even brief experience overseas you will have a great advantage when submitting your applications for positions, and you may even make valuable contacts during your period as a volunteer.
