career in the charity sector

i'm in my first year of uni (4 year course), doing geography at st andrews, and i know i want to work in the charity sector, ideally working to reduce poverty in Africa.

I'm most interested in self help schemes there, like fair trade, tearfund, global mamas (which works predominantly with women) which help people set up sustainable production schemes. I presume, like any other business, charities require advertising, accountants etc but i would like to work out there, meeting the people, surveying need and assessing potential, which is what a lot of human geography is all about.

I know there are loads of volunteer schemes to spend a month or two helping build schools and suchlike. Are they the best way to gain meaningful work experience for this career path, or are they more holidays-with-hearts? Is there any way of doing this kind of work experience? Any charities that people have worked with in the past that they can point me to?

rep available (for what it's worth :rolleyes:

)

edit; please quote so i'll know you've replied :smile:

Reply 1

ttx

shellyholmes

i'm in my first year of uni (4 year course), doing geography at st andrews, and i know i want to work in the charity sector, ideally working to reduce poverty in Africa.

Have a look at the kind of charities you want to work for and look at their job adverts, that'll tell you the kind of background they want.

Also in you want to work in Africa picking up French will be very helpful.

Reply 2

bluecastle

You may have to do a postgrad in international development, which is a very specialised field. And while you're right - a lot of volunteering overseas is really just a different kind of holiday - and a lot of the work you do on these schemes isn't what you would do if you worked for an NGO, just speaking to the beneficiaries and the project workers can be very useful and very inspiring. I went on one of those schemes and found just that.

I know that most NGOs try to use people who are actually from the country that is benefiting from their' work, rather than foreigners (ie people from the UK) to deliver their work. But they do also need specialist people, such as engineers and environmental experts, to do things like designing irrigation systems.

Jobs in NGOS are highly sought after so I think you should try and get as much experience - both in the UK and overseas - while you are studying. Getting this kind of experience can also help you work out what you don't want to do and what extra skills you need.

Good luck!

Reply 3

MattG

try volunteering site like vinspired for charities in the local area that may want volunteers. A lot of places have a volunteer centre where you pop in and ask. Get involved!

perhaps some volunteering scheme like VSO may be advantageous, it certainly shows you are keen and gives an insight into how NGO's work. Sometimes Uni's run similar projects, check with your geography society and other societies

Do any related module possible at university and do your dissertation on something related to your area of interest. Perhaps think about doing some International relations/development modules if you have the chance, often in your first year they allow you to do modules from other degree subjects.

Consider a MA or PHD, but its not an end all, ask a careers advisor or someone within the NGO sector for advice in regards to that. Look at internships at major NGO's (may be based in london) during the summer months, probably unpaid but valuable for experience.

Like I said, Get involved, as experience and enthusiasm are invaluable, a degree is just a given these days, its not a ticket to an interview in a highly competitive field like NGO work.

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