Tag: International volunteering

Focus on Peace Corps (USA)

Thinking about the next series of topics for my BLOG, I decided to highlight some additional international volunteer agencies. The first agency described in this new series is the Peace Corps which by coincidence is celebrating 60 years of service in 2022.

Peace Corps has a wonderfully rich website which among other things describes two main volunteering options including 2-year, regular assignments, and shorter specialised stints. You must be an American citizen to apply and usually require a relevant degree but in some cases persons with 5 years of relevant experience will also be considered. When I checked the Peace Corps website on December 27, 2002 there were a number of vacancies advertised in different categories, and in different parts of the world including Africa, Central America and the Western Pacific among others.

By clicking on these different sectors, the different vacancies are revealed with descriptions of the location, the job itself, living conditions, essential and desired qualifications. Reading some of the vacancy descriptions reminded me that such assignments are often challenging and not suitable for everyone but for those with the right background, attitude and flexibility, these assignments can be very rewarding from both personal and professional perspectives.

The application process can take several months but there are a series of recruiters available in the US to answer questions and help applicants through the application process.

Even if you are not an American citizen, you may find the descriptions of countries and the work that Peace Corps volunteers are doing abroad to be of interest. If you are a US citizen, “…and ready to change the world”, you can follow the three steps listed on their Home Page.

https://www.peacecorps.gov/

Overseas Adventures – From Afghanistan to Zambia and Points In Between – Available Now

After a long wait, this interesting set of stories will be released in December 2022.

My memoir is now available however, the book launch is delayed while I work on assignments for the ILO in Jordan and Lebanon; also my book designer in Malawi had power outages as he did a book redesign.

But long story short, the memoir is available in soft cover or as an ebook in epub or mobi format. There is also a pdf version for those who like to read on their computer.

The book launch details are not yet available but will include both a physical launch in Halifax and an online one with my friends organized from the Eastern townships of Quebec. The latter will have an international audience.

My website now has a storefront and shopping cart where you can order whatever version of the memoir you like. The store front and shopping cart are available now – simply click on the left hand button in the menu above – Overseas Adventures.

I will also put the memoir on Amazon and/or other online stores but that will be in the New Year.

Send your suggestions to: aeshears@northstarskillsfordevelopment.ca

You can win a free advanced copy if you are among the first five to reply.

The cost of the soft cover version will be CAD 20 plus shipping. The ebook and pdf versions will be CAD 7.99 – cheap at the price.

You can order the book now. Pleasant reading!

International Labour Organization (ILO) Has a New Recruitment Website

https://jobs.ilo.org/?locale=en_GB

I have been doing some work for the ILO in Jordan, and thoroughly enjoyed engaging with issues the agency is tackling there.

The new recruitment website identifies a variety of employment opportunity types including:

1. international (at the professional level);

2. development cooperation (on a project or program);

3. local;

4. temporary (less than one year);

5. junior professional officer and interns;

6. consultants.

At the time of writing this piece (Sept 27, 2022) there were 77 vacancies listed with a description of each available. There is also a map that gives a picture of where postings are located.

I commend the page that provides helpful hints on completing an application. The application form is comprehensive and may take more than two hours to finish.

However, it will only take a few minutes to go to the website and have a quick look! If something catches your interest, you can explore it further.

GOOD LUCK.

FIVE WAYS TO GET STARTED IN OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT WORK

Become a Volunteer – You can do what I did and apply to a volunteer agency such as CUSO, VSO, Peace Corps, WUSC, or UN volunteers. This option is one of the easiest if you have the interest, relevant skills and you’re available. The agency you apply to will have done most of the work. They already have a number of countries they work in and have listed positions available with descriptions of who you would be working with, the job, qualifications and experience needed, and duration of the assignment. The duration maybe for just a few months to a couple of years, and these days there are options to e-volunteer.

Explore Options with Your Social Service Club – Rotary’s motto is “service above self” and its chapters focus mostly on local social issues.  However, some chapters organize fund-raising and short, overseas placements for their members or sponsored young people. A friend of mine used this facility to provide services to projects as far afield as India and Guyana. This initial experience led to longer-term roles on international projects funded by the Canadian government and other funding agencies.

Register as a Consultant with International Recruiting Agencies – There are numerous agencies out there who develop and maintain databases of consultants sorted by specialty, country experience, and availability – short-term and long-term. Here are just a few of these agencies –  Assortis, DevelopmentAid, and  DEVEX. Some are free, some cost.

Use Your Social Media Links like LinkedIn – LinkedIn is one network used by professionals to share their experiences, favourite websites, and events. It provides an opportunity for individuals to add their resumes and interests and puts you out there. You can post stories, promote conferences or advertise vacancies. Some companies who are looking for consultants for upcoming projects will scan LinkedIn to identify possible candidates. I have been contacted a couple of times through LinkedIn for overseas assignments. The best thing is it’s free!

Explore Opportunities at Your Educational Institution for a Study Abroad Term – If you are a student at an educational institution, check if your institution has an option to do one or more terms of study abroad. Although not technically international development, such an experience does let you get a taste of living abroad, experiencing different cultures, and adding “international experience” to your resume.

So you want to learn more about how to participate in international development…

Well, you can start by exploring this new site which will expand over time. Check out the What’s New section and the other sites referenced herein, such as CUSO International.