Foreign Policy Blogs

Doing Good for a Living

I wrote a post recently on a British program to encourage volunteerism abroad. For those of us who aren't extremely wealthy, sometimes it seems like the only way to make a difference is to give our own time. I also think it is natural for people who become very interested in a movement as important as addressing global poverty to want to dedicate themselves to it full time. But it isn't an easy field to break into, especially if you want one of the more interesting jobs overseas.

A frequent commenter to this blog, Alanna Shaikh (who is also married to me) recently wrote what I think is a very good description of why it is so hard to get an international development position, and how to overcome the challenges. She was writing for the women's professional advice website Damsels in Success, but her comments are equally relevant for men.

 

Author

Kevin Dean

Kevin Dean is a graduate student pursuing a master's degree in international conflict management and humanitarian emergencies at Georgetown University. Before returning to school in Fall 2006, he spent six years working in the former Soviet Union - most of that time spent in Central Asia. He has managed a diverse range of international development programs for the US State Department and USAID. He has also consulted for several UN agencies and international NGOs, and is fluent in Russian. Kevin is originally from Des Moines, Iowa and studied Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies at the University of Iowa.