Long-term work or volunteer work in developing countries is an opportunity most people overlook. Obviously, it’s probably not much of an option for folks who have already settled down and committed to a career path. However, for the rest of us, recent college grads or anyone contemplating a career change, it really is an underrated opportunity to pick-up some incredible work experience.

My Story:

As some of you have already come to know, I have been working with an Ecuadorian NGO for the past 2.5 years. Right out of the gate I was put in charge of a project that works with over 300 impoverished Ecuadorian families. I had a team of 30 foreign volunteers working for me, and inherited about a million problems that needed to be fixed. The long-term goal of the project was to transform it from a simple daycare service, to an organized and effective supplementary school program. Not to mention, I had to accomplish all of this in Spanish.

Overall, it has been a lot of work, but the experience I have gained proves itself invaluable every single day. No sane company or organization would have ever entrusted me with 1% of the responsibility I have been given in Ecuador. I have certainly made mistakes along the way, but overall I have learned more in these two short years than I did over 16 years of formal schooling.

Endless Opportunities:

My experience here in Ecuador is not at all uncommon. There are literally thousands of jobs available with grassroots development agencies all over the developing world. The majority of these agencies are under-funded and work under harsh environments. The pay is minimal to non-existent. But if you have a year or two (or more) you would be willing to devote, the work experience you will gain is incomparable to any entry-level position available in a developed country.

The opportunities themselves are also extremely varied. You can find positions in everything from social/educational work, to health related fields, to agriculture, to business and technology. If you’re in search of solid practical work experience, and a way to really beef up your resume and make a small difference at the same time, I highly recommend considering long-term development work abroad.

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