Sunday, July 24, 2016

Information On How To Volunteer In Developing Countries

By Dorothy Cook


Developing countries are still grappling with a myriad of challenges that affect many sectors. These include healthcare, education, social and environmental among others. At the same time, tremendous growth has led to the emergence of a vibrant corporate sector involving indigenous companies as well as multinationals. As can be seen, there are many areas in which you can plug in if you are planning to volunteer in developing countries.

There are two main ways that one can use to get an opportunity. The first option is where the individual identifies their preferred country. They then make an application to a governmental or non-governmental organization before making the trip. They then visit a government facility or a private organization to apply for a position. The second alternative is to sign up with an organization that will organize your placement (usually at a small fee).

The increased rate of globalization being witnessed in many places in the world means that we have to interact with persons from diverse backgrounds. Healthcare provision is among the areas that have been evolving quite rapidly thanks to this increased diversity. Healthcare workers from the developed countries need to have some knowledge about diseases that have traditionally affected patients in the developing countries.

There are numerous opportunities for volunteers in the health care sector. In many places in developing countries, staffing in this sector is major challenge. Rural communities are constantly faced with the challenge of not getting adequate medical attention whenever they need it. The existing shortage of health care providers means that they often have to travel for long distances. Doctors, nurses and other health professionals can make a real difference.

If you are a trainer in healthcare provision then you are bound to get numerous invitations especially in the rural parts where a good number of healthcare providers are semi-skilled. Since well-equipped hospitals are quite few, basic lifesaving skills are a must-have for most, if not all healthcare professionals. Medical disciplines for which constant training is usually needed include obstetrics, pediatrics and trauma.

Teachers are the other much needed group of professionals. While there has been an exponential increase in the number of enrollments to primary and secondary schools in these countries, the number of teachers has grown at a much slower rate. Many of the teachers are overwhelmed by the huge number of teachers that they have to instruct. As a volunteer, your help may be used in subjects such as sciences, music, mathematics and foreign languages.

The conditions of living for the majority of the population in these countries are still not ideal. As a matter of fact, many citizens are housed in substandard houses in slums. Levels of unemployment are very high and so are social evils such as crime and gender based violence. Social workers who can volunteer to work within these communities can create a huge impact.

There are very many benefits associated with volunteering. These relate to both the volunteer and their host communities. While the host community benefits from the services of the volunteer, the latter gains the much needed field experience that helps in career development. There are numerous opportunities for potential volunteers in developing countries.




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