International development is an interesting area of study for those who would like to have a career in international relations or diplomacy. This field is all about knowing the ins and outs of economic development and the international dynamics between sovereign states. For those wanting a future in embassy or consulate work, it would be a valuable internship experience if one could have the right break with the right institution.
Many international aid organizations have departments that are focused on international development. Aid organizations such as the Red Cross and Red Crescent have been very driven in knowing the implications of aid to those who need it. While these organizations do get a good amount of funding through the generosity of donors and their sponsors, it is still very important to know how to maximize the use of resources and the impact of the aid to the target country. In the face of the grim challenges and the overwhelming odds, it is important to know where to divert aid and how much aid one area deserves. For a crisis zone such as certain African countries, for instance, the relative severity of the conditions must be weighed to make sure that the limited resources can be spread out in the most optimum manner across the areas that need assistance.
Aside from providing relief, it is also in the best interest of an international agency to promote fund development and long term sustainability of the efforts in the area. This is where training and education comes in. Being an intern for a firm or organization that specializes in this type of operation would be very good training for a future in a career in human resources or project management. Firms that have been set up by Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunnus would most definitely be a good training ground for someone who wants to learn how to make local populations more reliant on their own initiatives.
The United Nations and the US Peace Corps also have extensive projects that often take interns and volunteers. Most of these international project teams are deployed in developing nations in Latin America, Africa and Southeast Asia with the aim of making an impact on the lives of many people in these areas. Education development is usually the main concern of these projects and activities. Education opens up opportunities that could give the youth a chance to move out of their current impoverished situation.
If you are really determined to have a career in international service, taking an internship with an established organization or charity would be a great start in bolstering your chances for your future career. You certainly don’t have to be too picky with the field of work you would be immersed in. Most of the time, development work would not only involve office work and coordination (between government bodies and financing institutions, for instance). Rather, the best place to gain valuable insights and experience would be at the grassroots level, where the actual aid initiatives are being done.
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