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Volunteer Work Abroad?

Posted by Cliff on from the travelling-good-samaritain dept.

MKalus asks: "Looking at what is going on in the world right now and realizing that computers are not everything (yes, there is more than that) I was considering for quite some time now volunteering in an international project. I was looking at institutions like Casa Alianza and Doctors Without Borders but the problem I am facing is that all of these organizations mainly seem to search for volunteers in medical fields and not so much in High Tech Areas. This is, of course, understandable as I don't really think anybody needs a server farm if they don't have enough to eat at the end of the day." Update: 12/03 15:19 GMT by C :MKalus has been reading the comments sent in so far, but had this bit to add: "I am NOT from the US, I am german living in Canada, as such things like the Peace Corps for example are not a viable option."

"Now I am aware of several organisations where you can go for two weeks in a developing country and help on a farm etc. I also remember the Geekcorps but as nice as it sounds to bring the internet in parts of the world who don't have it I don't quite see the sense in it when at the same time thousands of people die everyday.

So here's the question: Is there a geek out there who managed to volunteer for a longer period (6 months to a year or maybe even longer) in a project abroad, something along the lines of those I've mentioned abobe?"

4 of 225 comments (clear)

  1. doctors won't really help in these cases either by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    >I don't really think anybody needs a server farm
    >if they don't have enough to eat at the end of
    >the day.

    They don't need a doctor at this point either.
    What they needed was either farming in the last
    growing season, and/or a transportation infrastructure, together with whatever economic means would have been require to make all that happen.

    By the time widespread hunger sets into a place,
    there's sadly not much to be done.

    Have you considered the Peace Corps? You could
    at least work in commo, if that's geeky enough for you.

  2. International Year of the Volunteer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hey,
    2001 is the UN year of the volunteer. I am curently teaching in the Cisco Academy in Ulaanbaatar Mongolia. THere are plenty of IT related opportunities with the United Nations in the ICT sector. As long as you have at least 5 years experienc and are at least 25 years old.
    Check out www.unv.org for more information. Plus if you are willing to go to Afganistan, I can assure you you will probably be on the next flight with out bombs!

  3. Engineers without Borders by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    You're looking for "Engineers Without Borders":
    here a few of their addresses:

    http://ewob.colorado.edu
    EWOB USA

    http://www.ewb-isf.org
    EWB CANADA

    http://www.isf-france.org
    EWB France = Ingénieurs sans Frontières (ISF)

    There are lots of other local and national EWB groups, a google search should find em.

  4. Peace Corps by Dan+Sullivan · · Score: 5, Informative
    The Peace Corps has specifically solicited for computer expertise. Check out

    http://www.peacecorps.gov/assignments/focusareas .c fm#it There's plenty of work to go around.