Volunteer Work Abroad?

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?"

Comments

doctors won't really help in these cases either

[Anonymous Coward]

>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.

Classic problem

[Animats]

It's a classic problem with foreign aid organizations. What they get are young people with the wrong skills. What they need are experienced blue-collar leaders: farmers who've successfully farmed tough land, experienced truck mechanics, construction foremen, and pipeline field bosses.

What use is the net?

[TheSHAD0W]

Infrastructure is nice. Infrastructure is good. Having the right equipment, irrigation and transportation would certainly be welcome.

But information is the next best thing. You may not have a tractor, but knowing how to plow a field without causing soil erosion is important. You can't build an effective grain silo without having the plans for one; but if you know how they're laid out, you might cobble one together.

I suppose you could photocopy a bunch of plans and hand them out, but the net allows neighboring villages to share their experiences and figure out what works in that area and what won't, and to make arrangements to buy equipment and materials on the cheap when it becomes available.

Of course the net is no panacea, but it's of more help than you might think.

International Year of the Volunteer

[Anonymous Coward]

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!

Engineers without Borders

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

How about a different angle

[n0-0p]

I hate to sound harsh but I think you might be looking at this from the wrong angle. The truth is that many of these aid organizations do more harm than good in the long run. They try to solve the problem by providing a little additional food for subsistence and medicines for the most common diseases. This may give people a warm fuzzy, but all it really does is add to the problem of over-taxed resources and over-population in these regions.

If I were you I'd look into organizations whose primary focus is infrastructure development. Building schools, developing industry, and raising the general standard of living is a far more effective goal. It may not have the same immediate gratification of medical aide, but in the long run it's a lot better for the people and probably more along the lines of your skills.

IT in NGO's

[BanthaPoodoo]

I worked as an intern for Doctor's Without Borders a few years ago at their office in New York. As one of only a handful of people in the office who knew much of anything about computers, I did a lot of work on their website, mostly in the form of putting a lot of their fieldwork online. From this experiencem, I have found that NGO's (Non-Governmental Organizations) need a lot of help in this arena. Since IT workers are in relatively short supply, and since we want to get paid for our services rendered, it's hard to find IT services for free, which is what NGO's really need.

I think that as more of the fundraising comes from online sources (paypal, et al) these organizations will need people like us to set up the infrastructure to do these kinds of things. Sure, it won't be as "hands on" as picking up a shovel or suturing a wound, but volunteerism takes on many forms, and we as savants can be of great service if we put our knowledge to use in this regard.

Peace Corps

[Dan Sullivan]

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.