I have a couple of posts about how to get into aid work. I've been invited to speak on a couple of occasions to university students and to
young people about aid work. Most of the
questions are about how to break in.
I usually try to stay pretty positive, but realistic – not mincing
words about how much you may need to schlep before you “break in”. I have
warned people looking at this field of work of the difficulties they may face –
namely that the work may not be for the a) faint of heart or b) easily annoyed.
I had not thought – however- to tell people that it is ok to quit. And more
importantly, that it will not ruin your career. The message is important, and
not one I’d thought sharing before.
Alanna Shaikh at
Blood and Milk wrote a post on quitting the Peace Corps back in November. I had wanted
to post this for a while. It think it is an extremely important message – not just
for Peace Corps volunteers, but anyone heading off on a longer term
volunteer/internship program that really would like to take on a career in
humanitarian aid and development. In Canada this could be CUSO VSO or the International
Youth Internship Program which comparably throws you out of your comfort zone. The position could be wrong for you. You may feel isolated, lonely, homesick or worse, unsafe. There are a number of reasons why this particular position may not be the right fit - it doesn't mean that your not cut out for aid and/or development work.
I wish someone had said this to me. I had an internship
where the head of the office was verbally abusive to all staff, and physically
abusive to some. There were times where I actually thought I was in physical
danger. Colleagues were physically ill with stress when he was in the office.
But I did not think I could quit because I worried that I would not have
another shot at an international internship or job. So I stuck it out and
eventually was moved. I know now that I likely could have jumped ship and
started over. I may have taken a different path, but I could still have worked
in the same field.
So I have taken note. I’m sharing the post. And in the
future I will be sure to mention that it is ok to quit.