WHY TO WORK IN AN NGO?

These days, peoples want to use their careers to have a positive influence on the planet and society. Many peope
decide to take the path towards working for an NGO. Globally, the number of internationally working NGOs is
around 40,000. At first, this doesn’t seem too difficult, but in reality things look a little different. Social
organisations are in need to talent in all spheres. Volunteering or working full time is a good way to start.

1. Learning And Satisfaction:

NGOs are like startups, in that they have huge aspirations and motivations, and plugging in the right amount of
knowledge, dedication, and people help them achieve it. They might not be able to pay you like your corporate
job does, but they will challenge you, and yes, a sense of satisfaction comes as a part of the deal.

2. The Darwin Theory Of Social Work:

Working with a social organisation at the grass roots level will demand certain adaptations.

Facilities and things which were once necessities will become luxuries. Mosquito bites and lizards will not scare
you enough to jump out of bed because you will be too tired after a long, hectic day in a village. A phone call
from your mother which you might have avoided in the past will feel like a comforting hug.

Adaptation can be tough sometimes and may take time, but it will all be worth it in the end.

3. Mere Desh Ki Dharti:

When you travel to that remote, isolated village in a bus which is making all kinds of noise on typical Indian
roads, only to reach a place with a splendid view, silence, and peace – it makes you feel good in a way nothing
else does.

Places where the river water is clear enough to see the fishes inside, where time doesn’t run as fast as in our
concrete jungles, where people have the patience to listen to your point, where they are always ready to offer
you the classic and tastiest in regional cuisine!

4. A Typical Day In The Life Of An NGO Employee:

The interesting part of my life is that there is no ‘typical’ day. Some days you just sit in the office with multiple
meetings/discussions over the course of the day, and some days are filled with a lot of aggressive readings and
preparing/reviewing training and development modules which become the base for various governmental and
non-governmental organisations. Some days are about visits to nearby villages and some weeks you are staying
in the villages to meet, interact, create self-help groups (SHGs) and deliver training to various groups. Also, you
meet some of the brightest people, who left far more comfortable lives to contribute to society.

Some days, it might look chaotic and unstructured whereas other days, it will make you feel happy about the
lack of monotony in your life.