Aid workers
Wednesday 20 January 2010
Aid workers help communities that need it most. Find out more about their work.
What is an aid worker?
An aid worker is someone who provides long term help and support to communities that need it. Normally they lend a hand on projects that develop communities and build positive livelihoods; they assist in classrooms, teach people about hygiene and health, work on farms and lots more.
Sometimes when a natural disaster strikes, they’ll be sent across the world to help out. Get all the details here.
What do they do?
Most aid workers manage and monitor projects and fundraisers, and prepare schemes for development. Their job is also to source the right resources so that their work can go ahead.
Haiti
International aid workers who help during natural disasters are normally used to working under pressure. Most of them are trained in specific fields too.
In Haiti, where a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the country, more than 1,700 aid workers from over 40 countries are currently doing their best to help the people there. Many of them are trained in planning and distributing aid, also called logistics, engineering, ground and flight transportation and social services.
They’re working hard to provide all kinds of aid – from distributing food to providing medical services and hygiene kits, finding shelter for the homeless and clearing up the rubble caused by the quake.
Organisations
Resources needed to help communities are paid for by donations from organisations, businesses, Governments and of course, you guys. DEC and UNICEF are appealing for donations now, so if you've got some spare change then visit either one of these sites.
The BBC has been following six aid workers in Haiti who have been blogging about their experiences. Read about what they've seen and done since the quake.
The right attitude
Life for an aid worker can be quite hectic. They have to be willing to live and travel at the last minute, and may have to live in basic conditions too - they could be without a TV, a mobile phone, or even a bed for some time. Aid workers have to think fast, especially when they’re working in an emergency. They may also have to be on their feet for long hours as well, so they have to be quite fit.
They may often work in challenging environments and could be away from home for long periods. At times they may have to work in stressful circumstances and may witness a lot of human hardship. Aid workers therefore have to be level headed and tough skinned to get their job done.
Get started
Do you want to become an aid worker? The first step is to do some volunteering work. You can do this through a charity like the Red Cross, a volunteer-led organisation that provides help to people in crisis. You don’t need any specific skills or experience to get started, all you need is some spare time. If you’re interested then call 0845 054 7111.
If you’re up for more of a challenge then why don't you do some volunteering in a different country? There are loads of online organisations that provide people with the chance to work on projects. VSO is the world's biggest organistion dealing with international development. It specialises in six areas including disability, HIV and AIDS and education. Get involved here.
A degree would be helpful if you want a career in international aid. Most aid workers have qualifications in social sciences, human rights, economics, logistics, medicine or nursing.
If uni isn’t for you, then you’re still in luck. Visit Development Studies Association for a heads up on training courses and events dealing with development issues.
