4 key tips for getting into humanitarian work

Has humanitarian work always spoken to you? Have you always wanted to act, but don't know how or where to start? It's important to commit to a humanitarian project that truly matters to you.

Get informed

Which area do you want to work in? Access to water? Reforestation? Education? To do humanitarian work, it's important to learn about these areas. And before you take on any humanitarian activity, whatever it may be, it's important to properly understand the problems and challenges facing vulnerable communities around the world. Take the time to read news articles, look into global trends and get to know the various organisations doing important work in the areas that interest you.

Connect with humanitarian professionals

Networking is an essential part of any profession, and humanitarian work is no exception. Getting in touch with other professionals in the field will give you valuable insight into their experiences and help you broaden your knowledge even further. Social media platforms are excellent resources for connecting with people who share your interests – use them! Attending conferences or workshops related to your area of interest can also be extremely beneficial. These events give you invaluable access to experts from around the world who can support your efforts, or even offer you job opportunities later on.

Get involved in humanitarian work

Get involved and do humanitarian work! Start looking for ways to get involved in your local community or abroad. It's no secret that taking the plunge is still the biggest step: plenty of people think about it, but very few end up actually doing it. Many organisations also offer volunteering opportunities abroad. If you can, consider making the most of these experiences: they'll let you see first-hand how aid workers operate in different settings and gain invaluable practical experience.

Find organisations that support you

Finally, look for organisations that share your values. They will give you the resources you need to carry out your work, as well as support through mentoring programmes, in which experienced professionals can guide newcomers on the path to meaningful change with a global impact.

Another way to do humanitarian work: fundraising

How do you set up a fundraiser?

Give your fundraiser a title

Choose a title that is striking, evocative or symbolic. The name is the first thing people will see of your fundraiser, so choose it carefully!

Pick an end date for your fundraiser

Choose an end date that is neither too soon nor too far off: you need enough time to raise funds, but not so long that you lose a clear deadline to aim for. Don't worry if you do go past the end date – we can always extend it.

Your goal? To raise enough for a forest, or for one or more wells!

For example, if you'd like to build 10 wells: 10 x €2,495 = €24,950

Choose the type of fundraiser

Will you be fundraising on your own, or taking on the challenge as a team?

Over to you!

Here's a link so you can create a fundraiser