Do you believe in a social mission but never had the chance to be a part of it? Ever wondered how you can give back to society through your daily work? An internship with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) lets you contribute towards public and social welfare while honing your skills.
1. Gain awareness of social issues
You can combine your civic goals with your career goals simply by getting out your comfort zone to be close to the ground. Employers value jobseekers who understand the world around them and are able to help organisations fulfil business gaps and social responsibilities.
For instance, an employer in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector will be especially keen on corporate social responsibility (CSR) as part of its branding efforts, to portray itself as a conscious and reflective company. Some CSR initiatives by FMCG companies include providing free usage of health check equipments at convenience stores, and recycling initiatives for consumers to take part in.
After you have been exposed to social issues through an NGO internship, you might develop insights for how businesses can better plug social gaps through innovative products and services.
2. Apply your skills to a real-world problem
Although you may not have a groundbreaking idea immediately, volunteering or working for an NGO as an intern is still a conducive setting for you to hone your skills in many areas. There are tasks available such as event planning, as well as budgeting and administration matters, not forgetting project management or grant writing and processing.
These areas of work allow you to develop transferable skills to other social programmes or in a commercial setting for your future career.
There are alaways venues for volunteering your skills and improving them at the same time. For instance, you can sign up to be a docent at a museum and be exposed to curation and outreach efforts.
3. Build your circle of like-minded professionals
Interning at a NGO is different from doing so in a corporate setting. You are more likely to meet other individuals and groups who are as passionate about a variety of issues, and these are precious social networks for a young student or graduate at the start of your career path.
To learn more about society, put your skills to a good cause, and meet people with similar passions – these are just some incentives on why you can consider an NGO internship to give and receive at the same time!
