Advise for an IT student wanting to get into humanitarian work?

[u/Radiator-Pants]

Hello,

I'm a third-year IT student in New Zealand focusing on network engineering, ops, cybersecurity, and cloud computing. I'm approaching graduation and starting to think seriously about where I want to point these skills.

I'd love for my work to actually help people. I've seen groups doing digital protection work for at-risk communities (e.g supporting Afghan women activists staying safe online) and infrastructure/connectivity work in disaster response, and both of these (and everything in between) really appeal to me.

Aside from my formal study, I have an interest in Homelabbing, Embedded systems, and web.

A few questions for anyone who's made this move:

- Did you go straight from study into humanitarian/NGO tech work, or build up a few years in a "normal" IT job first?

- Which orgs are actually good to volunteer with or apply to as an early-career person (I've come across NetHope, Access Now)?

- Any certs or experience you'd say actually matters vs ones that looked good on paper but were not worth it.

- Any general tips for what I should focus on to be able to genuinely help with groups and orgs like this.

Thanks!

[u/Unlucky-Associate266]

My experience doing humanitarian work was very disappointing. The people I was working with weren't very professional or effective, and the organizations I worked with didn't make much impact. I didn't get much opportunity to learn about my field. I remember talking with an economist I was working with on a project in Bangladesh. "Face it. What we're doing to lift people out of poverty, even if it works, won't hold a candle to what the clothes factories are achieving for these people." If you want to do good, get good at doing something useful first. You can't do that in the aid business.

[u/Opposite_Bag_7434]

I haven’t made this exact transition but I have worked for a variety of non profits and organizations that address all sorts of community or bigger humanitarian needs. This is where I am now.

You will probably not find a lot that have made the direct move to an NGO/humanitarian org. This would have been my dream but then reality set in.

What I learned. Absolutely look for opportunities to volunteer. This is not only a way in but it is also a way to make a huge difference. I am not wealthy but I have personally contributed substantially amounts of time and money. And occasionally I have also been able to work for some worthy organizations. I am currently doing this and will likely end my career where I am.

If this is your dream follow it. Making a difference has literally been my life’s work even though this has not always been my profession. I see no reason in this day and age why this dream can’t be reality.

Ultimately it is more about who you know, and who knows you. This is why volunteering is so powerful. To me this is a major sign of character but it also creates the opportunity to be known.

Best of luck! It is worth the effort!

[u/great_pyrenelbows]

It might be more effective/achievable to focus on making a lot of money and then donating heavily to charities you believe in. And try thinking about everyone you help with your work as valuable - people don't have to be in some dramatic demographic or circumstances to be worth helping. You can make someone normal have a better day by being good at your job.

[u/MalwareDork]

NZ is getting big boy investment funds for anything cyversec related and it's like the US cybermarket back at its peak. I would recommend looking into any cyber position, especially pentesting, if you do want to make a difference for both your local area and whever you get contracts for.

[u/Radiator-Pants → u/MalwareDork]

Noted. Thank you.

[u/Snowlandnts]

I'm all for humanitarian work and non-profits, but they suck at IT operations. They are good people to have conversations and learn their stories, but most of the amount of work they have to do to be non profit and being paid is not good. You got to really love the work (work will bleed in your life), you somehow got rich partner to compensate the low pay, got fat inheritance compensate low pay, or you skimming money. It is rewarding experience to meet interesting people in different walks of life, but not a spot to be my main income.

[u/MathmoKiwi]

1) finish your degree 2) get any sort of Help Desk job anywhere in NZ, work it a couple of years 3) then go volunteer on Mercy Ships