There is a lack of experienced professionals to help fix computer problems, or develop IT solutions to complicated problems. Even finding someone to properly network a dozen computers can be a challenge in the developing world.
An example of the challenges that organizations in the developing world face includes poor internet connectivity making it difficult, for example, to download large software programs. It’s almost impossible to download anti-virus software without a connection cutting out part way through due to either connectivity or power cuts. It can take days or weeks of download attempts to get one 50 MB program. As a result many organizations “wing it” without adequate anti-virus and then lose their precious work during one of the frequent virus attacks.
How IT Professionals Can Help Volunteering Abroad
Finding someone to reformat computers without installing viruses or doing a bad installation during a reformatting is rare. Other challenges are that small NGOs do not have enough money to buy basic software needed like the latest MS Office or specialist design software. Many NGOs could seriously do with an “IT makeover.”
When clinics and hospitals go through the process of transforming from paper records to digitalized data on computers, professionals are needed to help this extremely technical and time-consuming process.
Information Technology Volunteer Abroad Opportunities
Peace Corps says, “Information and Communications Technology volunteers help communities and organizations capitalize on available and appropriate information technology. Most ICT volunteers are involved in computer teaching and training.”
This is an accurate reflection of the type of work that volunteers with government organizations like Peace Corps or VSO do in the developing world. They may also support local government offices and hospitals.
Geek Corps is an organization established to help expand web use in developing countries with a strong presence in Mali, West Africa. PC World reports on a former volunteer and IBM employee, Scott Jenkins, who was stationed in Bamako, Mali as a recruit. “Jenkins used his vacation pay from IBM to finance most of the trip; Geekcorps covered his medical, evacuation and travel visa expenses. The nonprofit also paid him a US$10 daily stipend to cover his food costs.” The article further explains that Jenkins “worked 9 to 5 in a 10-person team of Malian and Western IT professionals.”
Challenges Worldwide explains that they, “typically work with volunteers who have a minimum of 3 years work experience and is always on the look-out for volunteers with backgrounds in: Law, Finance and Accounting, Communications and Marketing, HR, IT, Business Planning and Management and Administration.”
Volunteering for Web Developers
Web developers have the choice to volunteer from the comfort of their very own home or travel where the organization they will help is located, particularly if they have a desire to travel anyway and if that organization has poor internet connectivity. It’s a choice of the volunteer. Many, like those online volunteers working for YPWC work from home, contributing their web developing skills online.
One of the best places to begin a search for an IT-related volunteer opportunity is to hit Idealist's data base and do a search.
In short, there are dozens of community service opportunities for IT professionals who wish to volunteer for their next vacation or take a long time out and spend a couple of years living and working in Africa, South America, Asia or anywhere else there is a need for IT professionals to improve knowledge and IT skills.
Gayle Pescud - Co-founder of G-lish Foundation in Ghana, an award winning non-profit that welcomes volunteers in Africa.
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