There is a perception that the only skills needed in developing nations are doctors, nurses, builders, and psychologists. This is simply wrong, exacerbated by media accounts focusing mostly on disaster and relief.
Just as there is a huge range of business types in the developed world, so are there in the developing world, including artistically oriented businesses and organizations.
Volunteer Fashion Design and Pattern Making
Nigeria has a thriving fashion industry, as does South Africa. One need only take a cursory glance at Fashion Africa to see some of the rising stars of African fashion. Ghana and India are both gaining well-deserved reputations for fair trade fashion and both have a need for skilled fashion designers to help them reach their potential.
Small organizations often lack the necessary financial or human resources to do everything, including designing, pattern-making, sewing, quality control, and other basic tasks in a fashion design company. Fashion designers can help improve pattern making techniques, teach pattern making, help develop quality control procedures, help improve sewing techniques, and many other activities besides.
Volunteer Artists and Graphic Designers
Many developing nations have rich artistic or crafts heritages and now leverage this to create products to sell locally or by export. As part of this effort, designers and artists are needed to help craft promotional materials or even to develop new products. It may be that a brochure is needed to showcase the products, or packaging design is needed or even a new street sign.
Perhaps illustrations of potential products are also required. Excellent illustration, whether by hand or on computer, will always be welcomed in artistically oriented organizations.
Whether a student, a hobbyist, or a professional artist or designer, there is a home for all skill levels and abilities somewhere in the developing world.
Countries with great and vibrant craft traditions include Guatemala, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Slovakia. The list could go on.
Volunteer Jewelry Designer
Because there are many jewelry making traditions in developing countries, from beads in West Africa, to natural materials throughout South East Asia, there are many opportunities to find projects in which to contribute jewelry design skills, whatever the level of skill. Just take a look at a brochure from Traidcraft to see what kind of jewelry is being developed and retailed in the fair trade world.
These same projects can always use creative or technical inputs from designers from abroad. There is sometimes the possibility of developing new ranges of products, or experimenting with existing ranges, and working side-by-side with artisans to both learn with and teach them.
Volunteer Photographers
Believe it or not, some people have never seen a camera before. And whilst many have, a whole lot more have no idea how to connect one to a computer and edit images for online or print use. As such, skilled photographers who can both take a great photo and develop it to finished stage for use where needed are in demand in volunteer organizations. After all, where do those images that entice one to volunteer come from in the first place? There is a good chance that it was a volunteer photographer. One of the great things about volunteering as a photographer in the developing world is the opportunity to get outside the office and meet the people the organization works with. Photography can be a sensitive issue in some cultures so it’s important to check and find out what is acceptable and not before heading out on assignment.
In short, creatives should not give up when searching for an opportunity to use their skills and talent volunteering abroad. One of the best online databases for searching volunteer projects worldwide is Idealist where it’s possible to find a project for any skill set worldwide.
Gayle Pescud - Co-founder of G-lish Foundation in Ghana, an award winning non-profit that welcomes volunteers in Africa.
Join the Conversation