It has long been the ethos, if not the ethic, of psychology to work via its various iterations and specialties to the betterment of individuals, groups and areas. Professional service is an important aspect of a psychologist’s identity. It is one of the “big three” (teaching, research, service) that are integral to the activities of colleagues, and is emphasized as a core value in founding documents such as the American Psychological Association’s mission (“to advance the creation, communication and application of psychological knowledge to benefit society and improve people’s lives”), vision (e.g., “…a global partner… to facilitate the resolution of personal, societal and global challenges in diverse, multicultural and international contexts”), and ethical standards (e.g., for “Justice,” “Respect for People’s Rights and Dignities,” and “giving psychology away/pro bono”).
This presentation will demonstrate how to translate service into concrete international action. Beginning with examples of specific international service needs and opportunities, at home and abroad, the presentation will highlight people, programs, and places where the vibrant potential for global service is very real and present. For current and future psychologists as well as colleagues in different areas interested in “making a difference in the world,” this talk offers a very pragmatic how-to in developing skills, identifying partners, and managing the logistics and practicalities of international service within a psychology career.
1. Chris E. Stout
Core Faculty, International Psychology, TCSPP
Founding Director, Center for Global Initiatives
Means and Methods of
Humanitarian Intervention
2. Who is in the audience today?
• Practicing Psychologist?
• Academic?
• Grad Student?
• Other?
3. I am presuming that since you are here,
you are interested in humanitarian
work, so I would like give an overview
of:
ways,
tools, and
examples in which to do so.
4. In this context of this talk, I consider
my work an overlapping of psychology,
public health, human rights, global
health, humanitarian intervention, and
technology—all being brought to bear
in helping others in need.
5. Also, in the context of this type of
work, we always need to be vigilant as
to our hubris and the seductive “West-
Knows-Best” parental perspective.
15. While the academic side was important
(and great), I wanted to go into the
field.
On my first international medical
mission, I saw what the diseases of
poverty look like…
21. While we work to treat the ill, proven prevention
strategies include:
Economic development
Ending military conflict
Developing education models – especially for females
Technology leapfrogging and access to information (e.g.,
markets for goods)
Fostering sustainable development
23. From my point of view, while there is
an overwhelming amount to do,
there are many people willing to roll
up their sleeves in whatever literal or
proverbial ways, for example…
30. The Kroc Institute has developed a wonderful visual representation of
possible careers in the field.
http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org/forum/topic/show?id=780588:Topic:272542#.Vo7fL_krLIU
Jobs
31. LinkedIn has a specific tool for looking to
work in the nonprofit arena.
33. Idealist has also developed an excellent guide to Nonprofit Careers and a separate
Careers Resources Section
http://idealistcareers.org/redirected/?orig=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.idealist.org%2Fen%2Fcareer%2Fguide%2F
index.html
35. Skills, Networks and Knowledge: Careers in International Peace and Conflict Resolution
http://api.ning.com/files/7rClTXGMSQlig--3xYllp*9GajBM7iqtHRWdZ*kYcnI_/Webreport.pdf
36. Career Guide from Sustainability on Corporate Social Responsibility
http://www.sustainability.com/
43. 1. Develop a Strong Resume
Make sure you have a strong, clear and compelling resume
and cover letter.
44. 2. Follow Twitter’s List of Key Careers Resources.
This is an excellent way to follow key job openings and news
regarding careers in social change real-time.
https://mobile.twitter.com/CraigZelizer/lists/amazing-career-resources
45. 3. Conduct Informational Interviews
Informational interviews are a chance for you to ask general
questions of someone already in the field.
However, it is very important to not to ask for a job or
put pressure on the person you're speaking with to help you
find a job.
46. 4. Subscribe to Key Web and Job Lists
There are countless numbers of websites that provide resources on
jobs and internships in the field (and in related fields).
Some of the best sites for jobs directly in conflict resolution,
development, social entrepreneurship, etc. are listed in back issues of
Tools for Change:
48. 5. Use your contacts/networks
Professors
Colleagues
Alumni
Social Networks (LinkedIn)
49. 6. Join New Networks
The Association for Conflict Resolution
http://www.acrnet.org/
Women In International Security
http://wiisnetwork.org/
Peace and Justice Studies Association
https://www.peacejusticestudies.org/
Society for International Development
http://www.sidw.org/
50. 7. Examine Ethical Practice
Make sure that the organization's ethics and
practice fit with your values.
8. Considering Taking a Job to Get Experience
Consider taking a intermediate position that will help you
develop the necessary skills, contacts and experience that
can help lead to your more ideal position.
51. 9. Explore Fellowship Opportunities
Fellowships can be an excellent way to get experience.
(e.g., Fulbright, Ashoka, etc.…)
10. Explore Organizations that Have Developed Mentoring
Programs for New Employees
Look for organizations that have Junior Program Officer
Positions (e.g., the UN), Entry Level Fellowships (Catholic
Relief Services in the US), etc...
52. Ashoka
Social entrepreneurship
3,000 Ashoka Fellows
70 countries
Changemakers program:
80+ competitions
21,000 innovations, and
$600 million in direct
investment to innovators.
53. 11. Develop an Expertise in a Needed Area
Developing your skills in additional areas can make you more
attractive to potential employers. Talk with your colleagues
and other professionals in the field to see what might be
potential growth areas.
http://centerforglobalinitiative
s.org/courseWorks.cfm
http://centerforglobalinitiativs.org/courseWor
ks.cfm
60. I was doing an increasing
amount of medical mission
work and being asked to
grow my involvement
(“Accidental”
Humanitarian)
My mentor said “you need to
start a 501(c)3.”
61. I want to tell you about my experience
with starting a non-profit,
the big problem we experienced,
and the pivot… we made…
62. Our pivot was to focus on one key project
and share what we had learned building
CGI to help others accelerate and reduce
the friction in doing humanitarian work.
In other words, to open-source
humanitarian intervention.!
63. The basic idea is that doing good work and
helping others shouldn’t be so hard…
64. We found that those folks
generally broke into two
categories:
• Those wanting to start their own non-
profit/NGO, so we coach and teach how-
to, and
• Those just wanting to do the work or a
project, so we help and act as a fiscal
intermediary.
65. Regardless of which camp you are
in, the following tools may be of
interest, and they all are freely
available…
66.
67. Boston Children's Hospital created HealthMap
Real-time intelligence on
Infectious diseases from various data sources
74. We also produced two books so far,
with royalties going to support the
Center as well as support our mission.
75. We developed a podcast to highlight
interesting people that all have a
humanitarian aspect to their lives or
work.
76. • Huruma Designated Hospital and Kibosho Hospital deals with TB,
pneumonia, immunosuppression, diabetes, accidents/injuries,
hypertension, and one season, a particularly bad malaria epidemic.
• We were able to procure the proper medications needed, and at
follow-up, we learned that our partners had been able to treat and
thus help prevent over 4,100 people from dying of malaria.
• Twenty-eight percent of those infected were children under the age
of five — an even more vulnerable group.
• When calculating the cost, it averaged out to...
• 73 cents a life.
“73 Cents a Life”
86. Infant Mortality Rate
Reduction
86.36%
Maternal Health
Antenatal Care
Safe Delivery
Family Planning
0.5%
<0.5%
<1.0%
100%
100%
65%
Children under 5
Immun.(DPT, polio)
Malnutr. (wt for age)
0.5%
40%
87%
<1%
TB (prev./1000) 18 1.2
Changes in Health
Indicators (1971-2006)
TB patients treated 9,621
Tube-wells for safe
drinking water
198
Plant nurseries – villages 203
Check dams 223
Houses built for poor
people
283
Women involved in credit
program
6,064
Training in Community-
Based Health (since 1983)
Persons from India
Persons from other
countries
17,661
1,911
Overview of Activities
(1970 – 2006)
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