My ethical career: Campaigns officer
Late twenties… Education A degree in Spanish and Latin American studies from Goldsmiths College, and an MSc in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies. So, what do you actually do? Everything to do with promoting and increasing support and awareness of the campaign work of WaterAid, an aid agency which concentrates on clean water and sanitation for the world’s poorest people. What makes your job so ethical? I always wanted to live my life as ethically as possible and that to me means working for a not-for-profit organisation. There are enough companies all over the globe exploiting the world’s poor, I wanted my contribution to the world of work to redress the balance a bit, however small. How did you get into the job? I worked for a face to face fundraising company that had lots of charities as clients, including WaterAid. I’d always respected the organisation, so when I saw a job advert I went for it. I moved from fundraising to campaigns after a year. What does your typical week involve? One day in the week I might be in one of our UK regions, giving a presentation about our current campaign. Another, I’ll be writing articles for our latest campaigns newsletter. Another, I might be working with the policy and advocacy team, deciding on our latest messages or examining research coming from our country programmes. Then, there’s standing with a toilet seat around my head asking people to sign a petition. What kind of personality is suited to working in a job like yours? You have to believe in what you’re doing, otherwise you’ll have a hard time getting people to take action. You also have to be quite flexible, so you can respond to things that happen at short notice. What skills and experience do you need to work in this sector? It helped that I had worked as a volunteer. And that I had studied Development. It showed my clear interest in the field, and though my professional skills are not specific to the sector, they were easily transferable. What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had? I’ll never forget my first trip to see one of our water projects in Madagascar. It was amazing how this community had looked after its waterpoint. It brought home the fact that the organisation I work for really changes people’s lives. Top tips for someone wanting to get into this work? Do a bit of research on the organisations you fancy working for. Find out if there are any volunteering opportunities. It shows you’re keen, and it’s a great way to learn new skills. WaterAid www.wateraid.org.uk
© Copyright ngo.media ltd. |
