After founding the organization NGOabroad: International Careers and Volunteering, the author wrote this guidebook to help prospective and active social workers progress their careers in international development. As an international career advisor, she has witnessed the volume of individuals who ignore international opportunities because they lack knowledge of the realities on the ground or the requisite skills for global development. This skill-based practical book fills in the gaps, empowering and equipping potential international social workers. Chapters detail the common problems of global poverty and injustice and instruct on community-building methods as a means of creating lasting, sustainable change. This book is designed for those who aim to work in international social work or anyone who otherwise wants to “change the world” but doesn’t know where to start. It’s for those who wish to work or volunteer abroad in professions including nursing, public health, engineering, education, entrepreneurship, environmental work, women’s empowerment and many more.

Since 2002, former psychotherapist and social worker Ann McLaughlin has directed NGOabroad: International Careers and Volunteering a service to match peoples’ skills to humanitarian needs. She provides international career counseling to help people enter or advance in international development careers. Extensive work coaching, training and consulting with grassroots organizations in Asia, Africa, Central and South America, and MENA (Middle East and North Africa).

Ann McLaughlin
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages:
Bibliographic Info: ca. 25 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2021
pISBN: 978-1-4766-8711-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-4474-5
Imprint: Toplight

• “In this book, Ann McLaughlin takes you around the world, boldly sharing her firsthand, vivid experiences and observations that are insightful, instructive and inspiring to passionately engage you in international social work and development, not only to get a job, but to contribute to making a difference to the world in your own ways.”—Manohar Pawar, professor of social work, Charles Sturt University, Australia, president, International Consortium for Social Development

• “This is a practical, experience-based book that holds valuable lessons for those hoping to work in aid and development. The lessons of this book can be a strong start in outlining and overturning many myths about working in international development using straightforward language that is easy to digest”—Olivia Scott Kamkwamba, Ph.D., executive director, Moving Windmills Project