Volunteering to Success: Gaining Experience in Human Rights NGOs

Feb 22, 2024

Written By Nandini Jadeja

Much of the work done to protect human rights globally is done by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), whose experience enable them to provide advice and expertise when needed. Volunteering at a Human Rights NGO offers individuals the opportunity to actively contribute to advancing human rights causes, as well as providing volunteers with a wealth of skills. This article will take you through how volunteering for Human Rights NGOs can be truly transformative and how you should approach such an opportunity.

Understanding human rights NGOs

NGOs are non-governmental, non-profit organisations that focus on specific social and political issues such as human rights. Human rights NGOs work to promote and protect fundamental rights and freedoms through conducting research, advocating for policy changes and providing assistance to affected individuals and communities.

You may have heard of some of the Human Rights NGOs like Amnesty International or Human Rights Watch, but there are also several local grassroots organisations that undertake a range of activities. Such grassroots organisations organise research and documentation of human rights violations, advocacy campaigns to raise awareness, legal assistance for victims and lobbying governments for policy reforms.

Benefits of volunteering for human rights NGOs

Firstly, volunteering for human rights NGOs can provide you with hands-on experience in various aspects of human rights work, such as conducting field research, drafting reports, organising events and participating in advocacy campaigns.

From these activities, you can gain a breadth of knowledge and skills that you are unlikely to gain anywhere else. Research, analysis, communication, project management and advocacy are just some of the skills you can gain. Such skills are applicable to a multitude of career paths including law, policy analysis and international development. The volunteer period can also give you a chance to think carefully about the skills you are strongest in, and what sort of career you want to pursue thereafter.

Volunteers at NGOs also have various networking opportunities available to them, and will get to network with NGO staff, human rights activists, legal professionals and policymakers. This is a valuable opportunity to learn about their work and build lasting professional relationships and connections that may lead to future job opportunities, internships or collaborative projects.

Finding volunteer opportunities in human rights NGOs

The first step to finding a volunteer opportunity is doing research and choosing a reputable NGO. Some ways of finding this information include checking online databases, attending NGO events or conferences and seeking recommendations from peers and lecturers.

When considering where to apply, you should consider factors such as the NGO’s mission, geographic focus, organisational structure, and the volunteer opportunities they have available. You might want to reach out to previous volunteers on LinkedIn to see what their experience of volunteering was like, and which career path they pursued after volunteering.

Applying to Human Rights NGOs

Now that you’ve decided on your NGO, it's time to move onto the application. Ensure you use tailored resumes and cover letters specific to the role you are applying for, and pay close attention to the skills they seek and how you can show these skills through your experiences. Express genuine interest in the NGO’s work and follow application instructions as carefully as you can. You may want to reach out to NGO contacts for informational interviews to learn more about volunteer opportunities. Once you have done this, you will have all the necessary knowledge to express enthusiasm for contributing to the organisations mission.

Making the most of your volunteer experience

Treat your volunteer position with the same level of respect, commitment and professionalism as you would paid employment. This includes meeting deadlines, communicating effectively with supervisors and respecting confidentiality. You should also treat the NGOs clients with the same level of respect as you would any other client.

Remember that the volunteering experience is an opportunity to learn. Thus, you should request feedback from supervisors, reflect on successes and challenges and seek opportunities for skill development and personal growth. You may want to consider keeping a journal to document your experiences, accomplishments and any lessons you have learnt during volunteer assignments.

Conclusion

Volunteering for an NGO can have a truly transformative impact, both for the volunteers and the communities that they serve. It’s a meaningful way of contributing to positive social change, expanding your skills and network and deepening your understanding of human rights issues on a global scale.

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