The foundation of a successful international engagement, whether as a contractor, skills-based volunteer or employee, starts with the quality of the match.
We often see that the allure of an international experience is so strong that people are willing to sacrifice any number of factors just to make it overseas. In the best case, your once-in-a-lifetime experience won’t meet expectations; in a worse case, you’ll hinder or even hurt, the very organization you were hoping to help.
However, we have found that with the proper amount of diligence in sourcing and preparing for the right opportunity, the engagement is more impactful for all parties. At MovingWorlds, we use a matching site and support team to help people find the best place to volunteer their skills overseas for any length of time. Think of it as a short-term Peace Corps for skilled professionals. Beyond nonprofits, we also match “experteers” with startups, schools, social enterprises, innovation hubs and other change-makers who provide unique local benefits — like free housing and immersive cultural experiences — in exchange for skills.
About the author
Mark Horoszowski
Mark Horoszowski is the co-founder and CEO of MovingWorlds.org, a platform that helps people volunteer their skills around the world, on their own or through corporate-sponsored programs. Its newly launched MovingWorlds Institute, accepting applications through November 30th, combines experteering, curriculum, mentorship, and networking to help people transition to social good careers.
