What to Look for in your Field Placement

Oh third years, this is such a climatic time for you all, with applications due later this week! I remember being in your position just over a year ago – the excitement, the nail biting, the constantly changing rankings, and the discussions of who's going where.

First things first, don’t let this be a decision that stresses you out too much; each and every country, and each and every job, has something different to offer. I remember attending an info session and Grainne saying “Choose based on country” and Larry following with “Choose based on the organization”. Both had great points, but which would I recommend to you a year later, and after 3 months of experience on my shoulder? Oddly enough, it depends so much so on the person and what you’re looking for most out of this field placement.

If you find an organization that completely resonates with you, whose mandate makes your heart skip a beat, then by all means tailor your choices and application to that job.

However, if you’re like most of us – you sort of have an idea of what you like, but are largely unsure of what you’ll pursue within development – focus more on the country in which you’d like to work. This field placement is an opportunity to explore, to learn about yourself, and to gain some experience within the field.

Don’t be mistaken in thinking that your job isn’t a big part of your life here – you work for 5 days a week (or 6 if you’re lucky enough to be at certain Nepali NGOs). With that being said, your job IS in fact just your job; and so much, if not most of your learning, is outside of this job. The experiences you take away from this placement will be from your daily interactions with the vegetable vendor, the time you had to jump off of a moving bus, the local parade you joined, and the weekend trips you may take with your classmates. Your assimilation into the culture will teach you just as much about INDEV as your work experiences will.

A lot of your experiences during your field placement depend, quite frankly, on your surroundings. And for those of you that don’t think the weather matters, it does! When making your decision, think about all such factors. Do you prefer constant heat or changing seasons? Do you mind living in a rural area, with limited internet? Or do you prefer the noise and bustle of a busy city? Do you hope to do a lot of travelling outside of the country? Are you okay spending a lot of time on your own or do you prefer having company a lot of the time? Do you have any medical conditions that may make some placements more difficult to manage?

When looking through organizations, similar questions can help you narrow down your choices as well. Do you prefer a desk job or constant field visits? Do you want to work with a bigger, more established NGO or a smaller one? When looking through mandates, remember to look more so at the organization and not as much on the job. Your mandate can and will probably change once you arrive anyway.

And, most importantly, keep in mind that these are just factors to consider, they don’t control the quality of your experience; the true outcome of the placement depends on your attitude. No matter where you go, there will be things that are different and outside of your comfort zone; it’s about you adapting. Don’t look for something that’s exactly the same as what you’re familiar with; the purpose of this is to try something different, to struggle, and to adapt.


For those of you interested in my thoughts on Nepal specifically:
The country is beautiful; the landscape is breathtaking, the people are gentle, and the culture is fascinating. Nepal is home to 8 of the world’s 10 highest peaks, so I cannot emphasize how amazing the views are. Most organizations are in the capital city of Kathmandu, which, at any given moment, is nothing short of absolute chaos. Here in Kathmandu, you have the barking dogs, the dust, the honking cars, and the constant construction; but you also have accessibility to just about anything you need.

The country isn’t without problems, of course. Nepal goes through similar seasons as Canada, so you get the hot, the cool, and the bloody cold; one great thing is that the 8-month placement skips exactly over the main monsoon season (July – August), which consists primarily of humidity and mosquitoes.

Another issue is that there are constant power outages so that can tend to put a dent in your productivity at the workplace. Most houses and workplaces have a generator so you do have access to limited power during these periods, in case of emergencies (or to charge your laptop haha).

The experience of each volunteer is, of course, a different one; and to be blunt, I’ve had an easier time assimilating for the simple fact that I blend in and am often mistaken for Nepali.

IDS Nepal:
The projects I’ve been assigned at IDS Nepal have been specifically geared according to my previous work experience and my current interests. I’d previously volunteered as a Blog Editor for an organization called Smart Solutions so, as an extension of that, I was assigned the task of creating a new company website. For those of you who don’t know me well, you should know that my strengths don’t lie in anything computer-related. BUT, I did my research, spent a good amount of time on Google, and was more than able to complete the project. At first, I was a bit worried because it didn’t seem at all INDEV-related to me, but I quickly realized how wrong I was. This gave me a chance to learn about my organization, to work with various staff in different departments, and really familiarize myself with IDS’ projects.

My upcoming work plan involves creating publications on alternative energy options (carbon credit mechanisms for urban waste biomass) and a case study on the differentiated impacts of climate change on mountain communities, and specifically women. This is work I chose because it interested me, and you’ll be to do the same, no matter which country or organization you end up with. 

Remember, this field placement isn’t your end all, be all. Don’t let it be. There are plenty of opportunities to visit these other countries, so don’t let this stress you out. And you’re in INDEV for goodness sake, I really can’t imagine you’ll be spending all your life in Canada anyway! Regardless of where you go, as long as you have a positive and open mindset, I guarantee it’ll be the experience of a lifetime.

Alright, I hope that helped! It’s more than a mouthful so if you have any questions, please feel free to email me. And for those of you that aren’t INDEVOURS at the University of Waterloo, I hope this still shone some light on finding the ideal volunteer opportunity abroad.