THE majority of young people look close to home when deciding what career opportunities they want to pursue.
However, one charity is encouraging them to broaden their horizons as they take their first tentative steps into the world of employment.
Challenges Worldwide is an Edinburgh-based international development charity, which works with young people and businesses and across the world, but particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
It offers people aged 18-25 fully funded business placements as part of the UK Government funded International Citizen Service. UK volunteers work side-by-side with local volunteers in developing countries, staying with host families in the local community.
ICS isn’t a holiday. It’s demanding but hugely rewarding.
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It’s a great opportunity for personal development, a stepping stone to future careers and a chance to make your world a better place.
The wider aim of Challenges Worldwide is to help build a stronger global economy in a bid to address world poverty. Applicants do not need any particular skills or qualifications, or any money, just the ambition and drive to make a difference.
As a Challenges Worldwide ICS volunteer, you will help grow small to medium sized businesses, producing everything from organic honey to eco-friendly stoves.
But your work doesn’t stop there. By helping these businesses succeed, you also help those around them – the farmers who can be trained up to produce honey themselves, the local women’s groups who can sell the stoves and fuel to their local community.
Talking about the training programme at Challenges Worldwide, Communications Manager James Montgomery, said: “In the short term, your work will directly impact the lives of the people you work with. In the longer term, your work will contribute to building sustainable local economies that offer people opportunities for their futures.
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"We are committed to the personal and professional growth of our volunteers. Your placement is an amazing opportunity to develop business skills that can help you find a job."
Challenges Worldwide will provide applicants with internationally-recognised training and mentor support.
The upcoming placement dates are June until September this year, September to December this year and January to March next year.
For more information visit challengesworldwide.com or volunteerics.org/challenges-worldwide-ics or feel free to call the Challenges Worldwide office in Edinburgh on 01312817342 and ask to speak to someone on the ICS team.
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