humanitarian volunteer or "peacekeeper"

by tetrapod.sapien 11 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  tetrapod.sapien

  i have always kind of dreamt about being a peacekeeper, or some sort of humanitarian aid worker overseas. of course, as a JW, this was a no no. instead, we were supposed to help spread fear, ignorance and guilt to the rest of humanity. anyways, that's another topic.

  i am always following world events that involve human/animal rights, and environmental issues. but also, since seeing Hotel Rwanda, my conviction was rekindled. i want to be proactive, and try to help in a constructive and organized way. i would accept volunteer or paid positions. i am basically a programmer/sys admin by trade, but would be willing to work whatever grunt jobs. we'll see how it goes!

  since i have left the dubs, i really want to try out/pursue this dream. i know it is not for everybody. however, my convictions that the world can be a better place are strong. i am not doing this because i want something to replace the field ministry, i am doing it because i think that as a homo sapien, i have an obligation to fight "natural selection", as although it is a biological fact, it is still cruel and blind. it is no excuse to let suffering go unnoticed, IMO.

  so my questions to all of you are:

  • can you recommend any agencies/organizations that i could start investigating? i would prefer secular organizations, like the UN (which i have already started communicating with). but, if there is an organization that is backed by a church, but does not shove religion down people's throats, then i would consider them too, based on how neutral and secular they seem. also, worldview would have to not be an issue with any of the orgs, as i'm an atheist.
  • does the collective wisdom of the board have any other thoughts or suggestions?

  cheers!

  TS
• 

  Scully

  Try to contact your regional office of the Red Cross.
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  jaffacake

  I was always interested in Amnesty International, but never got round to doing anything about it! I admire you for being a doer!
• 

  Odrade

  MercyCorps is my humanitarian charity of choice. There are some really good ones out there, that would be happy to get people helping directly, as well as some extra funds. Good for you! http://www.mercycorps.org
• 

  tetrapod.sapien

  Scully and Odrade,

  thanks very much!

  jaffacake,

  thanks as well! and, it's never too late!
• 

  chrissy

  Hey TS,

  My mind is a blank right now on which organizations to refer.. but there is always the Peace Corps. Even as a little indoctrinated dub, to me, the peace corps seemed a lot more interesting and rewarding than pioneering or going through Gilead.

  I am curious as to your wife's view on this? I only ask because I am considering studying in Spain for the first part of next year (about 4-5 mos.) and my husband is half not taking me seriously, and half flipping the switch over the idea. And when I get the slightest glimpse of understanding from him, third party naysayers are voicing their, "your-marriage-is-doomed-if-you-continue-to-be-that-independent" opinions.

  Hmm.
• 

  tetrapod.sapien

  
  hey chrissy,

  thanks for the peace corps suggestion. things are looking up!

  ---

  my wife is very liberal for a witness. the problem: she just has so much fear and guilt about stepping on gods toes. but she is all for me trying to make the world a better place, she just doesn't want me to step on god's toes doing it! so although it is not optimal for her, she is okay with me going overseas on humanitarian runs. i am still not sure if it will work out, but i hope we can juggle and balance.

  you, unfortunately and unjustly, are in a slightly more difficult position, it would seem. my wife thinks i am her head, whereas i think she is my equal. but your husband might very well feel his headship is threatened by you going overseas to study. this is funny sounding, but you have to remember that he is a victim like we were. i really can't say more than that without getting in over my head. but, if i could say one thing: if it is your dream to go study in spain (and an awesome one at that!!), then navigate the relationship in an honest manner to that eventuality being "okay" in his eyes. he can't know if it will work until he tries it, and neither can the nay-sayers at the hall, although they will assert otherwise. that said, long-distance relationships are difficult.

  is there a possibility of him joining you? for a little while? that would be ideal, but not always practical. i hope it works out for you, i really do.
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  chrissy

  Actually the naysayers are not kh-goers, but rather, common worldy folk. He is not a witness and I haven’t attended kh for nearly four years. But he is what they call a non-denominational Christian and so there is still plenty of religious difference in that he would like for me to be “saved” and that I do not want any part of “religion” or Jesus as my savior or whatever. So seeing as how I classify jw’s non-denoms, and the rest of the lot of organized religion devotees as being one in the same… I suspect old-fashioned head of the house thinking could possibly be at play. But I am not one to allow that sort of trite conventional thinking keep me down. Lol.

  And he is a steady working aerospace engineer…no chance in him joining me, I am afraid. Thanks for the encouragement to pursue it…with any luck I will write from Spain next spring!!

  That’s cool your wife is a “liberal” jw. Her liberal thinking may be the very thing that gets her out, so to say.
• 

  EvilForce

  CARE International is a good charity that always needs help.
  
  www.care.org
• 

  chrissy

  yes...care international is the other one I was thinking of.

  For those of you reading your http://english.aljazeera.net ... you know of the Italian female relief worker for Care in Afghanistan that was abducted recently. Things like these keep me from considering this type of work. Seems irrational maybe. Its one facet of fear I am still trying to get a handle on.