Job search gets a humble touch

This seems to be a trend now—youngsters preferring to pursue jobs with non-governmental organisations (NGOs). They want to make a difference to society, and are happy with the income, which are much less compared with those in the corporate sector.

Rajesh Umadevi, who is employed with Sangama, an organisation that works with sexual minorities and sex workers, is 24 years old and has completed his post-graduation in sexuality and gender equality.

“I always wanted to work with an NGO. In our organisation, we travel extensively and work for the rights of sexual minorities. I have full support from my family,” he says.

Emal Ketan, senior relationship manager with iVolunteer (an organisation that extends the platform for voluntary services to city-based NGOs), says, “These days, a lot of youngsters want to volunteer with NGOs. Many take up jobs and want to become a full-time employee. This is because they feel and believe [in the cause], and also want to bring about a change to society. Many NGOs too want youngsters to join. This is because they come with fresh perspectives and are brimming with ideas. Many of them are also okay with NGO jobs in comparison with corporate jobs, where they can earn Rs50,000, unlike with NGOs, which pay only Rs12,000-Rs15,000 to starters,” she adds.

Leo Saldanha of Environment Support Group has a similar opinion. “We get enquiries from young people all the time. And we provide them with a challenging and rewarding, learning environment, which to many is also life transforming.”

He goes on: “Most young people who choose to work with non-profit organisations do so because they have been affected, directly or indirectly, by the latent environmental, economic and social injustices in our society. From that experience to forming a decision to work with an organisation like ours is a big step, especially considering that our work is among the most complex, and monetarily least rewarding.”

Serious alternative
It is not just fresh graduates who are looking for jobs with NGOs. Many youngsters in corporate sector, in the prime of their youth, have left their jobs and have taken to NGOs.

Twenty-eight-year-old Asha Sharath works has been with Akshara Foundation, an organisation that works with anganwadis, for two-and-half years. She chose to work with the NGO after being a corporate employee for four-and-a-half years.

An engineer by qualification, she says: “I was volunteering with Rotaract since I was 18, and working with children. After my corporate stint, I wanted to work full-time with an NGO.”

‘Economic slowdown too a factor’
When asked if they want to work with NGOs because there is a dearth of jobs in other fields, Leo Saldanha of Environment Support Group says, “Of course, when there is an economic downturn, we get a rush of applications from software developers who have lost their jobs. We are sympathetic to their situation, but realise that they are ‘interested’ because of their personal situation. We look for those who have made a positive choice to work with us, because it is very challenging, and the rewards are mainly in the smiles on the faces of communities we have helped empower.”