If you apply to our program you are going to communicate directly with Emily Markham who now serves as the Assistant Director of Global Engagement. In addition to helping organize the annual Global Development and Humanitarian Aid Training Program, she also coordinates on campus global education programs during the school year. Emily holds a Masters of Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh and is proud to have traveled to and/or lived in 4 of the world’s 7 continents. 

New Partner for Training

This year we are working with The Forage Center to provide a simulation during our 2018 Global Development and Humanitarian Aid Training, May 21-25.https://www.laroche.edu/International_Outreach/Global_Development_and_Humanitarian_Aid_Training/

At an affordable price for college students, grad students and those interested in career changes, this training will give you a great introduction to the field of humanitarian and emergency aid.

Later this week I'll be posting more links for jobs, publications, and connections to the field. But for now, check out our application and let us know if you have any questions!

For those in Pittsburgh interested in finding out more about this program, we are having a Meetup  session on February 22. We will be discussing the humanitarian training program, maybe some people who have experience in the field will talk about it and give some advice, and there may be others interested in emergency education or technology for development. In Pittsburgh you never know who will show up at these kinds of things. The city has a remarkable range of people with incredible experience and interests!

You  will also be able to meet me, Astrid and other people in the region interested in these fields - some for work, some just exploring, but have no doubt, I am sure it will an interesting opportunity! Click here to sign up for the meetup and let us know you are coming.

New Year - New Beginnings

It's probably pointless for hope for fewer humanitarian disasters in the upcoming year, but one can wish. Training in this field offers people with experience in many different areas the opportunities  to get jobs in relief, education, water and safety, and many other areas. Websites like Devex, ReliefWeb and Socialdarity jobs can help you figure out where you might fit it. Our course, with RedR training can get you into the field.

If you are in Pittsburgh, or the surrounding areas, you might want to also join our Meetup group to meet others interested in these fields and attend our first meeting to get more details about opportunities!

Let us know if you have any questions about the upcoming programs.

Nicholas Kristof spoke at our school tonight as part of our 50th Anniversary Celebration. He can hold a crowd with stories of people he has met, in desperate and difficult situations, face, to face. His reporting and his column are both a great starting point and consistent place to keep aware of what is going on in development and aid around the world!

Afghan camp and education

Incredible photo essay on the NY Times website shows the impossible conditions of a camp in Afghanistan - with a small glimmer of hope - a classroom that includes girls. Education during emergencies is a now a standard in the humanitarian aid field.

My experience with the RedR UK training course was so great, I am really excited at the prospect of so many more people having this opportunity with them teaching in the US. The curriculum is in depth, interesting and significant - from understanding the origin and role of the Geneva Conventions to more recent agreements and analysis of disasters and emergencies. Understanding how NGOs and the UN are organized and work together is an important part of the field as well. But what I really liked was the straight talk about finding and getting jobs in this field. Invaluable information and connections.