What we can learn from an NGO?

I am working in NGO named CARE India. After working for so many days, I asked myself what I have learned till now? It was important to ask this question because I am in the starting phase of my career, therefore, I am more interested in getting deep rooted experience than anything else. Here is the list of things which I believe an NGO can teach to anyone-

1.       Effective use of government resources- Even though NGO stands for non-government organisation but let me make one thing very clear maximum things NGO do with the support of government only. They don’t have much resources and esp. authority to execute anything independently. Government system is considered to be disorganised and slow. But, as you will have to work in government system slowly you will learn to use its resources effectively. You will know about government policies, plans and methods more or equivalent to any government employee.

2.       Work for a cause- I have met many people in my life who claim that they don’t work for money but I consider all of them as liars because everybody in this world ultimately works to earn its livelihood. In an NGO you get a higher aim, you will learn that if you want money you will have to work for a cause. Unless you give results, you will not earn anything.  NGO proves that you can work for money and social welfare both at same point of time.

3.       Negotiation- Many times you will find that things are not going the way you had planned because someone in the government wants to work as per his choice. Those who really want to make their career in an NGO, it is my advice that they should work on their negotiation skills diligently. Remember, every argument has three sides- your side, my side and the right side. Good negotiators always focus on the right side of the argument. You will learn to convince people without annoying them.

4.       Control on your personal ego- When you are working for something ahead of your personal agenda your ego starts vanishing. If any government employee will show you tantrums you will learn to control yourself because you will realise that getting medicine for a sick person is more important than anything else.  Every government of every nation is full of ‘ego-maniacs’ and in managing their ego you will forget your own ego.

5.       Leading without authority- There is an old saying- Any man can handle adversity but if you want to judge his character give him power. I want to add something into this- if you want to judge the character of a man give him ‘responsibility’ and take away the ‘power’ and then see how he acts. In an NGO you don’t have any direct authority in the system. You have to do everything with the cooperation of others. Then you meet your real self. Then you realize how competent are you? We all can fight with weapons but we all can’t fight with the help of our own thoughts and opinions.