Does this EC stand out? (Syria related)

[jlocker83]

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Wondering how this volunteering EC can be viewed against other more typical volunteering experiences...

A good friend of mine works for the WFP (world food program). He has helped me land a month long volunteer opportunity working in a Syrian refugee camp. I'll be based on the Syrian/Jordanian border for almost a month, helping provide basic health care, delivering/serving food, performing manual labor, among other things I'm sure.

I'm really looking forward to helping out during this unbelievable crisis, and even if it didn't make much of a diff to adcom's, I'm still ecstatic about going. Additionally, I'm interested in working with under served populations in the future, and thinks this type of experience can only highlight that desire. That said, just wondering how this would stack up against other, more common volunteer scenarios.

 

[Dr Turkelton]

Wondering how this volunteering EC can be viewed against other more typical volunteering experiences...

A good friend of mine works for the WFP (world food program). He has helped me land a month long volunteer opportunity working in a Syrian refugee camp. I'll be based on the Syrian/Jordanian border for almost a month, helping provide basic health care, delivering/serving food, performing manual labor, among other things I'm sure.

I'm really looking forward to helping out during this unbelievable crisis, and even if it didn't make much of a diff to adcom's, I'm still ecstatic about going. Additionally, I'm interested in working with under served populations in the future, and thinks this type of experience can only highlight that desire. That said, just wondering how this would stack up against other, more common volunteer scenarios.

I dont know the answer to this question but do you have any advice on how to find a gig like this? I've been trying to set this up but everyone I've talked to says they only take physicians or locals.

 

[487806]

Wondering how this volunteering EC can be viewed against other more typical volunteering experiences...

A good friend of mine works for the WFP (world food program). He has helped me land a month long volunteer opportunity working in a Syrian refugee camp. I'll be based on the Syrian/Jordanian border for almost a month, helping provide basic health care, delivering/serving food, performing manual labor, among other things I'm sure.

I'm really looking forward to helping out during this unbelievable crisis, and even if it didn't make much of a diff to adcom's, I'm still ecstatic about going. Additionally, I'm interested in working with under served populations in the future, and thinks this type of experience can only highlight that desire. That said, just wondering how this would stack up against other, more common volunteer scenarios.

It's good if you make it out alive. You're entering a warzone and thus putting your life at risk.

 

[jlocker83]

It's good if you make it out alive. You're entering a warzone and thus putting your life at risk.

Well, I'll be outside Syria, in Jordan. There isn't an active warzone in Jordan...my buddy has been there for 6 of the last 9 months, says it's tense at times, but there isn't any active fighting going on.

To the above poster - I think it certainly helps to have an inside connection to one of these opportunities. If you'd like, I can probably give you much more information/perhaps an inside track once I return. Just PM me your info.

 

[487806]

Well, I'll be outside Syria, in Jordan. There isn't an active warzone in Jordan...my buddy has been there for 6 of the last 9 months, says it's tense at times, but there isn't any active fighting going on.

To the above poster - I think it certainly helps to have an inside connection to one of these opportunities. If you'd like, I can probably give you much more information/perhaps an inside track once I return. Just PM me your info.

As long as you're safe, that's what matters the most.

 

[jlocker83]

As long as you're safe, that's what matters the most.

I appreciate the concern. 🙂

I'm actually not telling my mother I'm volunteering until AFTER I return home....she'd likely die of worry.

 

[Warrenc]

omg I'm getting anxious just thinking about going there.............


stay safe.


and of course it will look great. the clinical aspect too 👍

 

[circulus vitios]

First world privilege: spending thousands of dollars on flights to volunteer in a war zone.

 

[jlocker83]

First world privilege: spending thousands of dollars on flights to volunteer in a war zone.

I'm on the west coast...it was 650 to fly east for xmas or 950 to fly to tel aviv...for a few hundred extra figured I could do something that may very well be life-altering...rather than sit around getting drunk and fat at home for a couple of weeks..

 

[jlocker83]

and only in the first world is this an option..................

Agreed. Exactly why more first-worlder's should take advatange of their unique position in life.

 

[Pose]

I lived in Jordan. Enjoy your time. Meet lots of locals. PM if you ever have questions.

 

[jlocker83]

to be honest i wish i had the courage to leave the country and volunteer to help those who trully need it...

but i do not want to get r*ped in a place like india

That's like saying you don't want to go swimming because you're afraid of being eaten by a shark. Honestly, I think once you immersed yourself in that environment you'd realize how far-fetched those fears actually are. Sure it happens from time to time, but the odds of it happening to you are miniscule.

That said, if you're a female, I don't blame you for being fearful of traveling in India alone..it can be quite daunting. Though you'd unlikely be raped, cat calls, inappropriate touching, stares, etc will almost certainly ensue.

 

[NYCNative]

I dont know the answer to this question but do you have any advice on how to find a gig like this? I've been trying to set this up but everyone I've talked to says they only take physicians or locals.

You could literally just show up with $2000 and connect with people there. It's the third world.

 

[jlocker83]

You could literally just show up and connect with people there. It's the third world.

This is actually bad advice. The refugee camps, at least in Jordan, are closed. Meaning, they are run by first world organizations who don't just allow anyone to enter. You'd likely spend a lot of time and money and accomplish not much of anything if you were just hoping to fly to Jordan and show up at the gates of a refugee camp.

 

[jlocker83]

u raise a good point. but my *ss p*ssy still quivers at the thought of being gang r*ped by a horde of indian men desperate for my soft, caucasian skin.

still.... i guess i should push outside of my comfort zone and consider volunteering ...

I'd definitely recommend somewhere other than India if this is your first time volunteering/traveling abroad. Like I said, it can be overwhelming to put it lightly...but definitely, get out there and explore a bit..I think you'll be happily surprised by what you find!

 

[jlocker83]

hmm you sure are making it hard to say no to this volunteering idea!!! 😍

where do you recommend a good place to volunteer my services? ideally it would involve minimal effort and cost, but also maximize my standing in the adcoms eyes...

Well I dont think you should only volunteer somewhere because you want it to look good to adcomm's. I've been following the crisis in Syria since it began, and I've always wanted to play an active role in doing ANYTHING to add some positivity to the people affected. As I mentioned, I'm also interested in working with under served populations after medical school, and this just seemed like too good of a scenario to pass up. I'm also several years out of undergrad and have a degree in public health, along with some relevant work experiences. I don't know what your background is, but a good place to start looking would be on idealist.org.

 

[ChemEngMD]

Lascivious is the best subtle troll I've seen on this site in a long time 👍

Better than your blatant troll handle where you talked about your physical you received for your truck driving gig 👎

 

[circulus vitios]

I'm on the west coast...it was 650 to fly east for xmas or 950 to fly to tel aviv...for a few hundred extra figured I could do something that may very well be life-altering...rather than sit around getting drunk and fat at home for a couple of weeks..

Yeah, like handing out aspirin and hammering a few nails. Stuffing $950 in an envelope and mailing it to a local aid group in Syria would have a much greater impact, but then you wouldn't be able to brag about your upper middle class adventures in your personal statement.

 

[jlocker83]

Yeah, like handing out aspirin and hammering a few nails. Stuffing $950 in an envelope and mailing it to a local aid group in Syria would have a much greater impact, but then you wouldn't be able to brag about your upper middle class adventures in your personal statement.

You realize 95% of all volunteers/ngo employees over there are westerners?

 

[487806]

Lascivious is the best subtle troll I've seen on this site in a long time 👍

Better than your blatant troll handle where you talked about your physical you received for your truck driving gig 👎

He isn't subtle. His trolling is clear and cliched, but OP was patient enough to respond.

 

[BlueLabel]

Lascivious is the best subtle troll I've seen on this site in a long time 👍

Better than your blatant troll handle where you talked about your physical you received for your truck driving gig 👎

Subtle... right, I guess other than the perennial dancing banana at the end of each of his posts, the trolling is totally under the radar.

 

[volcomx]

He isn't subtle. His trolling is clear and cliched, but OP was patient enough to respond.

Perhaps the OP is trolling the troll?

 

[BlueLabel]

if we could please stop discussing my status as a troll and return to the topic of discussion at hand which includes the noble and i think personally courageous pursuit of volunteering within a third-world country to provdie essential services to individuals left homeless and without recourse after being devastated by the tradgedies and horrors of war.

gtfo

 

[dap]

My question is why Syria other than the fact that you know it sounds cool/intense/good story/etc.? Do you have any particular interest in Syria, the Middle East, the Muslim world, or refugees long-term? Saying you are interested in working with "underserved" populations isn't quite good enough in my mind.

It's just too hard to see working a month abroad near Syria for anything other than it is: a good story/adventure and something to (hopefully) boost your app.

I'm most definitely not an admissions committee member, but my answer would be that probably that does not stand out as an "EC" because every third applicant has done some similar short-term overseas thing, or if it does stand out solely by nature of being "extra edgy/dangerous" well... that's not exactly a good way to stand out in my mind.

I know this gets repeated on here all the time, but I would advise trying to find something you are interested in and passionate based solely on the work/activity itself, and not on what it may or may not do for your application. (Although in the end you may find such an approach does actually stand out from so many other applications)

 

[487806]

if we could please stop discussing my status as a troll and return to the topic of discussion at hand which includes the noble and i think personally courageous pursuit of volunteering within a third-world country to provdie essential services to individuals left homeless and without recourse after being devastated by the tradgedies and horrors of war.

Man you're terrible at trolling.

 

[jlocker83]

My question is why Syria other than the fact that you know it sounds cool/intense/good story/etc.? Do you have any particular interest in Syria, the Middle East, the Muslim world, or refugees long-term? Saying you are interested in working with "underserved" populations isn't quite good enough in my mind.

It's just too hard to see working a month abroad near Syria for anything other than it is: a good story/adventure and something to (hopefully) boost your app.

I'm most definitely not an admissions committee member, but my answer would be that probably that does not stand out as an "EC" because every third applicant has done some similar short-term overseas thing, or if it does stand out solely by nature of being "extra edgy/dangerous" well... that's not exactly a good way to stand out in my mind.

I know this gets repeated on here all the time, but I would advise trying to find something you are interested in and passionate based solely on the work/activity itself, and not on what it may or may not do for your application. (Although in the end you may find such an approach does actually stand out from so many other applications)

I appreciate your input.

The reason I picked Syria was two-fold - first I had a friend currently doing NGO work over there who was able to get me in as a short-term volunteer. Second, my fiancee is half Syrian (her father's side) so I've gotten to know a lot of Syrians/heard first hand about their struggle, and actively working with these people seemed much more personal to me than writing a check. But, I can appreciate all points of view on the matter.

 

[SunsFun]

I appreciate your input.

The reason I picked Syria was two-fold - first I had a friend currently doing NGO work over there who was able to get me in as a short-term volunteer. Second, my fiancee is half Syrian (her father's side) so I've gotten to know a lot of Syrians/heard first hand about their struggle, and actively working with these people seemed much more personal to me than writing a check. But, I can appreciate all points of view on the matter.

Do you care more for it to be personal or effective? The check you will write (to right organization) will accomplish much more in helping those people out than another volunteer from the US who doesn't really speak any Arabic or understands the situation. If you were an OB/GYN or a surgeon going there to donate your indispensable service then go ahead by all means. But, what you will do can be done for less using local workforce which is a better way to do it anyhow.

I know I am biased against those international trip so take my advice with a grain of salt. So far out of all the med school applicants I've met, 3 went overseas. All of them did it exclusively to boost their odds of acceptance. They could care less about the issues at hand long-term and came from very privileged backgrounds. The people who seemed to care the most about these issues often spend years working there and for applicants the only realistic option is their local community. People here need help too and your small investments year after year can go pretty far. Think about it, you can get a job here and volunteer weekends and evenings for the local community while sending your check to help the Syrians.

 

[ChemEngMD]

He isn't subtle. His trolling is clear and cliched, but OP was patient enough to respond.

Subtle... right, I guess other than the perennial dancing banana at the end of each of his posts, the trolling is totally under the radar.

Maybe I'm trolling his blatant trolling by calling it subtle trolling

*mind blown*

 

[dap]

I appreciate your input.

The reason I picked Syria was two-fold - first I had a friend currently doing NGO work over there who was able to get me in as a short-term volunteer. Second, my fiancee is half Syrian (her father's side) so I've gotten to know a lot of Syrians/heard first hand about their struggle, and actively working with these people seemed much more personal to me than writing a check. But, I can appreciate all points of view on the matter.

These are all good things that you should include when you report about your experience. Don't misunderstand me, I think it's great that you want to help out and that you are spending your free time doing this. I mean that sincerely. But view this as a learning experience for you--try to see if you enjoy this kind of work and if you could see yourself doing it in the future for significantly reduced pay/family time/etc. If so, awesome, come back next time you get the chance, start working on your Arabic back home, tailor your medical education to the needs of the region you are interested in, prepare for a great and extremely valuable/appreciated career. If not, that's totally fine too. You tried it, you realized all other factors considered that it isn't your partıcular gig, and you move on to something else equally valuable and donate money to this organization. Hope your work and travel is blessed/yolculuğunuz mübarek olsun. 👍

 

[jlocker83]

These are all good things that you should include when you report about your experience. Don't misunderstand me, I think it's great that you want to help out and that you are spending your free time doing this. I mean that sincerely. But view this as a learning experience for you--try to see if you enjoy this kind of work and if you could see yourself doing it in the future for significantly reduced pay/family time/etc. If so, awesome, come back next time you get the chance, start working on your Arabic back home, tailor your medical education to the needs of the region you are interested in, prepare for a great and extremely valuable/appreciated career. If not, that's totally fine too. You tried it, you realized all other factors considered that it isn't your partıcular gig, and you move on to something else equally valuable and donate money to this organization. Hope your work and travel is blessed/yolculuğunuz mübarek olsun. 👍

You've given me a lot to contemplate. I love traveling, and my current career allows me to work remotely, so I'm pretty free to travel. With that in mind, I would like to do some volunteering while I'm away in Dec/Jan. Do you feel the above sentiments are applied to ANY overseas volunteering?

 

[khrisskhoras]

OP, i'd be careful. Terrorist FSA/Nusra rebels run amok in those refugee camps. They might eat your lung or decapitate you. Or if you are lucky, use you for sex jihad. Just be on the lookout for those bearded bozos.

btw im from the middle east. inb4 "racism" accusations.

 

[Harpsx]

You've given me a lot to contemplate. I love traveling, and my current career allows me to work remotely, so I'm pretty free to travel. With that in mind, I would like to do some volunteering while I'm away in Dec/Jan. Do you feel the above sentiments are applied to ANY overseas volunteering?

In my opinion, it depends on the motive to go abroad. I went abroad on a volunteer trip, however I was heavily involved with the organization for three years locally before I went abroad with them to see the impact our work had made on a particular community. This trip had deep personal meaning for me, and I would have gone regardless of med school admissions because it strengthened my commitment to the organization/showed me on a personal level the 'good' we could do. (I know, I sound like the AMCAS experiences section...🙄)

I know you have good intentions but there's travelling, there's volunteering, and then there's poverty tourism, which is not necessarily bad but there are certainly better ways to help particular communities other than an isolated short term trip (where often premeds don't really have many skills to offer). There are lots of organizations in the US to volunteer with, and travelling for fun is certainly still a great thing to do. There are personal benefits to these volunteering abroad trips (maybe it'll make you more passionate about a cause) but I think there's an element of disingenuity that some people sense when hearing about those kind of overseas experiences.

 

[jlocker83]

In my opinion, it depends on the motive to go abroad. I went abroad on a volunteer trip, however I was heavily involved with the organization for three years locally before I went abroad with them to see the impact our work had made on a particular community. This trip had deep personal meaning for me, and I would have gone regardless of med school admissions because it strengthened my commitment to the organization/showed me on a personal level the 'good' we could do. (I know, I sound like the AMCAS experiences section...🙄)

I know you have good intentions but there's travelling, there's volunteering, and then there's poverty tourism, which is not necessarily bad but there are certainly better ways to help particular communities other than an isolated short term trip (where often premeds don't really have many skills to offer). There are lots of organizations in the US to volunteer with, and travelling for fun is certainly still a great thing to do. There are personal benefits to these volunteering abroad trips (maybe it'll make you more passionate about a cause) but I think there's an element of disingenuity that some people sense when hearing about those kind of overseas experiences.

I'm conflicted. On one hand, I do tend to agree that those trips where you spend 3k to go volunteer teaching English in a school in fill-in-the-blank third world country is a bit disingenuous.

Alternately, I think there is definitely some good that can come from a traveler wanting to volunteer their time to a cause while visiting a country, even if only for a few weeks.

I very much would like to volunteer because I want to give back, and yes, I could/and do give back at home, but I'm going to be traveling regardless. I feel like why not help those who are in extreme need...rather than spend all my time going to tourist sites, getting drunk, etc.

I'm not quite sure how to reconcile the two opposite ends of the spectrum. On one hand I don't want to become a packaged voluntourist shuttled off to some for-profit orphanage, but on the other, I'm going to be traveling anyways, and want to give back to the country I'm visiting (apart from injecting my US dollars into their economy).

 

[plantaris]

Ive never been to Jordan but from what I heard you should meet lots of locals

 

[dap]

Do you feel the above sentiments are applied to ANY overseas volunteering?

For the most part, yes. Any short-term, non-longitudinal overseas volunteering is best viewed as a learning experience for the volunteer more than anything else. If you take that attitude with you your time will be better spent, and I think you will impress admissions committees more by understanding that than by any other part of your trip.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/22/h...?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20131022&_r=0

 

[Planes2Doc]

It's kind of sad that peoples' intentions must be taken into question when they undertake "volunteer" opportunities. I think it's best to address the elephant in the room, and admit that a majority of pre-meds are doing these activities to get into medical school.

The OP, however, does have some points that are "legitimate" as to why he wants to go to Syria. It's sad that we must question his motives, but with the way voluntourism has gone in the medical school admissions game, it's reasonable to do so.

As others have already mentioned, cutting a check to the organization would go much further to help the people, but doing so unfortunately doesn't help your application. So armed with the OP's reasoning, I think that spending a month could help his application versus a pre-med doing a random two-week trip which may be frowned upon by ADCOMs.

If the OP really wants to boost their application, I would recommend starting a non-profit devoted to helping the cause in Syria. While today's large non-profits will do far more good work than any pre-med's non-profit, cutting a check to something like the Red Cross once again will not help one's application.

Therefore, I say go for it, and if you do have the time and resources, starting a non-profit to help the Syrians would likely give a further application boost than a one month volunteer stint in Jordan.

 

[joonage]

Random question: Are you a Husky? Just couldn't help but notice J. Locker, who I assume is referring to Jake, as your screen name. 😛

 

[jeffs office]

OP, I think you should definitely go on the trip. Regardless of money, I think it will be an amazing exposure to a life outside your own. It seems that your going with good intentions and I truly hope you have to opportunity to help and impact another's life. Good luck.

It's a little frustrating to hear a lot of people recommending that the perfect solution should be not to go and just give money to the country. Unfortunately, you rarely find out where that money is going and how it ends up affecting the country in the future. It would be great if more Americans left native soil, and experienced life from a different perspective, especially if they have the finances. People can assume what it's like, but you really don't know until you leave. I know many don't agree, and I really could go on, but meh. All I'm saying is, OP, I think you should definitely go for it! 🙂

 

[jlocker83]

Random question: Are you a Husky? Just couldn't help but notice J. Locker, who I assume is referring to Jake, as your screen name. 😛

ha no..that actually refers to my own name; Justin

 

[jeffs office]

These are all good things that you should include when you report about your experience. Don't misunderstand me, I think it's great that you want to help out and that you are spending your free time doing this. I mean that sincerely. But view this as a learning experience for you--try to see if you enjoy this kind of work and if you could see yourself doing it in the future for significantly reduced pay/family time/etc. If so, awesome, come back next time you get the chance, start working on your Arabic back home, tailor your medical education to the needs of the region you are interested in, prepare for a great and extremely valuable/appreciated career. If not, that's totally fine too. You tried it, you realized all other factors considered that it isn't your partıcular gig, and you move on to something else equally valuable and donate money to this organization. Hope your work and travel is blessed/yolculuğunuz mübarek olsun. 👍

This. Though, I am wary of donating to organizations you aren't well acquainted with. Just a personal preference to know exactly where the money is going.

 

[SunsFun]

OP, I think you should definitely go on the trip. Regardless of money, I think it will be an amazing exposure to a life outside your own. It seems that your going with good intentions and I truly hope you have to opportunity to help and impact another's life. Good luck.

It's a little frustrating to hear a lot of people recommending that the perfect solution should be not to go and just give money to the country. Unfortunately, you rarely find out where that money is going and how it ends up affecting the country in the future. It would be great if more Americans left native soil, and experienced life from a different perspective, especially if they have the finances. People can assume what it's like, but you really don't know until you leave. I know many don't agree, and I really could go on, but meh. All I'm saying is, OP, I think you should definitely go for it! 🙂

You can use charitynavigator.org to see where the money is going and if the charity is reputable.

 

[dap]

If the OP really wants to boost their application, I would recommend starting a non-profit devoted to helping the cause in Syria. While today's large non-profits will do far more good work than any pre-med's non-profit, cutting a check to something like the Red Cross once again will not help one's application.

Therefore, I say go for it, and if you do have the time and resources, starting a non-profit to help the Syrians would likely give a further application boost than a one month volunteer stint in Jordan.

I think this is a pretty bad idea. This is a big part of the problem with volunteerism, non-profits, aid work, etc. especially abroad. People think it takes nothing more than a desire to "do good" and a little bit of resources to "help the Syrians." This is entirely not true. Successful ngos/aid orgs/non-profits are led by professionals who have significant training and/or hands on experience in their field. For people who spend much of their time trying to learn the best ways to do this kind of work, trying to gather the skills and experience and networks that are necessary, it's very frustrating to hear "well just start up a non-profit and there ya go." The last thing this world needs is more NGOs/non-profits. Does a pre-med student occasionally start a non-profit that hangs around and is maybe beneficial? Of course. But in general I would recommend strongly against it.

This is the whole reason why donating money to a well-researched organization is more effective. It ends up in the hands of professionals, people who do this every day, every year, as their career. When these people fail, they don't have a job anymore. When your average college-student-turned-development-professional fails, they are just out a little cash but still have a nice bullet point on their CV.


As for the organization I mentioned above, I was mostly kidding around about telling the OP to donate to it, but it is in fact a fantastic organization. If you navigate around their website a bit, you will find reports of all their donations and how they spend their money, a relentlessly updated blog about everything going on, and even more impressive, you will find a "failure report" for every training program they conduct detailing any and everything that went wrong or just not perfectly, and then a year-end failure report summing it all up. All of their tax forms, income figures, etc are online. Their whole raison d'etre is training local healthcare professionals to take over their work in the public sector. I also know all of the leadership involved in this organization personally, and they are either Iraqis or live full time in Iraq with their families, and are generally incredible people. The founder and director of the group just published a book, if anyone is looking for some honest and moving reading material on medical development, Iraq, peacemaking: http://www.amazon.com/Preemptive-Love-Pursuing-Peace-Heart/dp/1476733465

Sorry for veering slightly off-topic, but when someone soft-balls me a chance to plug a great organization, I gotta take it.

 

[0TopCat0]

If you're legitimately going on this trip because you want to, don't worry about it looking dis-ingenuous brah. When it comes time to talk about the trip, I think they'll know. Just don't worry about it until it comes to the point where it matters, and im sure you could list it as an EC if you spent time helping people with medical related issues.

Btw, this is aweseome! I can't imagine the type of s*** you'll get to see, even if you're just in a camp.

 

[Harpsx]

It's kind of sad that peoples' intentions must be taken into question when they undertake "volunteer" opportunities. I think it's best to address the elephant in the room, and admit that a majority of pre-meds are doing these activities to get into medical school.

I think it's more sad that med admissions has become such a box checking game that we forget these 'volunteer' experiences involve real people who need real help in an often incredibly culturally complex situation (not directed at you OP, just speaking in general). Although a lot of these trips are not necessarily bad, some overseas trips can possibly do more bad than good (no matter their intentions) to communities/people in a both a short and long term way (medical mission trips with unskilled premeds come to mind).

If you don't feel like youre contributing much by just donating money, there are tons of ways to help. Get involved with a good local organization that has worked long term with communities abroad. Start a fundraiser for them. Work your way into a leadership position with them. This way you can see for yourself how/where the money is going to. You'll be gaining the leadership experience that you so desire for med apps, while actively working towards a good cause. And it doesnt necessarily have to be a huge organziation like the red cross. There are tons of great grassroots organizations that do amazing work and need ambitious volunteers.

I think this is a pretty bad idea. This is a big part of the problem with volunteerism, non-profits, aid work, etc. especially abroad. People think it takes nothing more than a desire to "do good" and a little bit of resources to "help the Syrians." This is entirely not true. Successful ngos/aid orgs/non-profits are led by professionals who have significant training and/or hands on experience in their field. For people who spend much of their time trying to learn the best ways to do this kind of work, trying to gather the skills and experience and networks that are necessary, it's very frustrating to hear "well just start up a non-profit and there ya go." The last thing this world needs is more NGOs/non-profits. Does a pre-med student occasionally start a non-profit that hangs around and is maybe beneficial? Of course. But in general I would recommend strongly against it.

👍 Great post. Agree on all levels.