Deficit or Deluge?
Monday, May 12th, 2008Princeton recently announced plans to send a tenth or more of its incoming students abroad to do social service for a year, before they enter as freshmen (Princeton Plans for an Early Year Abroad).
While much of the nonprofit sector is worried about a looming leadership crisis (see Bridespan’s seminal report The Nonprofit Sector’s Leadership Deficit, and the Casey Foundation’s Next Shift), anecdotally I sense that NGOs working on international poverty are being inundated with energetic, smart students and recent graduates eager to work overseas. The problem with the pipeline for international organizations does not seem to be attracting the young talent, but developing the skills and experience that will make them effective in facilitating community development in remote and culturally diverse areas, a complicated undertaking.
Details were scant about where students will be placed and to what extent their experiences would be linked to their subsequent studies, but I suspect that an NGO or two will be consulted or involved in structuring this service abroad. If the service is intentionally integrated with Princeton’s curriculum and resources to help develop new leaders prepared for the difficulties of international development, it could be a boon indeed. Otherwise, what might be good for students could end up having questionable value for the communities being served and the sector.
