Is a change in career from architecture to community or rural development common?
Has anyone done it? What are the odds of employment? Should I pursue a Masters in a fancy university?
I've been practising for the last 7 years and just don't feel like this is the career for me. It probably doesn't help I mostly did construction supervision and although I have now gotten back into design, it doesn't feel like something I want to do. Even what the principal of our firm does, I wouldn't want to walk in their shoes.
I’m not an architect (I’m on this site because my son wants to study architecture), but I’m commenting because I work in international humanitarian assistance, in fields closely related to community and rural development.
Architects and the skill sets you can bring are absolutely relevant. I have worked with several architects in different countries in Africa and Latin America, to help communities, refugees and others to find design, housing and community solutions to the problem of forced displacement. Two examples I’ve personally worked on: In Zambia, one architect helped create new integrated communities (roads, schools, clinics, houses…) of local residents and former refugees. In Colombia, architects helped residents of informal slum areas to upgrade and legalize their neighborhoods, obtain property titles and create public spaces and services that benefitted the communities.
Your skills as an architect are definitely applicable!
For more information, search for “humanitarian shelter” - UNHCR (the UN refugee agency) and IFRC (international federation of the Red Cross) have information, as do others.
thanks so much for the reply. I looked up the UNHCR website but could not find anything for an architect or construction but what you've written was inspiring and eye opening
Jan 17, 24 1:33 pm ·
·
MAL67
If you’re looking for architect / related jobs on the UNHCR site, check under “shelter”. That said, right now that agency is going through a downsizing / realignment exercise and has frozen external recruitment for a couple months.
Jan 17, 24 3:17 pm ·
·
MAL67
Also check out UN Habitat (the UN agency that works on human settlements / built environments), NGOs like Habitat for Humanity, the IKEA Foundation etc. Please note that I’m not saying there are tons of jobs …but they do exist! And you don’t need tons, you need one that’s right for you. If you can, as a step towards working in the sector, try to get some volunteer experience in eg Red Cross (emergency relief/disaster response), Habitat for Humanity, etc. UNV (the UN volunteer agency - basically like Peace Corps for the UN) is another good way to get in. It’s paid (though poorly, since you’re a volunteer), usually requires graduate school or more, but once you’ve been placed at a UN agency, you’re generally treated as any other staff member.
Career Change - Community or Rural Development
Is a change in career from architecture to community or rural development common?
Has anyone done it? What are the odds of employment? Should I pursue a Masters in a fancy university?
I've been practising for the last 7 years and just don't feel like this is the career for me. It probably doesn't help I mostly did construction supervision and although I have now gotten back into design, it doesn't feel like something I want to do. Even what the principal of our firm does, I wouldn't want to walk in their shoes.
I’m not an architect (I’m on this site because my son wants to study architecture), but I’m commenting because I work in international humanitarian assistance, in fields closely related to community and rural development.
Architects and the skill sets you can bring are absolutely relevant. I have worked with several architects in different countries in Africa and Latin America, to help communities, refugees and others to find design, housing and community solutions to the problem of forced displacement. Two examples I’ve personally worked on: In Zambia, one architect helped create new integrated communities (roads, schools, clinics, houses…) of local residents and former refugees. In Colombia, architects helped residents of informal slum areas to upgrade and legalize their neighborhoods, obtain property titles and create public spaces and services that benefitted the communities.
Your skills as an architect are definitely applicable!
For more information, search for “humanitarian shelter” - UNHCR (the UN refugee agency) and IFRC (international federation of the Red Cross) have information, as do others.
thanks so much for the reply. I looked up the UNHCR website but could not find anything for an architect or construction but what you've written was inspiring and eye opening
If you’re looking for architect / related jobs on the UNHCR site, check under “shelter”. That said, right now that agency is going through a downsizing / realignment exercise and has frozen external recruitment for a couple months.
Also check out UN Habitat (the UN agency that works on human settlements / built environments), NGOs like Habitat for Humanity, the IKEA Foundation etc. Please note that I’m not saying there are tons of jobs …but they do exist! And you don’t need tons, you need one that’s right for you. If you can, as a step towards working in the sector, try to get some volunteer experience in eg Red Cross (emergency relief/disaster response), Habitat for Humanity, etc. UNV (the UN volunteer agency - basically like Peace Corps for the UN) is another good way to get in. It’s paid (though poorly, since you’re a volunteer), usually requires graduate school or more, but once you’ve been placed at a UN agency, you’re generally treated as any other staff member.
What part of the country are you in, Aldea?
I'm in the UAE right now. Planning to a masters in Environment, policy and development possibly in the UK
Ah, got it. I was going to suggest a Chicago-based CDFI, where I work.
But do you think an interdisciplinary masters degree is the right move for this transition?
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