9 Jobs That Actually Make A Difference In The World

Deciding on a job path can be daunting. It means figuring out what you want to do, what you’re good at and what brings you meaning. The answers to those questions are different for every person.

With so many job opportunities available, how do you decide which one is right for you?

For some people, what matters most is having a measurable, positive impact on the world. It’s not money or notoriety that drives these unique people; it’s the idea that they can genuinely help others.

If you’re passionate about helping others, there are career choices that enable you to make a difference. Not sure where to start? Here are nine jobs that are making a positive impact in the world.

1. HIV/AIDS Community Ambassador

Countries around the world need passionate people who can help them respond to the HIV and AIDS epidemic.

HIV/AIDS Community Ambassadors help prevent new infections from developing and support people in communities affected by the virus. They also help lead a variety of outreach programs to bring awareness, prevention and HIV/AIDS treatment to the communities where they work.

At the top of HIV/AIDS Community Ambassadors’ to-do list are health talks, home visits, support groups and community campaigns — all of which play a significant role in the current and future health of the community.

2. Urban Agriculturalist

Whether you have a green thumb or a desire to serve others, you can make a difference as an Urban Agriculturalist. These professionals work in countries around the world that face unique food security challenges, helping them increase agricultural production so they can feed their families and sell their crops.

Urban Agriculturalists help create plans to boost the production of vegetables, flowers and herbs. They also develop strategies to protect production areas from pest, animal and wind damage. By establishing a system that will produce market-quality crops, they provide countries with the tools they need to overcome food security challenges.

3. Youth Development Coordinator

What if you could influence a child’s future by investing in him or her today? That's exactly what Youth Development Coordinators do.

Many students in developing countries lack the structure they need for a successful future. Youth Development Coordinators help overcome these obstacles by creating after-school programs, workshops and community events to develop three focus areas: a healthy lifestyle, employability skills and parent engagement. Whether you enjoy sports, music or the arts, you can implement your hobbies to increase engagement with students in the community.

Local teachers will look to you as a guide for finding ways to improve youth development in their classrooms. Working together, you’ll help make a positive impact for future generations.

4. Urban Youth Social Worker

Where can young adults go to learn more about employment, tolerance, health, recreation and access to opportunity? Many young people around the world don’t have anywhere or anyone to turn to when faced with important topics like these. But more and more, Urban Youth Social Workers are filling that void.

As an Urban Youth Social Worker, you’ll provide people with the tools they need to improve their quality of life and their local communities. You’ll collaborate with local organizations to raise awareness and educate youth about social issues, which will ultimately empower them to make positive social change in their local communities.

5. Literacy Development Coordinator

Students around the world lack the education they need to effectively read and write. As a Literacy Development Coordinator, you’ll partner with teachers, school directors and parents to promote lifelong learning. Your day-to-day tasks will involve classroom teaching, sharing resources and developing teaching materials, all of which will serve as a foundation for students to get the help they need. Literacy Development Coordinators are instrumental in both decreasing the number of children who fall behind in school and improving their communities’ overall development opportunities.

6. English Teacher

English Teachers do a lot more than just teach English. Although it’s a big part of your role, you’ll also be in charge of finding ways for students and teachers to get access to more books and technology. You’ll also work with a team of people to help build local libraries, host book clubs and teach computer skills. Plus, you’ll collaborate with local schools to create family literacy activities, which will empower parents to get involved with their child’s education. By increasing the literacy rate of at-risk students, you’re helping reduce the likelihood of kids dropping out of school and opening the door to a brighter future.

7. Agroforester

Depending on the needs of the community, an Agroforester’s role may vary. You may be in charge of beekeeping, for instance, or you might take the lead in building fences to protect local nurseries. Regardless of the task at hand, every Agroforester has one mission: to protect the natural resources of a community.

Agroforesters partner with organizations, researchers and government field agents to promote natural resource preservation and provide environmental education. You’ll also play a critically important role by helping to build strong partnerships with local community members, improving and sustaining food security.

8. Environmental Health Engineer

Though many rural countries don’t have access to clean water, you can help improve the environmental health conditions of a community as an Environmental Health Engineer.

You'll work with community leaders to conduct educational trainings and workshops about proper water usage, sanitation and hygiene. In addition, Environmental Health Engineers have the opportunity to collaborate with local technicians to support infrastructure projects that help communities manage and maintain their water systems. Promoting safe hygiene practices will not only educate individuals about their health, but also improve the community’s overall environmental condition.

9. School Health Consultant

School Health Consultants work to improve the health and well-being of students in their classrooms.

As a School Health Consultant, you’ll serve as an advisor for teachers, principals and superintendents, all of whom will look to you for guidance as they implement programs in their classrooms. Through this kind of collaboration, you’ll discover ways to ultimately improve student learning and development.

School Health Consultants are trained to become subject experts in areas such as basic hygiene, nutrition, healthy behaviors, peer education, life skills and trash management. Armed with those tools, they’re then able to help teachers bring these subjects to their lesson plans. If you love managing people, processes and programs, and you really want to make a difference, this could be the job for you.

Waking up every day knowing it’s your job to make a difference is a profound feeling. When you join the Peace Corps, you get the opportunity to make a positive impact in more than 60 countries. So what are you waiting for? See how you can help make the world a better place, one community at the time.