Honestly, regardless of whether s/he stays home or goes somewhere, no one -- neither in Uganda nor in Indiana -- is going to consider a 22yo new employee as a s

Honestly, regardless of whether s/he stays home or goes somewhere, no one -- neither in Uganda nor in Indiana -- is going to consider a 22yo new employee as a source of expertise. She might stick to it and in the process learn something about what works, what doesn't, and what are the real issues, at which point she will be in a position to make better decisions; or she might go back home, having provided some much-needed, relatively cheap help to a charity, in exchange for experience and an opportunity to see more of the world. I don't see anyone losing here. And this experience is really a prerequisite for the commitment and analysis that he suggests the perspective worker does -- which again applies at home just as well. Now, the question of more vs less efficient charities and non-profits is a valid one; most of them are not headed by fresh college graduates though, so I don't see how the article helps there. I also suspect that overstating success while fundraising is not an experience unique to charity workers abroad :)