Engaging Internationally

I have been involved with NGOs engaging internationally since 1983 (with a brief detour to grad school and a 2 year stint with the government).  I work with organizations all away along the spectrum from those that are very local but still engaging internationally,  to large international NGOs that span the globe.  In 2004 I wrote a “how to” book for practitioners called Going Global for the Greater Good. I have lived and worked in Australia, China, France and Mauritania, as well as having traveled to over 40 other countries.  You can see more about me and my work here Going International.

This blog explores issues of interest to me that focus on how we can become better world citizens, and especially  issues of interest to NGO practitioners engaging internationally.   I am interested in how we can better the world by learning from each other, by listening and communicating and trying new things, and talking about what we’ve learned.   My work involves a lot of “translating” and “interpreting” from one culture to another, whether those cultures are ethnic, national, organizational, sectoral or many of the other silos that society compartmentalizes us into.  Life is complex but integrated – we draw upon all that we are and do.  I hope this blog will do the same.

Bonnie Koenig