If you are an expatriate woman who is looking to make a difference in the new place you now call home then here are some options you can explore….

·         Turn Entrepreneur

As a businesswoman abroad you will not only put your entrepreneurial skills to the test but also generate employment opportunities for people in the local community.  If you are an independent thinker with a host of creative ideas, then running your own business will give you the added advantage of being your own boss, working on your own terms and having the freedom for experimentation.

- The Food Business: Food is something that is essential to human social life that goes beyond geographical boundaries.  It is little wonder then that quite a few expatriates find the food business an extremely lucrative one to get in to.  Bagels, cup cakes, doughnuts and croissants are all single food product ideas that you can use if you don’t want to go all the way with a specialty restaurant.  Alternatively, a coffee shop or pub is another alternative.

- The beauty business: Everywhere you go people want to look good and feel good.  What’s more, a minimal investment in electronic equipments and other requirements is all you need to turn your dream of owning a business abroad in to reality.

- Health and Fitness: If you are in to fitness then working as a personal trainer, yoga or massage therapist are some alternatives that you could consider.

- Vending Local Arts and Crafts: If you feel strongly about the cause of artisans in your home country then taking arts and crafts of your home country and marketing them in your new country might be your calling.

- Teaching Foreign Languages: For those of you who are good with people and have a flair for literature and languages this is a really good business idea that is low on investment too.

- Translator/ Interpreter: Globalization has thrown up a plethora of opportunities for people as translators and interpreters.  This is another idea which offers flexibility and freedom while giving you the opportunity to meet different people.

- The Travel and Tour Industry: This one is for those of who love to travel; organizing small tours to your home country is something you could try.

 

·         Volunteer

The therapeutic effects of volunteering are well chronicled, and no matter which part of the world you live in there are people you can reach out to.  Here are some ideas…

- Teaching a skill like crochet or knitting to parents of terminally ill children at a local hospital or to economically disadvantaged women.

- Starting your own network with likeminded people and cook a meal every week for the homeless or knit blankets for children at orphanages

- Painting or writing for cause that is close to your heart.

- Teaching a foreign language or helping slow learners or differently abled children

- Working with non-government organizations to support various issues like child labor, conservation of wildlife, environment and so on.   

-  If you are married and your spouse is working with an organization you could look for ways to associate with their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives.

Opportunities to make a difference abound, all you have to do is take advantage of them…Good luck!