This highly participative course examined the notion of  “doing good”  in the world. Through critical reflections on normative claims to alleviate human suffering, reduce inequality, and protect human rights,the course  assessed the application of the principles of ”dignity and worth” for all people, as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Students participating in the course were encouraged to reflect critically on their position of privilege, and how they might mobilise this privilege towards a greater collective good. 

Continuing for five years, the course came to a semester's end in December 2024. The final class provided a holistic focus on the numerous and varied ways we can  “do good”, and considered how the learnings from the course might be applied by students in their professional lives going forward. The guidance included main reflections and feedback outlined below:

What main lessons from the class have students retained?

The main lessons I have learned from our class entail that in a world shaped by unequal power dynamics, rights, and privilege, doing good requires more than just good intentions – it requires interrogation of our privileges, choices, underlying assumptions and dependencies to reflect who benefits from our  “doing good” and how. In the end, if we must do good in the world, we must start with ethical reflection, humility, and deep listening.  —Arghadeep, Geneva, 2024

I had come into this class with a pessimistic view of the international system. I saw the failures of the UN, ICC, and other international bodies as indicative of the rampant corruption and inaction of the international system. I used to believe that achieving high levels of authority required compromising your integrity from the start or abandoning your morality as you progressed through the hierarchy. However, attending Peace Week, listening to the Zionism Conference, and engaging with passionate members within this class has opened my eyes to the fact that the majority of people within these systems still hope to do good for the world. In essence, this class has revived my belief that instrument reforms to corrupt systems are still possible. — Alexander Hoang, USA, 2024

What I retained the most was the powerful force of connection with people who also want to engage in the world meaningfully. When I started my studies, I was overcoming emotional fatigue from being a social worker in pandemic times, seeing life and death, and feeling so powerless to help people with such limited resources in an unhopeful context. However, this class helped me heal. I was able to show my vulnerability and connect with colleagues who have been through similar and different struggles when trying to help others. I learnt that in order to “do good”, we need to feel good. And for that, we need to take care of ourselves! I took a mantra from this class that I put in a post-it that I often read: “Resting as a way of resistance” which helps me remind myself to rest and take care of myself when trying to help others  — Sol, from Argentina but in Geneva at the moment, 2023 cohort.

In their personal and professional lives, what are students still learning about  “doing good”?

As someone who works for an international organisation in refugee resettlement, asylum and reintegration, I learned that I can do good in my own community or locally in the United States. As an Employment Specialist I assist refugees, asylees, and victims of human trafficking find employment opportunities in the DC Area. While I once thought that I had to work abroad to effectuate change, I found that returning to my home country and helping my local community also has a positive potential impact as working in a humanitarian conflict setting. In essence, I’ve adapted what I learned as the “think globally act locally approach,” in my daily work and other settings as well. Note: this phrase technically is used for environmental issues but I find that it resonates for the majority of NGO/INGO/humanitarian adjacent work. — Lena, United States, 2022 

I’m still learning how to take care of myself with the same commitment, patience, and responsibility as I do for others. My “people pleaser” syndrome and the need to do something for people suffering keeps being the priority many times when I should be “helping myself too”. Another thing I’m still learning is to navigate international Geneva. From fieldwork to working in an office from 9-6 where power dynamics are very important, where your colleagues are not necessarily your friends and people you can trust because you’re all on the same boat, trying to do good in this world has been a challenge. While chatting with other folks going through similar challenges, I feel I’m not the only one. I’m grateful for the communities in Geneva that have become a wonderful support system.  — Sol, from Argentina but in Geneva at the moment, 2023 cohort.

This semester I’ve been able to engage more with the types of positions I want to have in the future and what roles I can see myself doing good in, both through this class and also through internships and volunteer opportunities. I’ve realised that I need to feel like my work is having a tangible impact to feel fulfilled, and I need to be interacting with people more directly. I’ve also learned how to start combining something I’m good at and feel happy doing, writing, and combining that with doing good in the world. — Lidewij Florusbosch, Geneva, 2024 

Going forward, how might the On  “Doing Good” community support students in their ongoing work in the world?

As someone who enjoys learning about institutions (flawed as they may be) from a 360 perspective and leans towards pragmatism, sometimes I need to grapple with a more emotional, unabashed, flip-the-system-on-its-head perspective to be able to see where the ideal policy endgame is. This community is such a space of gentle support, a sounding board to clear out the resounding howl of our generation’s hopelessness so we can once again hear the quieter hum of relentless determination towards a better future. In security studies, it is so easy to feel desensitised, to forget the real people, and to feel like progress is ephemeral, but this community reminds me that change starts with me and what I immediately have control over and provides me with the grounding to stay critical and not be beaten by the game.  — Jess, Geneva, 2023

I hope that through this community we can exchange experiences, reflections, mentorship, guidance, and emotional support to one another. I can also see this growing into a global hub one day, and each one of us creating a similar space to local practitioners in the development and humanitarian sectors to scale up this  “doing good” dialogue and action. I think the community can provide a very effective buddy-system for all of us where we exchange experiences and human struggles and together find a way out. I wouldn’t say that we’re gonna change the world, but I hope that, together, we would be at ease while we try.  — Amira, Egypt, 2024

Hearing from my peers has been the biggest takeaway from this class. Whether that be with classmates, guest speakers, or the professor herself, gaining perspective from people who have gone through the many rungs of the international system has been an inspiration. As someone who comes from the United States, most of the practitioners in IR there have been quite distanced from the actual work being done. As I continue to navigate these complex systems in my own work, I hope to be able to continue to meet people who can share with me their lived experiences and advice for a young hopeful looking to make a positive difference in the world. — Alexander Hoang, USA, 2024