If you're thinking of working for an aid agency overseas, have you thought about the potential risks or about the support that your employer will offer you?

The People In Aid network helps aid agencies and their staff to do a better job, and gives advice on how you can make sure you'll be safe.

If you want to work in another country, an aid agency can be a great way to volunteer or find a temporary or permanent job. Helping people in poverty or suffering is worthwhile and rewarding. But aid work is both less exciting and often far harder than its glamorous image might suggest. It requires more than usual levels of commitment, and comes with a range of risks.

Culture shock

The culture shock of a new environment, language, food and expectations may be a challenge; overwork and stress can lead to "burn-out"; remote locations may bring loneliness and depression. Developing countries require far greater care against disease, from malaria to HIV/AIDS, and