Want a chance to live and work in a country where the population’s happiness is more important than the nation’s GDP, budget surplus and interest rates?

Bhutan might just be your thing. Australian Red Cross is about to begin recruiting volunteers for education and health jobs in this tiny land-locked country in the eastern Himalayas. To start with up to eight volunteers will be recruited, for mostly year-long assignments, under the Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) program. Annually about 1,000 volunteers are sent overseas under AVID, but this will be the first time volunteers have been sent to Bhutan.

‘Bhutan is world famous for happiness. In this isolated kingdom, squeezed between India and China, they measure progress by ‘Gross National Happiness’, which ranks preserving culture, protecting the environment and good governance above the likes of the country’s GDP,’ said Australian Red Cross’ regional coordinator Christine Hansen.

The country, which even has its own Gross National Happiness Commission, provides one of the world’s most unusual frameworks for development work.

‘Bhutan is working hard to strike a balance between development and the preservation of its ancient Buddhist culture,’ Ms Hansen said. ‘The country has achieved a lot, but still needs support to address issues such as education quality, teacher shortages, large class sizes,  as well a lack of doctors, nurses and skilled health workers. Volunteers will work closely with Bhutanese development organisations helping them to achieve their goals.’

Australian Red Cross has been recruiting and supporting skilled professionals for assignments in countries across Africa, Asia and the Pacific under the AVID program for the past 18 months. It currently has about 90 volunteers in the field. Volunteers receive airfares, modest living allowances and accommodation; to find out more, visit www.ausaid.gov.au/volunteer or call (03) 9345 1834.

‘Volunteering can be an amazingly rewarding and altruistic experience. It’s a rare opportunity to become part of a community, to see change happen, and to know you are contributing to Australia’s international aid and development efforts,’ she said.

You can support the work of Australian Red Cross by giving monthly, leaving a bequest in your will or making a one-off donation. Please visit redcross.org.au or call 1800 811 700.

* Australian Volunteers for International Development is an Australian Government, AusAID initiative