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There is no platonic form for a voluntourist. While we may imagine the “gap-year” 18-year-old first, the reality is that many of the most prolific and committed voluntourists are well outside that demographic. Volunteering at any age is a rewarding experience, but if you happen to be a bit older with grown children, it may be deeply personally healing as well.
Raising a family is something many of us dream of from a young age. It’s one of the most meaningful and joyful parts of being alive. But when those precious children grow up and move out of the house to pursue lives of their own, they often leave a feeling of profound emptiness behind them. For many empty-nesters, traveling and volunteering offer an opportunity to turn family-oriented instincts outward, to help nurture others. Empty-nesters have a lot to offer.
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For one thing, simply being older, having the benefit of years of experience, makes a person well rounded and mature. Many older people have had experience volunteering in the past—perhaps working at the library at a child’s school or coaching a sports team. Spending time corralling a group of children develops patience, persistence, and compassion. These are real skills that an individual can bring to a volunteer experience abroad. Children are children all over the world.
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In addition to leadership and nurturing, older people also often have professional skills that may prove quite useful in a volunteer situation. Aside from the obvious professions—doctors, dentists, teachers—there are many other professions that require skills useful to voluntour organizations or to local communities. An accountant may be able to help balance a local community budget to divert funds to programs in need. A professional writer may be able to write website content for a voluntour organization or for a conservation website dedicated to preserving local wildlife. A pilot may be able to fly small planes to deliver aid, or he may be well-equipped for addressing large groups of people with a practiced, calm demeanor.
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Empty-nesters may also suffer from a travel deficit. As any of us with small children know, traveling often takes its place on the back burner as everyday life gets front-burner attention. We work hard to get through the day-to-day grind—the appointments, homework, meals, play dates, work days—and we neglect the big picture experiences. Once the kids have grown up however, schedules tend to quiet down. Many people find they also have more money available once the kids are out of college. Voluntouring can satisfy that wanderlust while providing a nourishing dose of usefulness, pride, and the joy of helping others.