Continuing on with the theme about the awe-inspiring range of volunteer projects available around the world, today’s post looks at volunteer abroad opportunities for seniors and retirees, and also for lawyers.
My article on seniors volunteering was also close to my heart as the subject I wrote about was, indeed, a volunteer I knew and who inspired all of us at the time. I only hope I have all my wits about me to be able to volunteer in my 70s.
Here is an excerpt from Senior Volunteer Opportunities Abroad
“According to Women on the Road, “in some countries, more than 50% of women say they would like to volunteer after their formal working lives are over.”
An organization noted for being Seniors-friendly, the Earthwatch Institute’s focus is sustainability and they offer projects relating to scientific field research and conservation. They have projects in 48 countries around the world and boast that many of their senior volunteers return to volunteer time and again.”
Now, lawyers are truly spoilt when it comes to variety and challenge volunteering abroad. They might also be the most in demand. Actually, that’s probably medical professionals, but lawyers must be a close second. Either way, there is endless work for lawyers volunteering and the rewards are immense. I discovered that most volunteer lawyers work in human rights related projects as rights advocates in fields like HIV/AIDS discrimination. There is also a lot of work with political prisoners and the like.
An excerpt from Volunteer Lawyers Abroad Opportunites
“Lawyers Without Borders explains that volunteer work falls into four main areas, namely: Trial Advocacy Training, Neutral Trial Observation, Community Outreach, and Technical Assistance. These are based around the themes gender-based violence, human trafficking, civic electoral rights, conflict mediation, mitigation and consensus building, rights of the child, among others.”
Click on the links to read the full articles. Feel free to email this article to anyone you think might be interested in this! Or, if you know someone who needs a nudge to get out of a rut and experience life, send them this story. It might just do the trick.
Interesting headline, but Earthwatch isn’t the only senior-friendly vol. org. Matter of fact, I’m in Ghana right now, in Hohoe with Cross-Cultural Solutions, and I’m an octogenarian. I’ve been volunteering abroad in 14 countries, more than 20 times since I turned 60. It’s great!
Hey Dorothy,
Thanks for writing and letting our readers know about your experience in Hohoe! That’s brilliant. I hope to do the same when I hit the 60s.