Travelling and volunteering are two of the best ways to stay active after retirement and thanks to a Vancouver-based company, seniors have the chance to do both.
GoVoluntouring offers the chance to vacation in over 100 different countries while giving back through volunteering to a project of your choice. It can be as vigorous as building a school in a developing country or as low-key as helping out in a hatchery for endangered sea turtles.
While not all projects are suited for everyone, the company tries to help clients find a suitable fit.
GoVoluntouring founder Aaron Smith says many different factors are taken into consideration, such as accessibility to hospitals, the type of accommodation available and travel distance. Every customer will speak with an agent prior to booking a trip.
“We have consultants and specialists that can ask the right questions. It starts by identifying what your needs and expectations are,” he said. “If they have a wonky hip or say, a pacemaker, we might recommend that people opt for locations that are closer to a modern hospital, for example.”
Smith said inquiries about the 51 and older programs are the third highest, with roughly 10 to 15 per cent of their volunteer base coming from that age bracket. He added that even though it might be difficult to break out of their comfort zones, their skills could be an asset.
“Many don’t even realize it’s an opportunity for them. The skills that they’ve learned in their lifetime, such as 30-years experience as a plumber, can be an asset and very useful,” Smith said.
One popular program he recommended for those who desire something more low impact is the sea turtle conservation project in Costa Rica because volunteers put in an average of three or four hours per day and include activities such as working in the hatchery or patrolling the beach.
Another light impact volunteer option is art restoration in Italy, but for those who want to get their hands dirty and have a bit more energy to burn, helping build a classroom in Jamaica might better suite them. With over 4,000 programs, Smith said a suitable project can be found. He said the company will help with details including accommodation, flights, airport transfers and travel insurance options.
He explained that travellers who choose the volunteer experience often add on a week of vacation time to kick back after participating in a program.
“We encourage that because it’s a great culturally emergent experience,” he said.
For people that wish to volunteer but are limited by smaller incomes, GoVoluntouring also offers a crowdfunding service through its website to help people raise money for their trip. The person fundraising sets up a profile page that explains why they want to be part of said project and will often offer incentives to contributors depending on the denomination of the donation.
“You would offer incentives such as sending a person a postcard from the location or writing their name in the sand and taking some photos for them. Anything you like,” Smith said.
