But What Now?

Some people dream about doing great things. Others just do them. This was on the back of the bus I followed most of the way home earlier today. It’s an advertisement for a local community college, but I am using it as an introduction to this post about volunteering because I think it fits so well.

Each of us, if we choose, can make an enormous difference now that we have time after years of having most of our time committed to jobs and raising children. Volunteering isn’t for everyone, but take a look at this list and see if you see yourself here.

Later in this post I write about Lori Carlson and Ponheary Ly. This will be the first of many such volunteer profiles.

Reasons You May Be Interested in Volunteering

1. Looking to make new friends.
2. Just plain bored and need something to do.
3. Miss the routine and camaraderie that work provided you with and need a reason to get up in the morning.
4. Feel passionately about social, environmental or other issues.
5. Have a desire to give back to society and share the wisdom of your maturity with others.

What did you dream of doing when you were younger? What were you passionate about? Was it the environment, helping the homeless, ending hunger, or ending war? Or was it something less lofty like computers, teaching, writing or travel? Were you in the Peace Corps? I was not, but I have met so many people who were when they were younger.

The Peace Corps devotes an entire section of their web site to 50+ volunteers, with the slogan “Still asking what you can do for your country? Peace Corps wants you. It’s not too late”.

Volunteer Profile - Lori Carlson, Founder, Ponheary Ly Foundation

Volunteer opportunities exist everywhere. You can even decide to move to another country to make a difference. One such person is Lori Carlson, who founded the Ponheary Ly Foundation in Cambodia. Her transformational story is showcased on GoodTube in 3 amazing videos.

Ponheary Ly is a Cambodian teacher Lori befriended on a trip to Angkor Wat a few years ago. Ponheary was her guide. She tells her story in these videos, as well. I am calling her the Cambodian miracle worker! She is passionate about the need for children to get educated because she believes that the “killing fields” were allowed to take place because of the ignorance of the population. She talks about this on these videos.

Please comment about your own volunteer adventures. I would love to learn more about what others are doing.