A message to prospective mature-age volunteers....

Through this I would like to encourage more 'mature age' volunteers to 'give it a go'. Volunteering can readily be appended to 'conventional/adventure' tourism and can make your experience so much more intense and meaningful.
I am a recent retiree, have time on my hands and a battery of (varied) experience. As a public servant, I learned about project management and mentoring - as a teacher, I learned to impart skills - as a mother, I learned compassion and patience. Perhaps through design - perhaps through luck - my skills were recently and powerfully matched with an NGO in Cambodia.
My life skills, as well as some specific academic ones, enabled me to be useful, effective and efficient to the NGO I was allocated to. Being 'useful' (and appreciated) made my time in Cambodia rewarding and fun. I look forward to returning in the New Year.
Data analysis, monitoring and evaluation as well as fairly sophisticated reporting are required of NGOs as they justify programs to their funders. I was fortunate to 'work' with a bunch of skilled and capable agricultural scientists - these men and women make their best impact (toward food security, ameliorating the effects of climate change, species diversity, home garden development and water, sanitation and health projects) through being in the field. Guiding, instructing, demonstrating, mentoring and teaching - they do this eloquently and well in their language (Khmer). Reporting (in English) is a necessary requirement that takes them away from what they do best. For me - and likely you too - this is an easy and practised skill. I did not write/report 'for' them, but was able to capacity-build on their ability and ease the time consumed by this requirement and so enable them to maximise their face-time with their clients - rural families in Cambodia who were facing food, education and life challenges.
Volunteer accommodation is more than adequate - and quite comfortable - meals are provided, often the 'lady next door' will do your washing for a very small fee. I always felt secure. And I was humbled to be so readily included in the social activities of the (very much) younger volunteers.
A challenge to career-break people and retirees - let's 'up' the average age; drink better coffee, enjoy a glass of wine and listen to better music in the context of a culture that we want to learn more about. Come join with me.