Question: Do you enjoy volunteering?

Ken Gibbs answered on 16 Mar 2012:

Now this is an excellent question because I have had to stop and ask myself if I really like volunteering.

The short answer is, “Yes, I do – very much”. The trouble is that you have to be in a position where you can afford to volunteer, as you have to put food on the table as well. I have only been able to volunteer later in life when I had saved sufficient to keep me going for when I wasn’t being paid.

Sometimes, the volunteer jobs are the most interesting. Not too long ago, I was asked to advise the government of Sao Tome (do you know where that is ?) on what their water, sanitation and garbage disposal policies should be when their oil revenues start to flow in a few years time. I wasn’t paid a penny but was flown to Sao Tome and worked with the government for a week and then had to write a report (in Portuguese) about what I thought. What a magical environment; and what lovely people who are descendents of some of the slaves and slave traders.

I think you’d probably enjoy volunteering as well. Makes you feel good about yourself.