Posted 20 Jan 2009

Embarking upon volunteering abroad projects may help older individuals prolong their life span, a US newsletter suggests.

According to the Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource, people who volunteer have less chance of developing heart disease and live longer than their counterparts who do not take part in volunteering projects.

It adds that the benefits begin to be felt after competing somewhere between 40 and 100 hours annually.

For those interested in this, or volunteering abroad, the newsletter recommends merging volunteering work with your interests, researching organisations online and discussing options with volunteering firms.

In related news, those who opt for gap year travel are more likely to be attracted to long-haul destinations, according to Kate Kenward, executive director at the Association of Independent Tour Operators.

Category: Living Abroad