What if your twenties are the defining decade, and you pass through it aimlessly?

According to author Meg Jay, our twenties are, in fact, a defining decade for what is to come in our lives.

A decade that asks for exploration…of the world around us and of ourselves.

Our twenties are a time when we explore and define our identities. At the same time, it also offers the opportunity for personal development. It is the right chance to take risks, experience setbacks, learn from them, and develop resilience to navigate what we call adulthood.

Jay also emphasizes in the book  “The Defining Decade” that individuals take matters into their own hands and shape who they want to be purposefully instead of drifting through life without purpose.

The question is, are you doing it? Do you know where to start?

If not, then no worries. There is still time and opportunities for you to discover the answers to all the questions you have in your twenties. 

We at AIESEC have one of those opportunities for you: Global Volunteer.

But let’s explore a bit deeper, shall we? 

The beginnings of Global Volunteer

Our first-ever exchanges were exchanges in the corporate sector. That’s how AIESEC began doing exchanges in its first years of existence.

With time and as technology advanced, we realized we could do more. 

Our internship program, despite being one of our most impactful programs, offered limited opportunities for youth. It required a profile of an individual with a specific skill set and great self-awareness.

But what about those that just started? Why wait for young people to finish university or any other formal education or training to gain the chance to develop themselves?

So, Global Volunteer was presented as a solution for worldwide issues and for youth to stop waiting until they gain some experience or finish their studies. 

The profile of a Global Volunteer

The profile of our volunteers can have multiple faces.

It can be a travel enthusiast, ready to explore the world, but has low self-esteem.

It can also be an enthusiast for volunteering—someone who wants to see a change in the world but doesn’t know where to start.

Or it can be a development seeker.

At the end of the day, any young person between the ages of 18 and 30 can fit the profile of a Global Volunteer, regardless of belief, origin, gender, and so on.

Why? Because we want to develop and impact every young person in the world, and it cannot be possible without the contribution of the diverse youth. One by one, our society can change for the better. 

The goal of Global Volunteer

As mentioned, every young person can participate in Global Volunteer. Whether they actively go on exchange or help out as a local volunteer.

Once you participate in one of the projects, it is your responsibility to be as open as possible to everything happening to you along the way. We recognize that finding yourself in a completely different country with foreign customs can be scary and, at times, frustrating. But that’s where the magic happens.

It’s not meant to be easy. It’s meant to be transformational.

And at the end of this transformational journey lies a brand new you. A version of yourself you never knew was capable of so much. But you will never get to meet this new you if you don’t accept the challenge.
You can accept the challenge here. 

If you still have questions about Global Volunteer, consider reading our FAQ article.
You can also write your questions in the comments!