My wife and I are getting to the point of

[blues90]

Going to africa and just try to help people with simple things to improve their lives to at least feel we are doing something useful .

I don't know how the hell we would do this but living in this madness every day just makes us in our older age with no hope of a future in the US world of useless nowhere jobs without meaning .

[benddem]

1. join the peace corp n/t

[grasswire]

2. peace corps?

Or maybe with some charity sponsored program? Or maybe you could do the same thing here in the U.S., in Louisiana or the Appalachias or somewhere else that suffers in poverty and disrepair. Maybe even Habitat for Humanity would be a rewarding start.

[uppityperson]

3. Go to Mississippi.

Don't even need a passport and they even sort of speak the same language.

[Lex]

4. Good point.

There are *plenty* of people here in America that need help.

[Kurovski]

5. Or Louisiana.

The Bush administration has pretty much neglected the hurricane-devastated areas of the Gulf Coast.

[blues90]

7. I tried to find out about this however

There seems to be a problem finding any sort of housing there and we do need some sort of income to survive there . We don;t mind giving our time and efforts but we are broke with just enough to make a move and leave behind most of what we own which is little that we may be able to sell .

I wish it were simple to do this . The way things are for us now there is no future being jobless resorting to vocational rehabe and SDI for me due to anxiety brought on by stress of the horrid no job market here .

We have to do something so helping others seems like the only thing worth while now .

[uppityperson]

9. There is a problem with housing since that is a big problem, and jobs

Could you work for a non-profit? Do you have office skills, people skills? Am heading a friend towards various groups like that to do management stuff there which is worthwhile. Mercy Corps seems decent, I'd check there before Peace Corps since PC changed a lot since when it was first made.

[youngdem]

6. We sure could use you here in New Orleans

People here still need their homes torn down or gutted, food delivered, parks and public spaces and buildings of all kinds need everything, 70% of the churches need to be rebuilt, there are no social services really at all, there are WAY too few health care professionals, many elderly lack hospice support, Habitat for Humanity has dozens of active sites across the city each week, and searches continue for the missing as reports from loved ones are poured through.

I work for a company building homes for Section 8 folks. There is work to be done in every direction...work that can help people in a real, tangible, important way.

And don't listen to what you hear about the crime...if you aren't out looking for trouble late at night, you are fine. The only real problem is with scrap metal, construction material and tool theft. Don't leave it out. It will grow legs.

Here's to hoping more good people like you come and see us.

[BlooInBloo]

8. Additional possibilities: Habitat for Humanity? UNICEF? Various religious orgs?

EDIT: Subject typo.

[Turbineguy]

10. This may be simplistic

but if you look at African counties that are doing better you find a more honest government. There's a reason that the "Nigerian Scam" is named after Nigeria. So going to Africa to shovel sand against the tide would seem like a frustrating thing to do. You work your fingers to the bone and then discover that Pat Robertson has investments in the country you are working in. The answer it would seem to me lies elsewhere.

[northofdenali]

11. VISTA is another possibility -

Volunteers in Service to America. These folks do a little of everything from teaching, to rebuilding, to cooking meals - you name it. Great organization that also provides room and board and a small stipend.

[necklace]

12. Good for you!!! You should always do what your heart tells you! nt