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The Divorcee

It's time for an adventure

Yvette Mayo (46) from Bexhill-on-Sea, who is recently divorced after 26 years of marriage, intends to sell her podiatry clinic in order to travel for a year or two. She hasn't travelled alone since she was 18 and is nervous about renting out her flat and giving up her business to do so.

The brief Yvette is considering using a volunteering project such as teaching English in India for a month or two as a springboard to travelling independently around the rest of the world when she is more comfortable with being away alone. She's not interested in 'empty', meaningless travel and doesn't want to get stuck hanging out in bars with 18-year-olds. She has been to Thailand and would like to see more of Asia.

The budget £2,000 for the volunteering part, then £5,000-6,000 for the following year.

The solution

Rachael Wood from Gap Year for Grown-Ups says 'To help Yvette realise that she has the inner strength to go alone, I would recommend a taster break to just one destination first. India is a fantastic country in which to volunteer, and on a four-to-eight week programme she would be met at the airport, get accommodation, meals, activities and excursions, 24-hour support and the opportunity to teach English in underprivileged schools. She could also take yoga and Hindi workshops, and go on sightseeing excursions.

Once she has the confidence and passion to go off alone we could tailor-make a trip for her, such as an in-depth exploration of South East Asia including some more volunteering.'

Tom Griffiths from www.Gapyear.com says 'It will help Yvette's initial worries enormously to complete a Tefl course before she leaves. There are loads of great companies who will support volunteers in India.