Transitions to religious adulthood: relational geographies of youth, religion and international volunteering

• DOI: 10.1111/tran.12083
• Publication Date: 2015-03-27T10:00:03Z
• Authors: Peter Hopkins; Elizabeth Olson; Matt Baillie Smith; Nina Laurie
• Keywords: Youth studies; Reflexivity

This paper offers important insights into the contemporary nature of youth transitions and ways in which religious affiliation engagement with international volunteering influences interplays negotiations life course. Situated within interdisciplinary debates about transitions, as well discussions relational geographies age, religion voluntarism, we demonstrate multiple relationalities that are at play young volunteers negotiate transition to adulthood. We focus on religious, vocational aged explore how these engaged with, experienced by, people ‘over there’ Latin America ‘back home’ UK . Additionally, shape identities between religiosity, age (youth) volunteering, (re)organised through networks, flows mobilities. To do so, draw our analysis experiences who participated faith‐based an evangelical Christian organisation sends teams short‐term missions America. analyses two sets interviews 22 volunteers, 14 whom also completed a diary their experiences, supplemented by four groups. Our points spatial emphasis geographical engagements can be informed considerations religion; key challenge being renegotiate sense self returning home’. In addition, although participants displayed some self‐reflexivity social construction they did not necessarily exhibit understanding power underpinning encounters others. Finally, findings open up possibilities for appreciating diversity role volunteer organisations have shaping expectations aspirations those participate programmes.