87-year-old math teacher, Barrie Street, reflects on a life shaped by early abandonment, channeling adversity into compassion, and a lifelong dedication to education.
Starting with a teaching challenge in England, and then bringing to life his global teaching experience, his talk is a heartwarming tale of the transformative power of volunteering. From Guatemala to Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, and Jamaica, Barrie shares profound moments, including caring for abandoned children and a later emotional chance encounter.
This talk underlines the impact of volunteering on personal growth and on how we age. Barrie’s call to action, encourages viewers to explore diverse volunteering opportunities, asserting that such engagement fosters connection, purpose, and enrichment, particularly in later years. Barrie Street is an avidly fit 87-year-old who has completed the Grouse Grind hike 2,500 times, and plans to accomplish his 3,000th by the age of 95. He has extensively volunteered as a teacher and with other humanitarian projects in several countries, including Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Jamaica. Barrie believes that volunteering is a crucial part of healthy, vibrant aging. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx