Breaking Barriers: A Year of Service in Africa at 67

At an age when many people are told to slow down, stay close to home, or settle into routine, Venida Hudley did the opposite. At 67, Hudley walked away from a successful career at a billion-dollar software company and boarded a plane to Africa, alone. What followed was a 335-day solo journey across 12 African countries, where she volunteered, lived with local families, and immersed herself fully in cultures very different from her own.

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This wasn’t a bucket-list vacation or a luxury tour. It was a year of intentional service, curiosity, and courage.

The Moment That Sparked the Leap

Hudley’s journey didn’t begin with a grand plan. During the pandemic, she found herself restless and uninspired, watching endless television. Instead, she began reading. One book, Alicia Keys’ More Myself, sparked something deeper in her. In it, Keys described stepping away from everything familiar to travel to Africa alone and return with clarity. That story stayed with Hudley.

Soon after, she felt a clear calling to do the same.

Preparing for Purpose

Over the next two years, Hudley meticulously planned her journey. She woke up daily at 5 a.m. to speak with contacts across Africa, learning where her skills could be useful. With a background in technology, sales, and partnerships, she wanted to focus on innovation, not traditional volunteer work alone. She prepared for everything, from travel logistics to vaccinations, to how she could provide the most value in each country, determined to make the most of each stop.

Venida Hudley teaching a social media class with students in Liberia; photo courtesy of Hudley

Twelve Months, Twelve Countries, Real Impact

When she finally left, Hudley committed to spending roughly one month in each country and volunteering wherever possible. In Kenya, she worked with Gjenge Makers, an organization that turns plastic waste into bricks stronger than concrete. She spent days sorting materials, laying bricks, and ultimately teaching a sales class to help the organization better close customers.

She also met young innovators transforming their communities, such as leaders working to end period poverty with reusable sanitary products and entrepreneurs bringing internet access to remote villages through portable Wi-Fi vending machines. Across countries, Venida saw the same theme: people thinking not about individual success, but collective progress.

Living Inside the Community

What made her experience even more powerful was how deeply she lived within local communities. Strangers opened their homes to her for weeks at a time. In some countries, friends of friends hosted her for an entire month. She cooked, shared meals, navigated daily life, and learned firsthand what it means to live with less, yet with more connection. In Liberia, where electricity and hot water are not guaranteed, she learned resilience. In Rwanda, she witnessed the strength of a country rebuilding after genocide, fueled by young entrepreneurs and innovation hubs. Everywhere she went, she encountered the philosophy of Ubuntu — “I am because you are” — a belief that shaped every interaction and redefined her understanding of community.

Turning An Experience Into A Legacy

Hudley returned home changed, carrying stories she felt compelled to share. She has since completed her memoir, Blind Faith | 335 Solo Across Africa, which chronicles her journey and is currently with her literary agent, awaiting final decisions from publishers. She has also created Colors of Africa, a children’s coloring and activity book designed to teach young readers about the countries she visited through maps, flags, and cultural details. Hudley’s story isn’t about age; it’s about permission. Permission to listen to a calling. Permission to try something bold. Permission to reject the idea that adventure, service, or growth has an expiration date.

If anyone ever says, “You’re too old for that,” Venida Hudley is living proof that they’re wrong.

“You’re Too Old For That” is a regular series that explores activities being pursued by inspiring people 50 years old and older who feel you’re never too old to do what lights you up.

Note: Christina Daves is a TV lifestyle contributor and the host of the award-winning podcast Living Ageless and Bold, where she celebrates women over 50 who are rewriting the rules of midlife.