REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PADANG -- In the 1970s Ailee Ashton travelled through West Sumatra in Indonesia. Four decades later the 61-year-old counsellor has returned to put her skills to use and volunteer with the local community.

When an opportunity to volunteer at a school for children with autism came up, Ailee jumped at the chance. "I had been thinking about volunteering for long time," she says.

"I was watching jobs that were coming out, and I started an application process like a normal job really."

She underwent the application process with Australian Volunteers International (AVI) last year, and five months later she arrived in Indonesia.

"I had been here before, and I have a son that was living here [in Indonesia]," says Ailee.

Ailee and her co-workers on excursion to Jembatan Akar, West Sumatera. (Australia Plus)

"I think my family are happy for me. They know it's something I wanted to do."

Ailee Ashton released a recovered sea turtle with Ahmed Mulki, founder of Sumatran Sea Turtle Conservation in Sungai Pinang. (Australia Plus) 

With her background in counselling, Ailee is currently volunteering at a school for children with autism in Padang, West Sumatra. "The school has been set up for 20 years and aims to help children with autism. My background is in counselling management, and I offer class support," she says.

This is Ailee's first experience volunteering overseas. West Sumatra has changed dramatically since she last visited. "I've been to West Sumatra before, but it was 40 years ago. I was 22 at that time, and was a very different person," says Ailee.

"Over that time... it has really developed.

"It's used to be more like a town than a city. And that's truly different."

Apart from her main duties at the school, she also supports a turtle conservation project in Sungai Pinang, and teaches English to the teachers at her school.

During her first few weeks living in West Sumatra, she tried her best to follow local customs, such as eating with her hands.

Ailee feels welcomed and is in awe of the local peoples' spirit.

"[I admire] people's passion for getting things done and finding solutions," she says.

Ailee believes age is no barrier for her, with many benefits coming from her maturity.

"I know young volunteers who are inspiring, when you're young you might have more energy," she says.

"But I think my age hasn't made any difference. My challenge has been learning Bahasa Indonesia. My age, and all the past experiences I have, help me to behave."

This includes responding to a question she is constantly asked when first meeting people.

"'How old are you?!'," she laughs.Upload New

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