Purpose:
Project Wanderlove is a unique community-focused initiative that connects grieving young adults after experiencing loss and surrounds them with nature on a grand scale during restorative adventures of a lifetime. Every human being on the face of the planet experiences grief as a result of this extremely intimate loss. If the loss occurs during our formative years, the trauma can be expone
ntially worse. Approximately 2.5 million people die in the United States every year, and each leaves behind about 5 bereaved. Most people who experience the loss of a loved one will recover gradually without intervention, but at least 15% of bereaved people are depressed one year following the loss. The societal expectation is that young adults should be able to be self sufficient in all areas of life, including bereaved young adults that are going though the grieving process. The dark truth is that many bereaved young adults feel as if their world has turned upside down, and they have nowhere outlet for these feelings during what is in reality, a very formative time in their lives. If no action is taken to address this large community of bereaved that continues to go underserved, young adults will continue to struggle to cope with loss. They will continue to internalize their feelings of being a “scared child trying to make sense of the world around them” without the guidance and perceived security of the parent/sibling they lost, and they will struggle to find outlets to express their feelings. Anxiety and depression after experiencing loss will continue to run rampant, and the trauma associated with the loss of a loved one will continue to permeate into other aspects of bereaved young adults’ lives. Opportunity:
Despite the abundance of non-profit grief-related organizations in the United States, there is no large-scale program or campaign that specifically addresses the needs of bereaved young adults. Project Wanderlove will build general awareness through social media campaigns and partnerships with reputable adventure brands and the US National Parks Service. More importantly, Project Wanderlove will bring bereaved young adults together in nature to produce incredible results. Results:
• Young adults across the country will be aware of an incredible resource for dealing with loss before they are thrust into the grieving process
• Young adults going through the grief process will feel empowered by connecting with peers that have also lost parents or siblings.
• They’ll gain a sense of confidence they never knew existed, and a newfound resilience that will be with them throughout the course of their lives.
• They’ll establish a broader perspective of their place in the world around them by going on exciting adventures
• They’ll experience the unparalleled restorative powers of nature on a grand scale.
