You could try getting certified for foster parenting and see how that goes. If you foster, you don't have to make a long-term commitment right away and you'll be providing a safe place for some kid who might really need it.
You might be able to go to Africa for 6 months with a kid, but probably not as a volunteer, not with a little one. When they are little they will keep you running and it is hard to find spare cycles to do almost anything. Babies are very time consuming! aspiring, if you know of any volunteer programs where young kids are welcome, let me know because I have not heard of them! Mine are 4 and 2 and so far even vacations have been far from the pleasant retreats I remember from the BC (before children) years, they need someone to watch them almost 24/7. Of course, if you adopt you could get an older child... I always thought about 5-7 years old would be perfect...
For me, I decided to have kids when I was financially ready. I wanted us to have enough $$ set aside so I would have an option of working or not without endangering our future retirement. I also wanted to start young-ish so that I would (1) have the energy to keep up with them (2) have some good years left after they were grown up and (3) be young enough to enjoy grandchildren.
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