Paper short abstract:

This paper considers neoliberalism to understand the purpose of allocating gap year volunteers into a series of ephemeral project groups. Thinking with neoliberalism to understand ideas and practices, this paper shows how ephemerality shapes persons into particular kind of individuals.

Paper long abstract:

The paper posits the importance of studying impermanent social configurations. It seeks to show how the ethnographic method is capable of investigating these forms of life. It argues that transience is a common feature of a neoliberal context and therefore it is necessary to comprehend how it affects social life. This paper further argues that experiencing constant transient change shapes persons to suit a neoliberal economy as they learn to be flexible in order to cope with uncertainty and risk. This crafting of persons is incomplete as individuals seek forms of stability through ongoing relationships.

The paper presents material from multisited ethnographic fieldwork with Endeavour (a pseudonym), a gap year charity. Endeavour's gap year programmes are focused on the personal development of its volunteers. One of the means of doing this is to recombine the volunteers into new groups every three weeks. This teaches them how to make relationships and form strong teams quickly, as well as how to let go of previous ties. Through playful initiation rites, participants leave their old groups with tears and angst, but are able to incorporate themselves into their new ones with vigour and excitement. Prior arguments, attachments and characters are unknown, leaving volunteers free to refashion themselves. Drawing on techniques replicated in human resources management, Endeavour teaches volunteers how to conduct themselves in a unstable, risky and ever-changing environment with the minimum of disquiet.