Meaningful work: Questions for vocational rehabilitation and a call for action

Experiences in different cultures may lead astute observers to question existing schemes and ways of life, often taken for granted. The arena and nature of work, for instance, may differ radically from one society to another. Based on a lengthy visit to Tanna, Vanuatu, the author found that the indigenous people had qualitatively different concepts of work. Using the ideas gained from cross-cultural opportunity, questions can and should be raised about the meaningfulness of work activities, vocational rehabilitation, and the importance of examining assumptions as to what constitutes meaningful work.