March 31, 2009
A great many people want to carry out volunteer work abroad. They may want to help out a worthy cause, experience an area of the world they might not otherwise see or they may even want to learn through working independently, organising themselves and others.
However, many people are put off. Either they can’t afford the time to go away for a month, let alone a year, or they can’t afford the expense.
This is where summer mini gaps come in. If you’ve just left school or you’re a student in your summer break, you can take advantage of a summer mini gap to do something worthwhile that lasts a shorter duration.
Summer mini gaps can last anywhere from a week to two months and typically take place in July or August. The timing and length of these programmes mean that you can take part in something challenging for a short period; go and explore the country in question afterwards; and still get back in time to be prepared for whatever you’re doing during the next academic year.
There are a wide variety of different summer mini gap projects available in a number of different countries.
March 27, 2009
If you’re thinking of volunteering abroad, one of the most common things to do is teach English. You can do this in a number of different countries and these tend to be relatively long term positions.
The ability to speak English is a skill that’s highly valued in many different countries. In Tanzania, children can travel several miles each day in order to have the opportunity to learn. English is a very important part of education and you as a volunteer would play a crucial role. English lessons can be anything up to 15 hours a week, helping children improve their speaking and listening skills.
While Tanzania is a beautiful country, it is also extremely poor in places and volunteers may end up spending weeks or months in a village with no electricity and no running water. However, this is set against the opportunity to have an extraordinary impact on the futures of children while spending time in a spectacular setting of forest and farmland.
While volunteers spend a good deal of time contributing to a project, they also benefit from a lot of free time in an exciting and unfamiliar environment as well. The opportunity to teach English in Tanzania is one which you may regret not taking.
March 23, 2009
While the worth of contributing to a charity project for a few weeks or months is immediately apparent, there is also a personal benefit to be gained from carrying out volunteer work abroad.
For many people the decision to do some voluntary work overseas comes about because that person wants to contribute to something worthwhile, and wants to gain the satisfaction of having improved the lives of people in another country in some way.
It may also be something to add to their CV, but it can be so much more than that. When volunteering abroad you can gain so many skills and can also benefit from a broader outlook on the world.
Many projects are relatively small and thrive according to the enthusiasm of the volunteers who contribute. While the projects are largely well organised, at the end of the day, you are essentially on your own and you will find that you need to sort a lot of things out for yourself. This self reliance is one thing and you will also benefit from improved communication and organisational skills.
It may seem selfish to concentrate on the personal benefits of volunteering abroad, but it is yet more reason to contribute to a worthwhile cause overseas.
March 13, 2009
Peru is a popular destination for tourists, due to its fascinatingly varied landscape and the many sights originating from Incan and even pre-Incan times. A great way of seeing these sights and of experiencing the culture of Peru is by signing up to do some volunteer work.
Voluntary work is often seen as something you’ll do for an extended period of time; something for students or people taking gap years, but that’s not necessarily the case. With a working holiday, you can contribute for just a week or two. This is ideal if you can’t spare a month or more but still want to do something of value while you are on your holiday.
If you choose to do this in Peru, you can combine the work with some additional travelling and sightseeing. Macchu Picchu is perhaps the best known Incan ruin and is well worth a visit. Macchu Picchu was a major Incan city in the 15th century, but was only inhabited for around 100 years. Its ruins lie in the Andes 2,400m above sea level.
Largely forgotten for centuries and considered ‘lost’, Macchu Picchu is known for its spectacular location as well as the astounding quality of the stonework in its architecture. One of the world’s great tourist attractions, it is well worth visiting as part of a working holiday to Peru.
March 9, 2009
A gap year may not necessarily be an entire year; it may be just a couple of months. However long you’re intending to go away for, you still need to be organised.
For a start, you need to ensure that you’ll be working for the right project and that you’ll be doing the right sort of thing. If you’ve specialist skills that may be valuable to a particular project, make use of them. If you’re a carpenter or a teacher, why not try and find a project that can make use of your abilities.
Secondly, think about where you want to go. If you’re planning a longer trip, this is of even more importance. If you’re going to be living somewhere for an extended period of time, it’s advisable that you thoroughly research your destination.
Having decided on a particular project, it’s worth taking a closer look at the company you’ll be working for. Examine their code of practice and ensure that you will be looked after properly while you’re on your placement. It’s also worth finding out where your money will go, as this is likely to be a major consideration when carrying out gap year work.
