• 1 week - 6 month gap year programmes in the developing world
• Voluntary work and placements where you can make a difference
• Adventurous activities, trips and cultural visits
• Fully supported programmes to ensure high levels of quality and safety
• Can accommodate friends / couples

What can you do and where?

Please click here for a full list of our projects and destinations.

If you are looking for a project where you join a join a group on a fixed date, we recommend the following projects in particular:

• Orphanage care in Peru
  
• Teaching in Tanzania
• Teaching in Thailand
• Jungle conservation in Peru
• Wildlife Rescue in Thailand
  

Our approach to Gap Years

PoD provides gappers with the opportunity to work in a beautiful environment in the developing world and get to know a community and small area of the county. You will be contributing a great deal to the people, animals or environment you work with and making a real difference.

You will meet many people, make new friends and the placement is a good way to prepare you to travel on independently during your gap year if that is your plan. At the end of your time you’ll have had an unforgettable experience, acquired new skills and independence, and we’ll even write you a reference to put the finishing touch to your CV.

Preparation, training and support

Being in a developing world environment is a very exciting opportunity, but we recognise that it will also be an unfamiliar one to people on their gap year.

A comprehensive information booklet will be given to you after you apply so that you can fully understand the placement before making a commitment. Support and advice is then available throughout the period leading up to your departure.

On arrival in-country, you will receive training appropriate to your role and location. Through the training and local staff in your selected country, we aim to provide a framework of support within which gap year volunteers can live independently.

A key part of PoD's philosophy is provide a high level of support to volunteers. In each of the countries we work in, there are local staff to provide support and assistance. The staff understand the needs of gap years and are experienced at dealing with all kinds of issue that may arise. They are always available in case of emergency.