volunteering on my gap year - TravellersConnected.com Travel Forums where Gap Year Travellers, Student Travellers and Mature Travellers all chat online about travel related issues

tedders · 14-04-2009, 03:21 PM

just about to plan my gap year for when i leave school this summer
i really want to see africa, and i want to do some volunteering is possible

loads of organisations ive viewed are expenisive, and i dont see why the cost so much. i also want to make sure the work i will be doing is worthwhile, and enjoyable, i dont want to go and work for the sake of it

has anyone been on any good projects with good companies/organisations recentrly? can you reccomend any maybe??

cheers for your time

catherineluff · 24-04-2009, 11:16 AM

Hey,

It can be difficult to find organisations that really make a differene as well as allowing you to travel. One company I've come across is i-to-i Meaningful Travel. They're good because they only work with projects created by the local community so you can be sure that thew work you do as a volunteer is definitely helping! They also do projects is some really cool places in Africa, Asia and Latin America. There's a great article on their site talking about why volunteering companies have fees too, have a look http://www.i-to-i.com/why-pay-to-volunteer.html

Hope this helpful!

magnusiax · 28-04-2009, 07:43 AM

You can try looking here for volunteer work, this might help you decide where you should travel.

bushman · 29-04-2009, 01:16 PM

Did you know that Kidepo National Park is now a good to go place after a long time of insecurity in Northern Uganda.
More so try a safari to Semuliki National park...you will not believe your eyes when it comes to these two wild places.

cheers
"

Love adventure travel alot and be wise"

bushman · 29-04-2009, 01:19 PM

Volunteering is great but to choose an organisatiion will depend on what area you would like to volunteer......may it's to do with ophanages or any other thing.

wish you luck.

josiecribb · 30-04-2009, 10:44 PM

I went with projects abroad and yes itw as expensive but as it was my first time i needed the security that that sort of money enables you to have. If any thing went wrong i knew someone would be round immediately to help and i had loads o support and backup from the uk as soon as i sent off my application untill the moment i came home. And even after that they were still eager to keep in touch and check i had a good time. Hope that helps! Josie x

shiks · 12-06-2009, 09:50 AM

Hey,

If Kenya is of interest to you, you could check out Links to Africa. They are a local company based in Kenya and they work directly with local community projects. Their fees are much lower than most other companies and yet their support system is really good. I found that they'd reply to all emails and answer all questions quite promptly and once in Kenya they'd make sure your well-taken care of.
You can check out their website at http://www.linkstoafrica.com

Hope this helps. All the best with your plans.

sosha · 26-06-2009, 01:44 PM

Hi, i will be heading to Ghana by the end of july, i have checked out Africa sabbatical their projects are quite refreshing, ranging from teaching to medical and a lot more.iYou need to know which area your interest lies.
You can check them out, they are in south africa too.
All the best.

TheOne23 · 28-07-2009, 10:56 AM

Good luck on all your gap years guys! I had the most fantastic time on mine - a bit scary, for sure, but once the initial nerves were over, it was just amazing. Will never forget it. I used Aventure Gap Year Projects and they organised everything, very smooth. Found some great gap year tips on the BBC too - very helpful guide there. Enjoy!

14-04-2009, 03:21 PM	#1
tedders Tourist Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1	volunteering on my gap year just about to plan my gap year for when i leave school this summer i really want to see africa, and i want to do some volunteering is possible loads of organisations ive viewed are expenisive, and i dont see why the cost so much. i also want to make sure the work i will be doing is worthwhile, and enjoyable, i dont want to go and work for the sake of it has anyone been on any good projects with good companies/organisations recentrly? can you reccomend any maybe?? cheers for your time

24-04-2009, 11:16 AM	#2
catherineluff Tourist Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1	Gap year travel Hey, It can be difficult to find organisations that really make a differene as well as allowing you to travel. One company I've come across is i-to-i Meaningful Travel. They're good because they only work with projects created by the local community so you can be sure that thew work you do as a volunteer is definitely helping! They also do projects is some really cool places in Africa, Asia and Latin America. There's a great article on their site talking about why volunteering companies have fees too, have a look http://www.i-to-i.com/why-pay-to-volunteer.html Hope this helpful!

29-04-2009, 01:16 PM	#4
bushman Tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 29	Wildlife in uganda Did you know that Kidepo National Park is now a good to go place after a long time of insecurity in Northern Uganda. More so try a safari to Semuliki National park...you will not believe your eyes when it comes to these two wild places. cheers " Love adventure travel alot and be wise"

29-04-2009, 01:19 PM	#5
bushman Tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 29	Area of volunteering matters Volunteering is great but to choose an organisatiion will depend on what area you would like to volunteer......may it's to do with ophanages or any other thing. wish you luck.

26-06-2009, 01:44 PM	#8
sosha Tourist Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 2	Try Ghana! Hi, i will be heading to Ghana by the end of july, i have checked out Africa sabbatical their projects are quite refreshing, ranging from teaching to medical and a lot more.iYou need to know which area your interest lies. You can check them out, they are in south africa too. All the best.

28-04-2009, 07:43 AM	#3
magnusiax Tourist Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 52	You can try looking here for volunteer work, this might help you decide where you should travel.

30-04-2009, 10:44 PM	#6
josiecribb Tourist Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1	I went with projects abroad and yes itw as expensive but as it was my first time i needed the security that that sort of money enables you to have. If any thing went wrong i knew someone would be round immediately to help and i had loads o support and backup from the uk as soon as i sent off my application untill the moment i came home. And even after that they were still eager to keep in touch and check i had a good time. Hope that helps! Josie x

12-06-2009, 09:50 AM	#7
shiks Tourist Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5	Hey, If Kenya is of interest to you, you could check out Links to Africa. They are a local company based in Kenya and they work directly with local community projects. Their fees are much lower than most other companies and yet their support system is really good. I found that they'd reply to all emails and answer all questions quite promptly and once in Kenya they'd make sure your well-taken care of. You can check out their website at http://www.linkstoafrica.com Hope this helps. All the best with your plans.

28-07-2009, 10:56 AM	#9
TheOne23 Tourist Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1	Good luck on all your gap years guys! I had the most fantastic time on mine - a bit scary, for sure, but once the initial nerves were over, it was just amazing. Will never forget it. I used Aventure Gap Year Projects and they organised everything, very smooth. Found some great gap year tips on the BBC too - very helpful guide there. Enjoy!

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