Gap year – why not volunteer for work overseas?
Young people that choose to do volunteer work abroad during their university gap year will benefit in several ways. The teaching institutions believe that students who are interested in issues abroad are more rounded individuals, that are likely to be successful in their university career. Many tutors appreciate the opportunity to work with students who have already proven themselves to be dedicated to the global community. Potential future employers will also look favourably on an applicant’s gap year that has been spent in acquiring skills and experiences outside his or her home nation.
Gap year: popular destinations
Volunteer opportunities for students on their gap year abound in many developing areas of the world, such as Africa, South America, Asia, Central America and Oceania – an area of the world comprising the Pacific Ocean islands. In many of these destinations students will confront an unfamiliar culture, and depending on the type of volunteer project, the basics of a new language might have to be learned.
It is also possible to stay in Europe and still participate in important volunteer work. Teaching projects and activities that centre on the conservation of vital land and marine resources are available in many European nations. Climate change education is also a popular focus for gap year programmes on the Continent.
Gap year: popular schemes
A gap year of volunteering can be in various parts of one foreign nation or may be spent in one small village. This type of gap year is frequently structured as an internship, since the student may be working intensively on one issue under the direction of a single set of mentors. An internship, however, is not the only possible structure a gap year can take.
Many students find that they prefer to volunteer to work abroad on a series of projects that need willing hands. Teaching, conservation work, sports education, HIV/Aids awareness programmes, construction work, agricultural work and helping at an orphanage are just a small selection of the type of work available. Organising a gap year around project work can allow a student to travel to a variety of destinations during the 12 months. Other students find that they prefer to work on a single type of project to acquire specialised skills, such as drilling water wells in needy areas of the world.
Other students prefer to broadly diversify their projects from the very start. It is perfectly feasible to plan a gap year that involves three months of volunteering to teach basic English skills followed by three months of a more physical contribution to a needy community, such as building housing in the wake of a natural disaster. Such a far-ranging approach can help students to clarify their interests and improve their skills.
Useful tips and information
Those who have already settled on a career choice or academic path will benefit by finding a gap year programme that matches their primary interests. Students looking at a medical career, for example, should consider projects such as volunteering at a community health centre in a nation such as Nepal.
Those with a love of animals might want to assist at an elephant sanctuary located in India.
In all cases, those considering a gap year volunteer experience should research the company or programme under consideration thoroughly before any money changes hands.
A gap year volunteering abroad can provide experiences that help students grow both on a personal and a professional level, making them into more well-rounded individuals that will have an advantage as they pursue their future goals.
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when devoting time to any chatiry you may want to start small and local, before deciding to go to another country. there’s a lot involved when doing overseas charitable work, and pretty much all organizations only send volunteers who have been with them for years and/or have certain skills pertaining to the area in which they are sent. (I.E. speaking the local language, some medical expertise, etc.) its very expensive to send someone overseas, so organizations are very careful who they send. if you want to make it overseas with any organization you have to put in a lot of volunteer hours with different charities. start small with local groups like the SPCA or nursing homes. there are a ton of chatiry groups locally that need volunteers badly. you may even want to check your school, they may be able to put you in contact with different groups.References :
I completely agree, volunteering overseas makes you a more rounded individual and it really will benefit you in so many ways, not only giving you new transferable skills but making you more culturally aware. If you’re struggling to find a good organisation to volunteer with my advice is to go with a charity as you know your money will be going to be put to good use.
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Good evening! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a group of volunteers and starting a new project in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us useful information to work on. You have done a wonderful job!
This is a tough one, when I went to volunteer in Nicaragua my whole fmliay thought I was crazy. “You want to go WHERE and VOLUNTEER for FOUR weeks?! WHY?!?” I didn’t go to them for approval. And really, you don’t need any approval but from God. There are many many many people who don’t understand why you are doing what you are doing and don’t understand the need for international volunteers. You have been called to do this and your mother may not understand this until you return from your trip, hopefully.There is a critical need for mission work in poor countries and not everyone has the opportunity to see what poverty really is. America is not reality, you need to experience it first hand. There needs to be more people like you in this world!You have been called to do this, you may not win everyone over, but it’s okay because it’s YOU not them. Please go on this trip and have an amazing time! I’ll pray for youReferences :