If it’s something truly meaningful you’re looking for from your travels, then these days, for the conscientious gap year traveler, there are all sorts of volunteer programs and schemes available. If you genuinely enjoy learning a range of new skills and working hard, combined with the surge of pleasure that comes with helping people, then volunteer work is something you should look into.
Gap Year Volunteering
There’s been a massive increase in the options for those in search of volunteer work in recent years. Indeed, the range of activities which you can now take part in is mind-boggling.
From working with community organizations and local charities helping children in Africa, India, and many parts of South America, to linking up with government bodies, reconstructing areas devastated by war, famine or environmental disaster such as Tsunami-hit Sri Lanka. Volunteers are required to assist in building homes and schools, and the necessary infrastructure that most of us take for granted, such as clean drinking water and the ability to produce sufficient food, for those living in disadvantaged communities across the world.
There’s also the cute and furry kind of volunteering. Conservation volunteering has experienced a massive surge in popularity in recent years. Popular examples include: helping out at an Elephant Sanctuary in India, or an Orang-utan orphanage in Indonesia, or even working on a Game Park like the magnificent Kruger Park in South Africa.
A word of warning, though: As with Ecotourism, there are some companies out there who are taking advantage of people’s good will. Think long and hard about what people need and want in the communities to which you are going to travel. And make sure you thoroughly research the program you want to do before you put your hard-earned cash down.
Wwoofing
Wwoofing has become quite de rigueur for the student and gap year traveler in recent years. Wwoofing – Wwoof meaning “Willing (or weekend) Workers On Organic Farms” – is driven by something of a proselytizing, missionary creed: its job is to spread the seed of good news about an organic lifestyle as far and wide as possible, teaching people about organic agricultural techniques as they assist farmers grow organic produce, and giving city-dwellers an understanding of how life on a farm works.
All of which means that you roll your sleeves up and get mucky for board and lodging in the countryside! A fantastic way to get to know a country (usually the off the beaten track, rural areas), if you’re a bit stretched for cash.
Teaching
There are few things that can bring you a greater sense of fulfilment than helping someone to learn. And if you are a native English speaker with a TEFL qualification (see our article Traveling with a TEFL) this can be your path to a fantastically improving travel experience. Whilst many choose to do paid teaching work – and a good way of earning your keep on your travels it is too! – if you really want to make a difference, then volunteer teaching is a very worthwhile way to spend part of your gap year.
For lots more information on volunteering on your gap year see: www.gapwork.com
