Career break voluntary work is an excellent gap year option for numerous reasons.
The main benefit of career breakvoluntary work abroad is that it allows you to make a positive contribution to at least one of the countries you visit on your career break - rather than just simply visiting all of the main tourist sights and immediately moving on to your next destination. Career break voluntary work is essentially all about being a responsible tourist and doing your bit to help those less fortunate than yourself when you are travelling.
It's important to stress however that career break voluntary work is just as beneficial to the volunteers themselves. Although career break voluntary work can be challenging at times, volunteering is more often than not also a great deal of fun - and you're almost certain to meet other like-minded travellers. As well as meeting fellow volunteers, career break voluntary work also enables you to get to know local people on a far more meaningful and intimate level - which makes for a much more personal and ‘real' travel experience. The shared experience of career break voluntary work really brings people together and most people return home with some life-long memories and valuable new friendships.
On a more practical level career break voluntary work can also help boost your career when you return home from your career break. Being able to say you have done some career break voluntary work looks great on a CV and a career break volunteer may even manage to get involved with volunteer projects that are connected to their career in some way- thereby picking up valuable new skills and experiences during the course of their work.
If you are going to be doing some career break voluntary work as a grown up gapper it's well worth considering getting hold of some sponsorship to help fund your chosen project. For ideas and inspiration on how to go about raising funds for career break voluntary work, visit our ‘Career break fundraising' page.
Once you have decided to do some career break voluntary work the next decision you need to make is what type of project to get involved with and where. There are three main types of career break voluntary work programmes - animal conservation, environmental conservation and ‘people based' community projects. We have programmes in each of these three categories throughout the world so it's worth spending some time reading up on all of the various options on our website. If you would prefer to discuss the various career break voluntary work possibilities with someone in person, you can always speak to a travel adviser.
This academy offers one of the best environments around the globe to be trained in this historic martial art. Situated at the foot of the Mountains of the Fujian Province, South East China, you will study directly from some of the best Masters to be found in China.
Learn to sail, in paradise. Start from scratch or build on what you know to gain one of three certificates. Hands-on experience, expert theory tuition and onboard accommodation make for a comprehensive programme. Minimum age 10 years.
A chance to try some new sports. Learn to surf and kite surf, go white water rafting and take a forest canopy tour. A sunset cruise and Spanish lessons make for the perfect short adventure!
A never-to-be forgotten cruise on a tall ship around the Great Barrier Reef, with the chance to snorkel, swim and discover the area. Learn the basics of sailing or just relax and soak up the sun.
Learn to sail, in paradise. Start from scratch or build on what you know to gain one of three certificates. Hands-on experience, expert theory tuition and onboard accommodation make for a comprehensive programme. Minimum age 10 years.
Janet Horsley had an incredible time on her tailor-made gap year, blazing a trail through Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America, read her story here.
Gap Year for Grown Ups provide career breaks, volunteer work abroad and adventure travel options for grown up gappers.
If you are looking to become a golden gapper on a grown up gap year, Gap Year for Grown Ups is the leading authority and only specialist source of
ideas and options for an adult gap year.
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