David and Mary Snuggs
Tanzania orphan care and street children, Thai Explorer, Conservation Volunteers Australia

Tanzania Orphan Care & Street Children

In total, how long were you away from home?
Sixteen Months

What was your motivation to take a gap break?
A mutual desire to do something different after 25 years in the workplace.  We wanted to do voluntary work as well as travel overseas.

How did you feel before you joined the programme?
Excited and looking forward to a completely new experience.

How did Gap Year For Grown Ups compare with your expectations?
Our expectations were met.  As mature travellers we were prepared to be flexible and did not expect levels of comfort to match those at home!  We were happy to work with any variations or changes to schedules along the way.

What was the accommodation like?

• Tanzania - basic but comfortable and of a high standard when compared to the locals. Our hosts were anxious to look after us to the best of their ability.
• Thailand - there was a wide range of accommodation during the Thai Explorer programme, all more than acceptable - even under canvas or on a schoolroom floor in the Karen village! The accommodation during the elephant volunteer period was very good.
• Australia - The Conservation Volunteers Australia accommodation at Freemantle was a basic but comfortable chalet on a holiday park.  I guess it might be less comfortable when full of volunteers but we were lucky not to be full during our stay.

What did you think of the programme / did your project and destination meet your expectations?
Yes - for all three projects. We set off with an open mind and no preconceptions for our first experience of voluntary work.

What was the most memorable moment of your trip? Any anecdotes?
We have many memorable moments and plenty of anecdotes. Both funny ones and thought provoking ones. Our experience in Tanzania has led to an ongoing relationship with our friends running the programme and we will continue to support them and hope to visit again in due course.

What do you feel you accomplished during your programme?
Hopefully we made a small difference and also helped with the success of the programmes. We encountered a wider range of people than we ever would at home and have developed a better and deeper understanding through living and working alongside people from other cultures.

How have you benefited from your experience? How have you changed?
We now have a lifelong commitment to our friends and the charity in Tanzania. It has reinforced our desire to do more travelling and volunteering work in the future and we are now planning to go and live in New Zealand within the next year.

What advice could you offer to someone considering this programme?
Talk to people who have done something similar.  Do not expect it to be like home either physically or culturally. Listen, learn and enjoy making new friends and spending time with them. They will love having you around but always remember you are a guest in another country.


Tanzania Orphan Care & Street Children

Thailand Explorer - This project is unavailable, contact us for an alternative
Conservation Volunteers Australia - This project is unavailable, contact us for an alternative