When it comes to planning your Gap Year or Gap Break its very important that you choose the volunteer project or placement that's right for. It's all about research, preparation and organisation. Here are a few tips that might help you out!
Madventurer are members of the Year Out Group, a membership body for the Gap Year Travel industry.
To help you make your choice, a group of leading gap year organisations came together in 2000 to form Year Out Group. Together these organisations offer you the benefit of the collective experience of tens of thousands of former participants on a wide range of different year out opportunities.
What can I do? - With Madventurer we have 3 types of trips. You can get involved in our:
1. Rural Community Teaching and Building projects
2. Urban Teaching/Orphanage/Medic/Sports Coaching Placements
3. Or join an organised overland adventure/trek/safari with one of our travel partners
Where can I go? - We have volunteer projects and placements in Africa, Asia, South America and the South Pacific.
Which organisation is right for me? - Read up on our website about the world of Madventurer, join our Madventurer Facebook Group chat to other travellers, get in touch directly and chat to one of our team, we have Madventurer reps at most universities up and down the country who have all travelled with us before!
Your responsibility? - We will give you all the help you need to get organised and ready for your trip. Its up to you to take this on board and be prepared, read our full trip notes, give yourself plenty of time to get organised, don't leave it to the last minute.
Right and wrong answers? - Only you can judge. Do your homework, ask questions, gather together as much information as you can and make an informed decision.
The bottom line? - Is this right for you? Are you right for the project or placement?
To read more information from the Year Out Group and "Planning a Gap Year" then just follow the link below. If you would like further advice from us then just email team@madventurer.com or give us a call on 0845 121 1996.
www.yearoutgroup.org/Planning-a-Gap-Year
Once you decide the who, what, where and when then the rest is fairly straightforward. We will give you all the pre-departure info you need about the volunteer trip in order to get organised.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO)
We take all our travel advice from The Foreign & Commonwealth Office. They have a wealth of information and a fantastic "Know Before You Go Campaign". This was launched in 2001 to promote these key messages:
Get adequate travel insurance
Check the FCO's country travel advice
Research your destination - know the local laws and customs
Visit your GAP as soon as possible before travelling
Check your passport is in good condition and valid and you have all necessary visas
Make copies of important travel documents and/or store them online using a secure data storage site
Tell someone where you are going and leave emergency contact details with them
Take enough money and have access to emergency funds
To read more information on the Know Before You Go Campaign then just follow the link below.
www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/about-kbyg-campaign/