Choosing to go on a gap year can be a great idea! After thirteen years of schooling it might be nice to reward yourself with a year long break before starting your new journey of tertiary education. The amount of freedom that comes with the time you allow yourself can be an exciting opportunity, but choosing what to do with your time can be tricky. A lot of people who decide to go on a gap year, work hard and save up in the first half of the year, and then take a life-changing journey overseas for the rest of the year. Seeing new and exciting places is a great idea, but what if you’re not one to travel just for the sake of travelling? Why not make a lasting impact and volunteer.
There are plenty of gap year volunteering options, all having a different focus or goal, so you can volunteer for the right type of work that suits you best, whether it’s animal protection, environmental conservation or human rights. Below, is just an example of SOME of the volunteering adventures that one can journey on.
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Australian Wildlife Sanctuary-Kangaroo Island
If you want to help out in the country that helped shape you, why not volunteer at the Australian Wildlife Sanctuary at Kangaroo Island. You’ll get to stay in beautiful Australian flora and fauna and work alongside, koalas, kangaroos, wallabies, possums and echidnas. You’ll help protect one of Australia’s wildlife hotspots by planting countless trees and counting koalas and other species to help in the conservation of their species. Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island and is located off the coast of South Australia!
Cambodia Volunteering
Did you want to gain experience in an overseas aid project? Why not head to Cambodia. The wonderful and vibrant country offers a whole range of volunteer options. The projects main aims are to ensure the locals have a better way of life. You can help improve general living conditions, hygiene and you’re able to provide children with free, inspiring education. You don’t have to be qualified in anything to volunteer for a role in Cambodia, all you need is a good hard work ethic!
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India Goa Community Volunteering
Goa, India has a reputation for being a tourist hotspot but why not volunteer your time to the locals as well? By volunteering you’ll be helping people in disadvantaged communities by lending your support, time and expertise. You will spend time with the local community and your language and math skills and bubbly enthusiam will help the lives of those living in poverty! You’ll also be able to learn about the fantastic Indian culture!
Panda Conservation Chengdu, China
Why not be an active volunteer to help save Panda’s from extinction. This volunteering experience is situated within the beautiful mountain region of the Wolong Nature Reserve, 150 kilometres away from Chengdu City. If you decide to take on this journey, you will receive full training and some activities will include cleaning out the panda’s enclosures was well as preparing food and feeding them.
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Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary Volunteers
If you would like to volunteer for something more adventurous, why not volunteer for the Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary or something similar. You’ll get to stay in grass planes and rugged natural Savannah, all in view of distant mountain ranges. Some activities could include, taking the cheetahs and baboons for walks, experience a carnivore feed with lions, cheetahs, leopards and wild dogs.
So as you can see, there is a versatile range of volunteering options all across the globe that you can be part of in your gap year. Remember, to do your research as these are only a small selection of the options offered, and different organisations have different volunteering experiences.
If you have anymore great volunteering gap year ideas, or would like to share your experience, why not head over to our friendly forum and let our community know. And if you are still struggling on what to do for your gap year, they might be able to help!
