| If you are considering gap year volunteering, | | | | there are ways to avoid the same kind of thing |
| which we will assume means spending part of | | | | happening to you. |
| your gap year abroad, you need the answers to | | | | Start with who you talk to and what they seem |
| one very important question. Who can you trust? | | | | to know. Are you talking to someone who is |
| The problem is there are quite a few volunteer | | | | reading from a brochure like an ordinary travel |
| organizations and if you search the internet for | | | | agent or do they know what it's like on the |
| gap years student forums you will find several | | | | ground where you want to go? Does your |
| unpleasant stories from people who have put | | | | volunteer organization have ties with the country |
| their trust in a company only to find themselves | | | | you want to go to or are they happy to send |
| waiting at an airport in a strange country with | | | | you anywhere as long as they get your money? |
| nobody to help them. | | | | Will they meet you when you get there? Will they |
| Gap year volunteering is a hugely worthwhile thing | | | | work with you to make sure you can give your |
| to do and we certainly wouldn't want to put | | | | best to the local projects? Do they know what |
| anybody off. You can have excitement and | | | | the local projects are, how long they have been |
| adventure while making a real difference to the | | | | going and what they want to achieve? |
| lives of some of the poorest people in the world. | | | | The internet is also a tremendous source of |
| You really can change people's lives for the better | | | | information. Search gap year volunteering forums |
| and you don't need to be a doctor or a nurse, | | | | and see who others have had problems with. |
| there's a place for everyone. In Africa, for | | | | When you first get in touch with someone from |
| example, you can help conserve wildlife, be an | | | | the company you think you want to go with it's |
| assistant to a teacher working with Zulu children | | | | common to deal via email. After that though, if |
| or help in an orphanage. There are, of course, | | | | you have any concerns ask to speak to someone |
| places for those who want to be medical | | | | on the telephone. You'll be able to judge the kind |
| assistants but your time is just as valuable if you | | | | of people you are dealing with. Often the larger, |
| want to be a sports coach or help with building | | | | better-known companies are a bit too far |
| schools, painting and decorating or even planting | | | | removed from the action and a smaller more |
| crops. | | | | specialized organization might be better for you. |
| In your free time you can go bungee jumping at | | | | Always remember there is never just one choice. |
| Victoria Falls, white water rafting down the | | | | If you have any doubts find someone else. Gap |
| Zambezi or on an elephant safari. How's that for | | | | year volunteering should be the opportunity for |
| adventure! | | | | you to make a positive impact wherever you |
| But it's not much of an adventure if your | | | | decide to go. It should give you incredible |
| volunteer organization doesn't meet you at the | | | | experiences and the chance to make friendships |
| airport, or takes your money and then asks you | | | | that will last a lifetime. Make sure you're absolutely |
| for extra for food, or to buy building materials. | | | | comfortable with who is organizing your trip. If |
| Sadly these are the sort of stories that get | | | | you're not, choose someone else. |
| around. Fortunately it is just a tiny minority and | | | | |