Volunteer Work

Volunteer or Gap Year Student

Being a volunteer or gap year student is a rewarding experience. However, ensure you have done your homework, and thought carefully about your options and motives for becoming a volunteer or gap year student.

Step 1: Type of Volunteer Work

What do you want to do? Consider your own strengths and weaknesses carefully. Can you picture yourself planting trees as part of a community building project in tsunami affected areas of Thailand? Once you have decided on the type of work, close your eyes and try to visually picture yourself in that role.

Remember that most volunteer programs range from a few weeks to a few months. Perhaps you can care for sick lions in Africa for a few weeks, but would become bored caring for them for a few months. These are some of the factors you need to consider.

Step 2: Volunteering Locations

So you have now decided on the type of volunteer work you want. Next is to decide on the country offering this type of work. Volunteering programs literally span across hundreds of countries. There will be surely a location to suit your needs.

Step 3: Volunteer Programs

There are a range of volunteer programs on offer. Be sure to choose a reputable company for your volunteering placement. Inclusions to look for:

1. 2~3 meals per day
2. Airport pickup and orientation
3. Clean and safe accommodation
4. Support service

The last thing you need is to land in Africa with no real support, lousy accommodation and promises that fall through. For this reason, we have listed some of the better organisations out there.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
	Established - 1998. UK based. Overview - Non-profit organisation to ensure quality of volunteer programs. Notes - Offers membership to other UK-registered volunteer organisations.
	Established - UK based. Overview - Volunteer programs from 2 weeks to as long as 1 year. Notes - Founder Member of the Year Out Group, dedicated to setting rigorous standards for structured gap year opportunities.
	Established - 1994. UK based. Offices in USA and Australia. Overview - Volunteer programs from 2 weeks. TEFL course volunteer projects. Notes - Member of the Year Out Group. Now offering specialised volunteer opportunities in Media, Marketing, Health and Tourism.
	Established - Since 1995. Head Office in the USA. Office also in the UK. Overview - Non-profit organization dealing exclusively with volunteers. Notes - Sent over 2000 volunteers abroad in 2004. Staff of over 200. Registered charity in the UK.

For further information on volunteer opportunities in Australia and abroad, please contact us at info@aacircle.com.au.