15/03/2011

Gap Year Volunteer and Work Abroad

The idea of taking a gap year abroad to work or volunteer is irresistible to some, but weighing up what to do and where to go can sometimes be a little confusing - with so many options it can be hard to know where to start! So to make the whole process a little easier, these are BUNAC's top 10 questions to ask yourself when researching your gap year options.

1. Where do you want to go?
You may want to live in a Western country or you may want to experience life in a developing country. BUNAC offers programmes in the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Peru, South Africa, Ghana, China, India and Cambodia.

2. Do you want to volunteer or do paid work?
Participating on a Work Abroad programme gives you the opportunity to boost your CV while enjoying life in the USA, Canada, New Zealand or Australia. BUNAC’s programmes give you the opportunity to work in pretty much any job anywhere, or work at a summer camp in the USA.

Volunteering gives you the chance to not only experience life in a completely different culture and enhance your CV, but also to do something genuinely worthwhile while you’re away. There are a number of opportunities available in Africa, Asia and the USA, including teaching English, working to increase HIV/AIDS awareness and conservation work.

3. What particularly do you want to do?
If you want to teach English, coach sport, work in the Great Outdoors or work with children, animals or communities then there are a number of volunteer programmes that BUNAC offers. If you’re interested in working with kids then you could also work at a summer camp in the USA.

There are plenty of seasonal jobs available to our Work Abroad participants (such as working in hospitality, theme parks or in restaurants), while others on these programmes are able to find career-related work, internships or work-experience.

4. When do you want to go?
Work America, KAMP USA and Summer Camp USA only run during the summer, and many of the volunteer programmes have specified start and end dates. Our Work Abroad programmes in Australia, New Zealand and Canada are more flexible as you can arrive and leave whenever you choose!

5. How long do you want to go for?
You could work in the USA or volunteer in Africa, Asia or the USA for a period of months, but if you want to go away for a longer period of time then working in Australia, New Zealand and Canada would be your best bet - you’d be permitted to stay for up to 12 months.

6. Is this your first time you’ve done a programme like this?
Going away for a few months can be a little intimating at first, no matter how many times you’ve done it. If you’re looking to volunteer, our programmes in South Africa and India are well-suited to first time travellers. Depending on the programme, you could end up teaching sport, working on community programmes or even working with lions!

The group flights that we offer participants on our Work Abroad programmes are really popular among first-time travellers and those travelling independently. Joining a group flight means that you can meet other people on your programme before even leaving the UK. Everyone’s in the same boat, so really keen to mingle! If you’re heading to Australia and New Zealand, taking a group flight means you get to spend 3 days in Hong Kong with other BUNAC participants before you even touch down in your final destination.

7. What’s your budget?
You’ll need to think about how much you’re happy to spend. Efficiently-run volunteering programmes have the potential to really make a difference to the lives of the people whose communities in which they run. For this reason, BUNAC goes to great lengths to ensure that participants live in safe, vetted accommodation and that volunteers have expert help and support while they are away - which means that the price of these programmes tend to be higher than the Work Abroad programmes (starting from £295). Remember, as BUNAC is a not-for-profit organisation, you get exactly what you pay for and nothing less – the price you pay is the price it costs to run a sustainable, worthwhile programme!

However, if you’re concerned about money, then a Work Abroad programme may be the way to go. Not only does the registration fee tend to be lower, but you’ll also be able to earn while you’re away – so you can afford to enjoy the country you’re living in!

8. Are you a student?
The vast majority of BUNAC programmes are open to anyone, however in order to be eligible for KAMP USA and Work America you need to be a student.

9. What experience do you have?
You do not need to have specified experience or qualifications for the majority of our programmes. However, if you are on a Work Abroad programme then you’ll need to be realistic about the jobs you’re applying for. Just as in the UK, if you’re looking for a professional job then you’ll need relevant experience. We’d always recommend being flexible – perhaps be willing to work at a more junior level than you’re used to in order to increase the likelihood of finding something quickly.

To be eligible for Summer Camp USA you will need experience of working with children and experience of teaching a particular activity. You will not need extensive experience to apply for the majority of our volunteer programmes, but you’ll need to be enthusiastic and open-minded about living in a different culture.

10. Anything else you’d like to know?
If there are any more questions or queries you have about any of our programmes, please don’t hesitate to get in contact.

Contact

To find out more about Gap Year Work and Travel Programs Abroad with BUNAC please call 020 7251 3472 or e-mail: traveladvice@bunac.org.uk.