Transformative Journeys: Exploring Gap Semester Volunteer Programs
A gap year program can be one of the most transformative and eye-opening journeys a person can undertake. Taking a break from the linear path can be enriching at various times in your life. Though most people think of gap years as a year off between high school and college, this isn’t the only time you can choose to veer from the beaten track. During college, between undergraduate and graduate school, or even before launching a career are all great times for service gap years. Determining when to take a gap year is a personal decision that involves looking at your professional or academic path, financial situation, and desired outcomes from the break.
Why Embark on a Volunteering Gap Year?
In a 2020 survey, 92 percent of gap year alumni cited the opportunity to grow personally as the most significant reason to take a gap year. Volunteering gap years take students out of their day-to-day routines and into a whole new set of circumstances and experiences.
Gain Life Experiences: Volunteering gap years take students out of their day-to-day routines and into a whole new set of circumstances and experiences.
Get a Break From the Academic Track: School burnout is real. Many students crave a break from the cycle of classes, tests, and homework as a way to recharge and renew their interest in academics. Although volunteering is still work, it’s a great way to dedicate time to something outside of your usual schoolwork.
Dedicate Your Time to Worthwhile Projects: Spending your time contributing to a valuable project - think working in a community medical clinic or caring for animals on a farm - can make your gap year a meaningful experience. When designed responsibly, service projects bring real benefits to communities and learning opportunities for students.
Read also: Explore Global Opportunities
Travel and Experience Other Cultures: Whether domestically or abroad, a volunteering gap year takes students outside of their comfort zones. Traveling and volunteering internationally takes you into the heart of a different culture. Likewise, volunteering in your home country can introduce you to people and ways of life outside of your own.
Discover New Interests and Skills: Whether academic, personal, or career-oriented, a volunteering gap year can introduce you to interests you never knew you had. After a gap year, you can then bring these new-found skills and interests back to your school or career with confidence.
Key Questions to Ask When Planning Your Volunteer Gap Year
There’s no perfect way to take a volunteer gap year. Everything from where to go, how long to go, and what type of volunteer work to do are up for debate. Before and during your research process, it’s helpful to take a step back and consider what factors are most important to you and how you can make your dream volunteer gap year a reality. Here are eight questions to ask yourself while planning your gap year:
Volunteer Domestically or Abroad? The notion of a service gap year typically conjures up images of far-off destinations. But it’s entirely possible - and more affordable - to spend a gap year volunteering in your home country. Students who choose this option may have an easier time with the adjustment and potentially keep a part-time job. On the other hand, international volunteering opens you up to a different culture and way of life, and possibly the chance to practice a foreign language.
How Long Do I Want to Volunteer? Despite the term “gap year”, time away from school doesn’t need to be a full 365 days. Many schools allow deferred enrollment or a break during degree programs for one quarter or one semester. At the same time, the entirety of your gap year doesn’t need to be spent volunteering. It can be nice to mix it up with a few months of a volunteer placement followed by some free travel or work time.
Read also: Study Abroad with CSU: Semester at Sea
Where and How Am I Needed? When deciding to volunteer for a gap year, it’s crucial to think about what kind of service you can actually provide. It might sound great to teach English in a foreign country, but if you don’t have any teaching experience, it’s probably not the best use of your time. Think not only about what skills you bring to the table but also what type of service is needed and where. Answering these questions will take dedicated research time.
What Type of Volunteer Project Interests Me? Similar to considering how and where your skills are needed, you should also think about what kind of volunteer work interests you. Caring for children? Environmental conservation? Refugee relief? The possibilities are endless. At the end of the day, it’s important to find a volunteer opportunity that’s both good for you and for the community you’ll be working with.
When Should I Take a Gap Year? After high school and before starting college is a common time for taking a gap year, though certainly not the only. Students who are excited by the idea of a volunteering gap year but not quite ready immediately after high school should consider taking one later down the road (refer to the next section for a more in-depth look at the different times you can take a gap year.)
Does My College or University Allow Deferred Enrollment? Don’t leave this detail until the end! Although most American colleges allow deferred enrollment for admitted students, you’ll want to research your school’s policies first and foremost (if that applies to your situation, of course). Deferred enrollment isn’t always guaranteed even at schools that offer it: you may need to apply for deferment and pay a tuition deposit.
What’s My Budget? Costs for a volunteering gap year can add up quickly, so setting a budget at the beginning is key. Factor in travel and living expenses, program costs (if going through a structured volunteer program), visa fees (if applicable), and leave a cushion for emergencies and unexpected costs.
Read also: Affording Baylor University
What do the Program Fees Cover? Most, if not all, international volunteer programs come with participation costs. Knowing what services are included in the program fees (Travel insurance? Lodging?) will impact your budget. A portion of the fees will likely go towards running the program in the community, which you’ll want to verify to avoid unethical volunteer schemes (refer to the Finding Ethical Volunteering Gap Year Opportunities section below).
When is the Best Time to Go on a Volunteer Gap Year?
Taking a break from the linear path can be enriching at various times in your life. Though most people think of gap years as a year off between high school and college, this isn’t the only time you can choose to veer from the beaten track. During college, between undergraduate and graduate school, or even before launching a career are all great times for service gap years. Determining when to take a gap year is a personal decision that involves looking at your professional or academic path, financial situation, and desired outcomes from the break.
Before Undergraduate Studies: The most common time to take a gap year is after high school and before starting an undergraduate program. The timing feels like a natural break for students to reset and reenergize for the next chapter in their academic careers. Most colleges have deferred enrollment policies that allow admitted students to reserve their spots for the following academic year.
Pros:
- Excellent time to discover new interests and skills
- Return to school with renewed motivation for academics
- Studies indicate higher academic performance after taking a gap year
Cons:
- Some financial aid and loans require starting school right away
- You might not yet have the skills or knowledge for your dream volunteer role
During Your Undergraduate or Graduate Schooling: Though not as common, it’s certainly possible to take a gap year during the course of your undergraduate or graduate studies. Depending on your school and financial aid or loan situation, a gap year in the middle of college can be trickier than when you’re not enrolled. Nonetheless, there are schools that allow breaks without fully unenrolling - though they may only allow one quarter or semester off.
Pros:
- Gain clarity regarding your academic path
- Avoid burnout while in the thick of school
Cons:
- Readmission can be tricky at some schools
- Student loans and financial aid may not allow time for a gap year
Before Graduate School: Similar to after high school and before college, taking a volunteering gap year after undergraduate and before graduate studies - law school, medical school, master’s programs, and the like - is another natural break time on the academic track. Likewise, many universities allow deferred enrollment for admitted graduate students just like they do for undergraduate.
Pros:
- Return to school with renewed motivation for academics
- Allows more time for applying to graduate school, if not already committed
- Nice to volunteer and travel after gaining maturity and skills in college
Cons:
- Finances could be tight after the years spent in school
- Finishing your graduate degree as quickly as possible may feel like the priority
Before Entering the Workforce: “Earn your degree, get hired” can feel like the next step in a conveyor belt of life milestones.
Pros:
- Experiences gained during a volunteering gap year can boost your resume
- Being a more skilled volunteer can mean more responsibility and greater impact
- Ability to explore career paths through volunteering
- Allows more time for job applications
Cons:
- Finances could be tight after the years spent in school
- Working might feel like a bigger priority
Volunteering Abroad: Immersing Yourself in a New Culture
Taking time off to volunteer abroad is a great way to immerse yourself in a new culture while letting your inner altruist put your talents and goodwill to use. Being a volunteer in a community means you are more than just a transient traveler, and likewise, your host country/community will become more than just a place you visited. Understandably, you may be getting more out of your volunteer placement than the community you are helping. You are gaining valuable professional skills and experience in development. That is not to say you’re not helping your community, but if one of your goals of a volunteer gap year is to expand on or supplement your education, a service learning project, which combines classroom instruction with community service, may an ideal combination.
Popular Volunteer Programs
One of the most popular volunteer programs also happens to be a cornerstone of development: education. Depending on language requirements and your country of service, volunteers can expect to teach English, Science, Art, Sports Education, Math, IT Skills, and so much more. Worldwide, there are countless volunteer positions to help with environmental conservation or education. Each country and region has its own environmental issues and therefore the specific work you will be doing is dependent on where you are placed. For example, you could help conserve turtle populations in Costa Rica, or orphaned elephants in Thailand. Volunteers with a background in health are highly sought out in volunteer abroad positions and bring an incredibly valuable set of skills to the field. Both in developed and undeveloped nations, gender discrimination is significant issue for women and a hindrance to their professional advancement and personal rights. However, empowering women abroad and working for women's rights is especially significant in countries where the divide between women and men is strong. Whether you have a background in farming and agriculture or not, a volunteer placement in agriculture may be for you.
Spotlight on Specific Countries
Ghana: Located on Africa’s “Gold Coast”, Ghana is known for it’s warm climate and even warmer people. However, despite recent advancements, its poverty level still sits at around 28.5%, and a host of development projects in health, education, and environmental conservation have popped up as a result.
Thailand: Thousands of visitors flock to Thailand’s idyllic beaches bustling capital each year. Understandably so, it’s a great place to visit but an equally welcoming place to volunteer. Volunteer projects here are fairly diverse, with options such as working with refugees, elephant conservation, education, health, and youth development.
India: India is a country like no other, and it’s hard not to walk away from this colorful, bustling nation of 1.2 billion without feeling affected by its lively personality. Of course, it isn’t all just bright colors and spicy street food.
Peru: Peru is a fascinating country with diverse and beautiful ecosystems, ancient history, and an enchanting contemporary culture that volunteers are bound to fall in love with. Unfortunately, its high level of poverty and less than ideal living conditions mean that volunteer projects and the dedicated people working on them are much needed.
South Africa: In terms of both culture and environment, South Africa is an amazingly diverse nation with a rich and complex history. It stands out among African nations for the leaps and bounds it has taken in development. However, though it is one of the most economically advanced nations in Africa, it is still catching up to the West in terms of development and living standards.
10 of the Best Volunteering Gap Year Programs
Whether at home or abroad, for a few months or a year, students will want to spend time researching volunteer programs for their gap year. Finding a structured program planner will make for a smoother gap year experience, according to Ethan Knight, founder of the Gap Year Association. There’s a lot of variety amongst volunteer gap year providers in terms of dedication to their communities, services offered to volunteers, and duration. Here are ten of the best:
International Volunteer HQ: International Volunteer HQ prides itself on being one of the world’s most trusted and affordable volunteer trip planners. Over 100,000 volunteers have gone on trips through IVHQ in over 40 worldwide destinations. They provide a range of services like responsible volunteer orientation and fundraising resources, and they have options for volunteers under 18.
- Program Locations: Europe, Asia, Middle East, Latin America, United States, Australia & New Zealand, Africa
United Planet: Global volunteer placements through United Planet range from one week to one year.
AmeriCorps: Americans of all ages can apply to become an AmeriCorps member (about 75,000 Americans join annually!). As a member, you can contribute to volunteer projects for three months to a year and become eligible for some impressive perks like student loan deferment, college scholarships, living allowances, and health benefits.
- Program Locations: United States
Projects Abroad: Projects Abroad affords volunteers a lot of flexibility in choosing their length of stay. Programs can last up to a year and typically have a minimum duration of one week. They have six categories of volunteer projects to choose from: conservation, childcare, teaching, building, sports coaching, and archeology.
- Program Locations: Asia, Africa, Latin America, South Pacific, Romania
GVI: Volunteer abroad programs through GVI come in a wide range of unique focus areas, such as marine conservation, photography, women’s empowerment, and health promotion. For gap years, GVI recommends signing up for one or more one-month to six-month volunteer abroad programs. Where GVI really shines is in their commitment to ethical volunteering and the communities where they work.
- Program Locations: Africa, Asia, Latin America, Fiji, Greece
City Year: Another great option for those who want to stay domestic for their gap year is City Year. Part of the AmeriCorps network, City Year focuses on supporting high-need schools by sending volunteers to help with students’ academic and social-emotional development. With proven results in 29 cities, City Year is a time-honored organization with meaningful impact.
- Program Locations: United States
Global Citizen Year: Global Citizen Year takes an apprenticeship approach to service gap years. Yearlong programs in the four destination countries include one to five apprenticeships in the local community with focuses such as teaching, social enterprise, and agriculture. The program includes training and language education combined with homestays for cultural immersion.
- Program Locations: Brazil, Ecuador, India, Senegal
CIEE: CIEE offers semester- and year-long service gap year programs accredited by the Gap Year Association. As a study abroad and gap year provider, CIEE is dedicated to academics and safety. Their service gap year programs emphasize language learning and cultural immersion through a combination of community volunteering and overnight excursions.
- Program Locations: France, Dominican Republic, Ghana
Year On: Year On’s 15- and 32-week programs combine international volunteer time in one of five countries and skills training in San Francisco, California. The longer experience involves an additional phase of launching your own project, such as starting a business, taking a course, or working.
- Program Locations: Mexico, India, Indonesia, Peru, Tanzania
Youth International: Those who prefer to travel and volunteer as a group should check out Youth International. Groups of 14 participants aged 18 to 25 can join three-month-long programs that combine volunteering, outdoor adventure, cultural exchange, and homestays. Programs in each of the three destination regions include experiences in three countries.
- Program Locations: Asia, South America, Africa
Spotlight on Colleges that Encourage Volunteer Gap Years
Students interested in a volunteering gap year before or during their studies have to pay attention to one key factor: their school. Schools are not only allowing delayed start dates but also encouraging students to pursue gap years. Course credit for service learning, financial assistance for gap years, university-sponsored programs, and low tuition deposits are just some of the ways that colleges are promoting a break from the classroom.
These seven schools stand out for their gap year support:
- Harvey Mudd College: Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California allows admitted students to defer enrollment for one year in most cases, according to their application FAQs. Students must submit a form with a written explanation of their gap year plans and pay the $300 tuition deposit. Likewise, the school’s admission policies state that for new applicants who apply after taking a gap year, this won’t affect their application.
- Portland State University: This public university in Portland, Oregon grants deferred enrollment for admitted first-year students, according to their gap year deferral policy. The school encourages gap years for volunteering, working, travel or other reasons with a $200 tuition deposit and a written explanation of how the year will be spent. As a bonus, PSU partners with two gap year providers - Carpe Diem and Verto Education - to offer college credit for some programs.
- Harvard College: Harvard was put in the spotlight for its promotion of gap years in 2016 when Malia Obama, daughter of former President Obama, announced she was taking a gap year before attending school there. Harvard’s acceptance letter recommends students take gap years for travel, work, or special projects such as volunteering. Not only do they allow deferred enrollment with reserved financial aid, but they also provide special gap year themed housing for returning students and support services while deferred students are on their g…
Getting Your Family On Board
Volunteering abroad can be a taxing experience, both emotionally and physically, so it’s essential to have a support system back home. Especially when you’re having a particularly rough day, you want to be able to call your family and have them remind you that you made the right decision and not saying “I told you so.” Get your family on board by researching all safety, health, and financial concerns, making contingency plans, and sharing all of it with them. Don’t forget to discuss all the great benefits and experiences you’ll be getting out of your placement, either!
Timing is Everything
If you are planning a volunteer placement independently, when you go is totally dependent on you and the country you have chosen to volunteer in. Even program-run volunteer placements are generally flexible in their departure dates, especially shorter term placements that cater to voluntourists who may not have an infinite amount of time. However, if you are looking for a longer-term placement or working with a specific organization, they may replace volunteers only every 6 months to a year, depending on their program. Be aware that many nations also require yellow fever vaccinations and an up-to-date WHO card for you to enter.
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