Do you want your world to be a better place - Africa and Asia Venture

Do you want your world to be a better place - Africa and Asia Venture

It takes YOU... to be the difference you want to see!

And in the words of Jack Johnson .......

" I Would turn on the TV but it's so embarrassing
To see all the other people I don't know what they mean
And it was magic at first when they spoke without sound
But now this world is gonna' hurt you better turn that thing down
Turn it around

"It wasn't me", says the boy with the gun
"Sure I pulled the trigger but it needed to be done
Cause life's been killing me ever since it begun
You cant blame me cause I'm too young"

"You can't blame me sure the killer was my son
But I didn't teach him to pull the trigger of the gun
It's the killing on this TV screen
You cant blame me its those images he's seen"

Well "You can't blame me", says the media man
Well "I wasn't the one who came up with the plan
I just point my camera at what the people want to see
Man it's a two way mirror and you cant blame me"

"You can't blame me", says the singer of the song
Or the maker of the movie which he based his life on
"It's only entertainment and as anyone can see
The smoke machines and makeup and you cant fool me"

It was you it was me it was every man
We've all got the blood on our hands
We only receive what we demand
And if we want hell then hell's what we'll have

And I would turn on the TV
But it's so embarrassing
To see all the other people
I don't even know what they mean
And it was magic at first
But it let everyone down
And now this world is gonna' hurt
You better turn it around
Turn it around "

(Jack Johnson)

Don't make excuses, make decisions about YOUR future - Harry Mitchell and Rob Butcher did, and look what they discovered......

"From the first gruelling day in Calcutta after a 20 hour flight, trying to cram enough from a week long induction course to sustain me through 3 months of ad-lib teaching, to teaching a class of fifty + 3-23year olds and keeping some sense of control, to trying to hold in violent diarrhoea on a bumpy jeep ride, to trying to navigate a massive subcontinent with a heavy backpack. Every last minute was worth it. Without a doubt the best experience of my life!"
Rob Butcher.

"When I went on AV I was always worried about putting large sums of hard earned cash into an organisation promising you a 'time of your life you will never want to forget' as every organisation says something around those lines on their flyers, but AV gave me just that. Everyday, back in England, I want to start AV all over again, from the day it was Ned and me at the gate of Bupadhengo Primary and Secondary School on our first day and our Headmaster coming up with a huge welcoming smile when we very disorientated and felt very out of place.

The whole experience was a new one and the best way to describe the sensation is how an AV representative once told me at a Gap year fair, 'It's all about your firsts...' Its not till your out there you understand the mystery of that unfinished sentence and discover what that guy really means. The first time you use a long drop, the first time you teach, the first time you see an amazing African market, the first time you see the Nile... I could go on and on about the perks you get from the skilful organisation of AV.

My other main worry was, 'I am on my Gap Year with AV, an organisation. Are they going to look after me like a kid? Its my Gap Year i want to do my own thing!' The simple and truthful answer to that is NO! This is what I found brilliant about AV, the fact that your out in Africa far from any of your family or natural surroundings or town and your on your own with your 3 other house mates! But if anything goes wrong you have a safety net on the end of a phone call which could deal with anything we threw at them, dislocated knee's, home-sickness, help in the school and booking flights to Zanzibar in free travel. I NEVER got a negative response from the AV reps over the whole 4 months.

Another great thing about AV which I have already tried to explain is that you understand how it is to be 'independent'. I have been at full-time boarding school since the age of 9, away from home and feeling very independent, but its not till you get out to another continent and you are spending your own money you earnt and you are living with 3 others of your age and you have to cook and shop for your house that you understand the word independence!

'But why should i be a volunteer? I want to go round Europe and have proper fun instead of being stuck out in Africa!' I went to inter-railing round Europe after AV and I admit it was awesome and I am sure my friend would say that to, but the fact is, from having both of the types of travelling under my belt I can fairly say Africa was far better.

Europe was awesome fun, we saw the Euro football final in Vienna, we went to Amsterdam and booze cruised it, we went to Corfu and had amazing nights clubbing, saw some of the most beautiful girls and buildings in Prague, had awesome sights to see in Hungary.

In Africa I saw UB40's last ever live concert, I white water rafted and bungee jumped over the source of the Nile, I saw Gorilla's in there natural habitat, I taught kids English and sport so they could get a job later in life, I booze cruised down the Nile, I had some of the best days of my life with my 3 house mates in our house on the school campus, I travelled with 50 people my age and now they are friends for life.

Now take the trip you want out of those two.  A trip of great student fun that you remember by pictures and by an empty bank account and a few new cyber friends on Facebook you met on the train. Or, pick the trip that you can think of everyday that will make you smile from all the unique, incredible things you did and the friends you've made that you will see again at University and for years to come.

'Thanks AV for the best 4 months ever. I know have memories like a chocolate box, which memorable time will I pick out next... who knows, all I know about these chocolates there all bloody incredible!'   Harry Mitchell

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