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Gap Ventures - Africa and Asia Venture

Gap Ventures

Why we go where we go

If you're after a foreign city experience with mod cons and nightlife to enjoy, we're not for you. If you want total immersion in a culture that will teach you to appreciate the really important things in life, we can help.

Try working in some of the world's poorest communities to discover what many have learnt before you - that rural people who own very little are the most generous and welcoming ... and have the broadest smiles.

They will also teach you far more than you can imagine but you have to experience it to know truly what we mean! We offer volunteer teaching, sports coaching, and community, environment and conservation placements for groups of up to 30 in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

All of our volunteer projects have some common features:

• Groups of between 10 and 30 like-minded 18 - 24 year olds.
• In country orientation covering everything you will need to enjoy the experience safely.
• Living and working in pairs or threes but in some areas, living in houses of six or eight.
• Three weeks of independent group travel.
• An all-inclusive five to eight day AV safari.
• Independence but with in country support immediately to hand.

PROJECT DATES

THE CHOICES

Gap Year Teaching

Am I able enough to do it? Yes, certainly.
Hard work? Yes.
Naughty children? Every day!
Scary? Definitely...

...until half way through the first lesson when you realise just how much the children want to learn and also to see you enjoy the experience. Then it's undiluted pleasure (and a lot of laughter).

You stay for a whole term (8-16 weeks); live and teach with a partner; get your own house (except when volunteering with the Lepchas, when you stay with a family).

Go solo if and when you want to. Teach everything you can and then some more after school (music, art, drama, sport) if you want. It's a fantastic and rich experience that 98% prefer to anything else they do on their gap year.
Volunteer Teaching in Africa, Asia and Latin America

Gap Year Sports Coaching

Africans live for two things: football and ugali (maize meal). Mexicans also adore the beautiful game and tortillas. Indians live for cricket and curries. Travel anywhere in the world and the food of choice may change, but kids' love of sport won't - it's universal!

You won't be surprised to know that performance improves with some sustained coaching and the latter is usually in short supply. Why not join us and reap the incredible rewards that await those wanting to coach sport to some of the less privileged children of the world.

Tell us your sport of choice and we'll place you where it can be taught - satisfaction guaranteed!

Volunteer Sports Coaching

Environment, Community & Conservation

Kenya

Wow! Kenya.... so much diversity - mountains, bush, volcanic wastelands and desert alongside some of the world's most productive farmlands; 190miles of coastline with coastal waters and fishing rights extending 200 miles into the Indian Ocean; ranches of up to a million acres playing host to thousands of cattle as well as elephants, hippos, buffalos, giraffe, all the big cats and the full array of smaller game; more birdlife varieties than any country on earth apart from Brazil; and some of the most generous and friendly people, from 42 tribes, you're ever likely to meet. 

Group Outline Programme

• 4 weeks working on an island in the Indian Ocean, south of Mombasa
• 4 weks living in a remote village deep in the Taru Desert, near the Tanzanian border
• 4 weeks living in a tented camp and working on a conservancy near Lake Elementaita.
• 3 weeks of travel in the region
• 6 days of game viewing safari
  

Volunteer Environment, Community & Conservation in Kenya

Ecuador

More amazing variety in Latin America!  The Pacific, coastal plains, the Andes and the Amazon basin - all in this small and beautiful country.  AV are working with Rainforest Concern to learn more about the "lungs of the world" and help to stop the appalling destruction of the rainforests.

Group Outline Programme

• 2 weeks Spanish school and home stay
• 4 weeks living and working in the cloud forests north of Quito 
• 3 days in the Amazon Basin
• 12 days of independent travel throughout the region
• 5 days trekking in the remote Quilotoa (volcano) region

Volunteer Environment, Community & Conservation in Ecuador

Costa Rica

The Caribbean on one side, the Pacific on the other and rainforest in the middle - no wonder turtles come back year on year to lay their eggs here!  This is one of the most stable and peaceful countries in all the Americas (they gave up having an Army in 1948) and it has some incredible biodiversity that needs protection.  AV are working with Endangered Wildlife Trust and Rainforest Concern to help do just that.

Group Outline Programme

• 2 weeks Spanish school and home stay
• 2 weeks protecting turtle nesting sites on the Caribbean
• 5 days of adventure activities and sightseeing, from Arenal in the north to Puerto Viejo in the south
  
• 2 weeks of rainforest  and eco-tourism work at Selva Bananito
  
• 12 days of independent travel in the region

Volunteer Environment & Wildlife Conservation in Costa Rica

Conservation Odyssey - Ecuador and Costa Rica

For those who want to see and do it all, our Conservation Odyssey provides a combination of both programmes.

Volunteer Environment, Community & Wildlife Conservation in Ecuador AND Costa Rica

Graduate Gap Years

We recognise that you, as a graduate, are different. You're older, you may already have had a gap year and the experiences you are looking for might be quite specific. We make considerable efforts to meet your needs and will place you with other graduates, wherever possible.

Indeed, our September groups going to Malawi (teaching and sports coaching) are for graduates only, although you are more than welcome to join any of our schemes worldwide throughout the year - nearly every one of them includes some graduates.
Graduate Volunteering 

If you need some help and want to talk about your plans to volunteer, please Make an enquiry