Gap Year Blog
The AV experience is unique. Find out why...
Update: 2015 Uganda Summer project
Thanks to our amazing supporters, The AV Foundation will be providing funds to carry out classroom renovations over the summer.
Renovation of a school building at Kasokwe Primary School
One of the school buildings at Kasokwe Primary School, Uganda was in an extremely poor state of repair. Using a team of local builders, the AV Foundation funded a project to renovate the building including reconstructing demolished gable ends, repairing broken parts...
100 day countdown: The ultimate preparation guide
Our summer programs depart in 100 days and to help you, we’ve put together a handy plan of action.
Essential water supply at St Joseph’s School
No drinking water. No school.
It’s so easy to take a water supply for granted when it’s consistent. But imagine if it isn’t?
An AV perspective on gap year ‘voluntourism’
How do you know when you are making a real difference? Recent AV Celia shares her thoughts on gap year voluntourism.
Students share their stories on life-changing trip
“The children try their hardest to learn your name and will not let go of your hand; it genuinely feels like this tiny child has been your sibling all this time and is learning just from following your actions. I just don’t want any of them to let me go.”
Summer projects in Kenya and Thailand
“I never took a gap year in the traditional sense of a year out. Instead each summer since my A-levels and through university I have gone away on a project.”
Freedom & independence
The Ugandans you meet will change you. They will show you love and wisdom. The things you discover about yourself in Uganda will stay with you forever.
Thank you from Ban Sunpakha School
“It was a wonderful experience, and made us even more sure that we would like to pursue further opportunities like this in helping our students.”
Volunteering in Asia – video
An insight into our gap year volunteering opportunities in Asia – combine volunteer projects with travel and adventure for an unforgettable experience.
Preparation for medical school
Most of all I feel my confidence, teamwork, leadership and decision making skills were greatly improved from the project I completed with AV in Uganda.
Unexpected gap year
Overall my three months in India were unforgettable, just so different and better than what I expected.
A day in the life of an AV Volunteer in Nepal
Two mile walk to school surrounded by the children from the school curious as ‘to who we were and where we came from’ and two miles of incredible mountain views that we never tired of.
Compelling and unforgettable Nepal
From our introductory moments until our final farewells a day in Nepal never ceased to amaze or touch me.
New school building at Hill Queen School
The construction of a permanent new school building for the children at Hill Queen School, in the village of Ringtang near Kalimpong was a hugely rewarding achievement for the AV Foundation.
AV Alumni Joanne Dwyer on Huff Post
Joanne Dwyer is a British writer who first fell in love with Africa as an AV volunteer teacher in Kenya. Joanne is the founding director of an educational charity working with schools in Kenya.
Volunteering with AV helped me get a graduate job!
Thank you
“One month ago I had the most incredible experience…
Uma Lama Education Foundation
Launch of educational charity by AV’s Indian manager.
“An experience like no other”
We’d spent our three months teaching English to various classes now and actually we’d only just got back from three weeks backpacking around the country.