This is a question which has been debated over and over again – is it worthwhile taking a Gap year? It’s easy to say no or yes outright but what actually needs to be discussed is not whether it is worthwhile taking a Gap Year but whether what you do with it is worthwhile:
Working: It’ll be a valuable experience, earn some money, learn that you don’t want to end up serving people drinks in a bar, inputting data or cleaning office for the rest of your life and inspire yourself to work as hard as you can at university to get your ideal job, the bonus is that you’ll have some cash to see yourself through university and won’t have to rely on your student loan so won’t exit with quite so much debt.
Travelling: Get out and about and see the rest of the world – the question is where are you going to go? And what are you going to do? Australia? It’s a well beaten path and you will be following in the footsteps on thousands of “Poms” who have travelled before you – it might be inspiring as Australia is a beautiful country. But it won’t be that challenging unless you take yourself off the beaten track.
Africa? Well, things are definitely getting more interesting, you could jump on the Baz Bus in South Africa and safely transport yourself from hostel to hostel whilst still experiencing a very different world. Or you get a wee bit more adventurous; why not start in East Africa? Fly into the madness of Dar a Salaam, Tanzania before heading to the Ngorongoro crater to see the big five, getting used to everything happening on “Africa time” and pushing your body to the limits whilst climbing Kilimanjaro.
Volunteers working with the local community in Kenya dam building.
South America? This is a continent of extremes, and is the continent for those looking for a really adventurous time. Firstly you have the opportunity to learn another language, Spanish or Portuguese or both, then you can challenge yourself physically on the well trodden but exceptionally worthwhile 4 day trek to Machu Picchu, visit the astoundingly beautiful Bolivian Salt flats before relaxing on the beach in Rio.
- The Bolivian Salt flats
Volunteering? A fantastic way to see a different country whilst giving back, this option appeals to many young people taking a Gap Year, but remember, with that level of popularity for volunteering, there are bound to be both good and bad programs available. Ideally, a well-managed bit of volunteer work can help many projects that need a lot of willing hands and continued momentum, while funneling money into local economies. Volun- tourism can also be a cultural exchange that leads to greater understanding among people.
Gap Volunteers taking children from the shanty town of Villa Maria, Peru swimming in their summer holidays.
So how do you choose a project that will work for you and the people you’ll be helping? Dr. Kate Simpson, a British academic who did her PhD research on voluntourism, has produced The Ethical Volunteering Guide to help potential volunteers identify a project that works for them and the place they want to visit. She says prospective voluntourists need to find out as much as possible about the work they will be doing as well as the organization they’ll be doing it for. Ask for both a project and a job description, whether the tour provider works with a local partner organization, and what support and training you will receive.
Volunteers in Malawi building a double classroom last summer.
Her Ethical Volunteering Guide also stresses the importance of investigating the organization’s policies on eco and ethical tourism, and how they are implemented.
A good volunteer project can make a real difference whist giving you the experience of a lifetime.
Remember: Whatever you decide to do, it’s your gap year so make the most of it.
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