Cultural Gap Year
Selecting the right cultural gap year
When you're planning a gap year, one of the most difficult decisions is deciding where to go and what to do. There are so many organisations offering every possible experience in every imaginable location. There's a common misconception that if you're taking a gap year you should see as much as you can in the time available to really make the most of the experience, however why not take a step back from the hectic schedules and settle down in one place. This way you can get to know a city or country and really absorb its culture.
Cultural gap years are becoming more and more popular amongst gap year travellers who wish to immerse themselves in everything a country has to offer. Whether it's spending time seeing the sites and studying the history of a region, or learning a language and putting it in to practice, there are companies out there who can help you plan your trip. By learning a foreign language you'll discover far more about a countries history and its people, and what better way of doing this than living abroad and immersing yourself in the local culture. You can learn Spanish in Buenos Aires or Mandarin in China, more and more companies are now offering cultural gap year programs alongside their more traditional offerings.
You don't have to learn the local language to experience culture, many gap year providers offer community projects allowing you to do anything from helping build a new medical centre with the locals to coaching sports lessons for underprivileged children. This will allow you to spend time co-habiting with a community and getting an insight in to how they live their day to day lives.
Why not take a step away from the well trodden backpacker path and take a look through some of the interesting and exciting cultural gap year programs available.
Popular Cultural Gap Years:
Volunteer Community Projects Employer: Madventurer Spend your GAP year or career break with Madventurer and become part of something special! Based out of Newcastle University Students Union, Madventurer run Award Winning Projects, exciting Charity Treks and Overland Adventures that span the world, all lasting from 2 weeks to 6 months. Volunteers work as part | Volunteer in India Employer: Vibrant Volunteering Vibrant Volunteering offers individuals a fantastic opportunity to work in social development projects throughout India. Your choice of project is dependent upon your passions and goals and the desire to make a difference, in one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world |
Affordable Volunteer Programs in India starting £175 Employer: Volunteering India Volunteering India provides safe, affordable and meaningful volunteer programs in India. We offer a variety of exciting volunteer programs, cultural exchange programs, internships, & gap year programs, as well as short term, family and group volunteering projects starting from just £175 | Global Volunteering Employer: Lattitude Global Volunteering Lattitude Global volunteering is an international youth development charity specialising in long term, adventurous and rewarding placements. Opportunities available include; teaching, conservation (environment and wildlife), medical, community work and caring as well as outdoor education. |
Paid work Employer: Real Gap Top up your travel fund and get valuable work experience around the world! You can boost your CV and earn some cash in amazing destinations from Australia to China. From teaching English to becoming a real life outback ranch hand, test drive your ideal job or try something completely different! | Budget Volunteering 2012 - Teaching And Community Project Employer: African Impact Against the backdrop of the incredible Victoria Falls, Volunteers have amazing exposure to assisting rural schools with both teaching and building/refurbishment, adult literacy classes and even home based care in the villages. This is a high quality and affordable volunteer programme |
Over 30's Pre School And Community Development ProjectEmployer: African Impact This project is exclusively for anyone over 30. Volunteers live in the heart of a Big 5 Game Reserve & work with children & young adults in need of support, many of whom are affected by HIV/AIDS. Most have little or no resources for play or education & volunteers play a huge part in this assistance | Teach overseas Employer: Inspired Breaks A fantastic opportunity to work on your classroom skills or put your knowledge to the best use; you can fully immerse yourself in the local culture and help to make a huge difference to the lives of underprivileged youngsters, giving them the tools they need to build a better future for themselves. |
Teach abroadEmployer: Real Gap Unleash your inner classroom genius and put your skills to good use teaching English overseas. Our voluntary and paid work options give you the opportunity to gain useful experience as a teacher, change the lives of entire communities and work in some of the most beautiful places on the planet! | Voluntary workEmployer: Inspired Breaks Want to teach English in Thailand, help with wildlife conservation in Australia or work with a Himalayan community? Our volunteer options across the globe offer not only the chance to do something worthwhile with your career break but also a fantastic opportunity to visit amazing destinations. |
Learn a skillEmployer: Inspired Breaks Set off on an adventure overseas and get to grips with a new skill! Whether you’ve always wanted to dive with Whale Sharks or master a new language, our courses across Africa, Asia and Latin America will give you the chance to gain new skills and put them to practice as you see the world! | VolunteeringEmployer: Real Gap Fancy helping with teaching work in Malawi, rehabilitating monkeys in South Africa or caring for disabled children in Vietnam? You can make a real difference to hundreds of projects around the world, whether you want to save the planet, protect a species or impoverished youngsters a better future. |
Adventure toursEmployer: Inspired Breaks Leave the tourist track behind and set off on the trip of a lifetime! Get your fill of culture and adventure, volunteer and catch a glimpse of the hidden sights most travellers miss. From Cambodia to Peru, you’ll get a unique view of local life and see the best each destination has to offer. | Community Development Projects – Affordable Rates Employer: Love Volunteers Looking to impact a community in need? Join Love Volunteers and our partner organizations to make a difference in developing countries through projects such as construction, community empowerment, vocational training, community outreaches and so much more. Your skills can make a huge difference |