A great backpacking destination, the jungles and mountains of South America continue to be popular with gap year travellers. We have some great language learning courses in places like Argentina and Brazil. Maybe you would like to work with animal and environmental projects in Ecuador or Chile, or even contribute directly to the lives of local people in Peru or Bolivia through community building initiatives.
Ask a hundred people where they would like to go on a gap year and top of a lot of people's list will be the continent of South America. Fortunately, the companies who advertise with us are well aware of this demand and offer a huge range of gap year jobs and courses to suit everyone.
Volunteer on a Conservation & Environment placement with Projects Abroad and help to conserve some of the world’s most beautiful and fragile ecosystems. You may find yourself diving on our Shark Conservation project in Fiji, working in the heart of the Amazon rainforest or working with sea turtles
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Projects Abroad
Why not learn new languages in a diverse community in the developing world? With help from our teachers you will improve your speaking, reading and writing skills through one-on-one tuition and group sessions. There will also be plenty of opportunity to practice your new skills with your host family
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Projects Abroad
Projects Abroad offers the unique experience to immerse yourself in the local culture through our Culture & Community Projects. Whether you are on our Nomad Project in Mongolia or participating on our Khmer Project, you will become an important part of a local community overseas.
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Projects Abroad
Why not learn new languages in a diverse community in the developing world? With help from our teachers you will improve your speaking, reading and writing skills through one-on-one tuition and group sessions. There will also be plenty of opportunity to practice your new skills with your host family
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Projects Abroad
By volunteering on a Medicine & Healthcare Project you will have the opportunity to experience the challenges faced by medical institutions across the developing world. You will have the chance to gain work experience whilst helping some of the poorest people in the world.
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Projects Abroad
Our Short-term Special projects are group trips for 16-19 year olds and run throughout the summer months. If you have time to spare over the summer holidays then why not join us on one of our short programmes designed especially for you.
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Projects Abroad
Volunteer on a Conservation & Environment placement with Projects Abroad and help to conserve some of the world’s most beautiful and fragile ecosystems. You may find yourself diving on our Shark Conservation project in Fiji, working in the heart of the Amazon rainforest or working with sea turtles
More Details..
Projects Abroad
Our Short-term Special Projects for 16-19 year olds offer teenagers the chance to volunteer and make a difference during their summer holidays! Projects Abroad has a wide range of projects from our Care & Panda Project in China to Conservation Projects in Peru.
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Projects Abroad
Volunteering on a Law & Human Rights placement with Projects Abroad gives you the chance to make a real difference to the lives of people in the developing world.
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Projects Abroad
Volunteering on a Building Project with Projects Abroad will give you a great opportunity to help construct, repair and build houses or classrooms across the developing world. Whatever you are involved with you will have the opportunity to make a long term difference to the community.
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Projects Abroad
Projects Abroad sport placement is ideal for anyone with a passion for sports. You could teach football in Ghana, cricket in India or volleyball in Peru. You will run fitness session, coach competitive games and help foster local talent whilst improving the health of the local people.
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Projects Abroad
A Projects Abroad teaching placement is ideal for anyone who would like to make a positive contribution across the developing world. Your role will include working with local schools, NGOs or universities, where you will find yourself taking classes or teachers with lessons.
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Projects Abroad
Projects Abroad offers the chance to care for underprivileged children in orphanages, day care centres, special-needs centres and kindergartens. As a volunteer you will enhance the growth, development and well-being of the children.
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Projects Abroad
An Adventure Guide Program is the first step in your dream of becoming an outdoor adventure guide. Your time on this twelve-week program is split between practical and theoretical training as you gain industry standard hiking and rock climbing skills all whilst exploring an amazing region.
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Pure Exploration
Popular South America Destinations:
Peru, Chile, Brazil, Argentian
Quick South America Facts:
Population - 400 million
Languages - Spanish and Portuguese
Visa Information:
A working holiday visa is required for some countries and there may be a restriction on how long you can work with one employer. Check with your gap year provider.
South America and Latin America brings to mind the tropical rain forests and huge rivers, but this enormous landmass, connected to the North American continent by the thin Isthmus that contains the famous Panama Canal, has a very varied geography, including the high Andes mountains, the Atacama Desert, and more ancient cultures than you can shake a stick at.
South America also includes the world famous Inca trail in Peru which is high up on on many of the 'things to do before you die' lists. The trail includes a 42km trek through tropical cloud forests and spectacular mountain scenery high up in the Andes before reaching the ancient Inca settlement and lost city of Machu Picchu. The trek takes 4 days and is surely one of the most memorable things you can experience on your year out in South America.
If, during your year abroad in South America, you would like to work with children, teach English as a foreign language, help out on community development, conservation or animal research projects, take up seasonal internships with local companies, take part in adventure tours, gain experience with medical projects, or if you just want to go trekking in the jungle, you will find all this and much more right here!
