Wanderlust has been an inseparable part of the human nature ever since there are records of the human existence. Nowadays we have terminology for all sorts of travel experiences; we have holidays, backpacking and vacations, weekend breaks, volunteering and ‘staycations’. Trips, experiences and adventures, and of course we have the gap year…But where did this particular term have its routes?

The grand tour can be regarded as one of the early forms of what we can relate with today’s gap year experience. It was a traditional trip around the Europe, usually taken by the British upper-class young men, to expand one’s horizons and learn other languages. The idea of the grand tour proves that travelling was, even back then in the 1660s, associated mainly with learning and maturing. That is precisely what the present gap year programmes aim to do for the young people today.

Another highlight in the cultural exchange and in the experience from the overseas destinations can be traced back into the colonial period. Africa, India and the Caribbean are the places, to which the young people were sent to run businesses, and export the very British way of doing things. The impact of this period is evident even today. Many parts of these countries speak English as their second language, and many buildings still have the hint of the English style. It is necessary to mention that this exchange went both ways. Some of the constructions and buildings in the UK reflect the styles, which travellers saw overseas. Travelling and new experiences abroad resulted in many bringing a part of what they saw overseas to their home countries.

From the 1960s till the 1980s, the era of the inter rail travelling reached its peak. Inter rail, as a mode of travel, was very appealing because many people could quite easily get around the continent and experience other countries and cultures. This was great, especially for those who wished to travel on their own and did not want to be dependent on anybody else.

This then escalated, as many saw the need to do something productive with their year off, and as such a number of specialist originations were set up to deal with this demand. One of the first, set up in 1972 called itself ‘GAP Activity projects’ and from this organisation the term ‘gap’ year was coined. This organisation then became Lattitude Global Volunteering.

During the 1980s, the importance of the global community was highlighted and more awareness shifted towards Africa and its people in need. Many British citizens and people around the whole world were determined to be more proactive and decided to volunteer to help those who needed it. Right there can be marked one of the beginnings of the modern gap year, during which the volunteers decide to spend time abroad and help the local communities.

Another important moment came with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. People felt the need to travel and they were willing to travel further and for a longer time. In the 1990s, the number of the gap year organisations increased. Although there was no internet booking at that time, the participants enjoyed the fact that one organisation can organize all aspects of their journey for them. The participants knew that the organisation would back them up if they needed it – and that remained one of the key principals until today.

What initially started off as few volunteering projects, to help the people in need, evolved after some time into a more complex system of the gap year organisations that are able to tailor a gap year according to the participant’s preferences and needs. Gap years and the volunteering overseas will continue to hold their appeal in the future because as we can see throughout the history, to explore the outside world has always been a part of the human nature.

An article published recently on the Daily Telegraph website titled “Gap years ‘dying out’ as students scramble for jobs”,  predicts the demise of the “Gap Year”. The article states that “Traditional gap years are dying out as record numbers of students prioritise the search for graduate jobs during the recession, according to research.” While the article provides a sensationalist headline, to paraphrase Mark Twain reports of the death of the Gap Year are greatly exaggerated.

At first look, the figures published in a report by High Fliers Research, paint a bleak picture for the future of Gap Years. The report states “the number of students numbers planning to take time off or go travelling after university has dropped to its lowest level ever – just 12% of finalists intend to have a break after their studies.” According to the article in Telegraph “Most students are sacrificing a gap year because of mounting competition to find a well-paid job in the economic downturn.”

While the research provides an interesting insight into the opinions of final year students, it is limited to those about to leave University and fails to take into account a number of other demographics who appear to be turning to gap years and overseas volunteering in increasing numbers. For example those school-leavers who have been put off going straight to University due to the increase in fees or even those who have finished a degree but are struggling in the increasingly competitive graduate job market to set themselves apart.

Lattitude Global Volunteering has been providing Gap Year volunteering placements for 40 years and has sent over 40,000 young people to volunteer abroad. Since being founded in 1972 under the name Gap Activity Projects, Lattitude Global Volunteering has grown to become a global network, with offices in 4 countries and approximately 1000 volunteers crisscrossing the globe each year, and shows few signs of slowing down.

While it is important to recognise the challenges the present economic climate presents to all young people, a well structured and established overseas volunteering placement can provide genuine value to a student about to graduate from University. The opportunity to gain an incredible experience, to travel, a chance to help others and importantly to gain valuable skills which can be transferred to many vocational sectors. For example long term overseas volunteering can offer the opportunity for young people to learn a language, teach, work with children and gain confidence.

As a charity, Lattitude Global Volunteering, works hard to ensure that volunteering placements provide genuine opportunity, value for money and the chance for personal development for all our volunteers, as well as real and tangible benefits for the communities in which they work

Lattitude Global Volunteering announces it has reached the milestone of sending 40,000 volunteers abroad since 1972. Becki Jones, from Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire will be flying out to undertake a teaching placement in Ecuador in September this year.

Lattitude Global Volunteering launched in 1972 under the name Gap Activity Projects (GAP) sending volunteers to parts of Europe. Lattitude Global Volunteering was one of the pioneers of the gap year, with the terminology ‘gap year’ being coined from the original name of the organisation. Since then the organisation has grown, with offices in 4 countries and approximately 1000 volunteers crisscrossing the globe each year with the youth development charity.

Lattitude Global Volunteering has a global network of placements that spans 20 countries and includes projects in conservation, caring, community work, outdoor education, medical, teaching and language assisting.

Marketing Manager Nick Adie said: “We are delighted to have reached this milestone during our 40^th anniversary year. As one of the original gap year organisations we have prided ourselves over the years on our in-depth placements that really focus on youth development, not only in our volunteers, but in the communities we send our volunteers to. Becki is a fantastic example of a volunteer who will thrive during her time in Ecuador, especially as her dedication to Spanish is already so good.”

40,000^th volunteer Becki Jones commented: “It’s such an honour to be named the 40,000^th volunteer. I was shocked to find out but I think it’s brilliant, and to think that all these people went before me!  I’m just so glad I chose Lattitude Global Volunteering. Everything so far has helped my confidence so much, especially the fundraising. It’s motivated me too, especially with my Spanish and generally in school because I’ve got so much to look forward to this year. It’s such a big thing; I wouldn’t want to not put my heart and soul in to it.”

Becki is going to Quito in Ecuador to teach English and work with street childres for 5 months.  On her return, Becki will be attending the University of Wales in Swansea to study Spanish.

You can follow Becki’s blog and online profile here:

British travellers are losing out through 0% commission travel money slogans, according to MyTravelMoney.co.uk, which has exposed Thomas Cook at Manchester Airport as the worst offender.  

Travel money comparison site MyTravelMoney.co.uk has unveiled the results of a mystery shop to uncover the hefty profit margins applied by airport suppliers on holiday money purchases – with Thomas Cook being exposed as the worst culprit.

MyTravelMoney.co.uk undertook a mystery shopping survey between airport and leading online suppliers and found that as much as 10 per cent is being wiped off the value of travel money purchases via the profits currency providers build into uncompetitive exchange rates.

Its findings show Thomas Cook at Manchester Airport as the worst culprit – with Thomas Cook offering just 1.120 Euros to the Pound, despite the exchange rate at the time of the mystery shop being 1.2492.

Managing Director Daniel Abrahams revealed: “Zero per cent commission is largely irrelevant.

“Zero per cent commission slogans are hiding where the true profit margin on holiday money purchases are applied.

“Advertising campaigns wrongly hide the two ways currency suppliers make money: Firstly, there can be a fixed transaction fee. Secondly and most importantly, currency companies profit via the margin imposed on the exchange rate.

“By claiming to offer zero per cent commission, suppliers portray a false impression that travellers are getting the most bang for their bucks and that the supplier is exchanging their currency free of charge.

“The reality is very different and understanding the profit margin imposed on the rate should always be a consumer’s first consideration.

“We’ve all seen those alluring zero per cent commission signs at the airport and high street exchange houses and, at first glance, it seems like a wonderful gesture by holiday money providers.

“However, it’s important for consumers to break down the true meaning of ‘zero per cent commission’.

“Our advice is to take it with a pinch of salt and understand that the rate of exchange makes the difference between a good or bad deal.”

But Daniel doesn’t blame the airport suppliers entirely.

“Airports are amongst the most expensive retail spaces in the world and, as such, tenants need to adjust their pricing accordingly,” he explained.

“Therefore, it’s no surprise that travel money companies build in profit margins of up to 15 per cent of the amount customers are exchanging.

“However, it’s a hefty price to pay for changing money and operators also understand that last minute panic buyers have little choice but to exchange money at the airport.”

Why online suppliers will always be cheaper:

Daniel explained: “Buying travel money online will almost always be cheaper.

“Travellers can save a significant amount of money through superior exchange rates because online suppliers don’t have the bricks and mortar bills to pay. They can, therefore, pass savings onto the customer.

“Online suppliers also offer the option of home delivery, whereby currency is delivered to the door within 24 hours via Royal Mail Special Delivery.

“In this vein, MyTravelMoney.co.uk reduces the cost of buying travel money by comparing live exchange rates from the major currency companies.

“Its custom-built platform aggregates live travel money rates from all the major UK-based suppliers and customers typically save up to 10 per cent on their foreign money exchange.

Many different countries and regions hold a certain appeal for the young volunteers who decide to spend their gap year abroad. The Africa is undoubtedly one of the destinations which continues to attract many overseas volunteers every year. Volunteering in Ghana, Malawi and South Africa are, according to Sergio Gallego-Schmid (Volunteer Coordinator at international youth development charity, Lattitude) the most popular African destinations.

There are various reasons why Africa wins the attention of many gap year volunteers. For one, the UK has strong ties with many African countries since the colonial era, when some parts of eastern and western Africa were settled by the British. As a result, these countries now have a strong tradition of speaking English, which can attract many young volunteers, who plan to travel and work in the region or those who are worried about the language barrier.

Although, there are several languages spoken in south and east Africa, English as a second language is widely recognized and many people still want to learn it. This gives the gap year students perfect opportunity to use their skills to teach English and work with the local organisations.

While Australia and New Zealand are sometimes considered, by UK students, to be the number one options for their gap year, it is important to realise that these destinations tend to be more expensive. The flights to Africa are cheaper, and the living costs are much lower. Travelling around the African continent, with different modes of transport, can be easy (as long as your patient!), and on the top of that one can explore diverse places with their various climates. Deserts, rainforests and beautiful islands represent only a small part of what the gap year students can experience during their stay.

Apart from the travelling possibilities, the gap year volunteers have a real chance to contribute with their work in many local organisations, which need their help. Teaching, caring, and conservation are among the key skills, which they can utilise in their work the most. Although, many volunteers believe that the gap year should be their trip of a lifetime, the work that they do, should not be put aside.

There is a wide choice of gap year activities all over Africa. The number of the organisations, which send their gap year volunteers to Africa, is high. Therefore, it is only up to individual volunteers to decide, what kind of work, and region will suit them the best.

eco travel and overseas volunteering

With climate change, green house gases and rising pollution constantly hitting the headlines, it can be increasingly difficult to travel with a clear conscious. Travelling overseas in particular can use a lot of fuel and emit large amounts of carbon, yet, if everyone were to follow some simple and practical tips it might be possible to reduce the amount of damage to the environment. The following tips are designed to help you enjoy your gap year, overseas volunteering placement or holiday in a greener, more environmentally friendly way.

1)    Volunteering

Overseas volunteering in particular can be a great way to enjoy the experience of travelling but with the benefit of giving something back to the environment and local community. Certain volunteering placements are designed to have a direct positive impact on the environment while others can benefit the local community and environment in other ways. For example teaching abroad and educating children about the environment may have a long term positive impact.

2)    Carbon Offsetting

Carbon offsetting is the process of making a reduction in emissions elsewhere, to compensate for actual current emissions, for example by planting new trees to compensate for a flight. With overseas travel this is likely the only practical method, as flights invariably use a large amount of fuel. Many Airline companies now offer a carbon offsetting option as part of the booking process and on short haul flights this is often only a couple of pounds. As technology continues to advance, the fuel emissions of flights will hopefully continue to be reduced and the cost to the environment will diminish.

3)    Walk & Cycle

Short journeys will add up and over time can contribute significantly to your carbon footprint. Walking, as has been said many times is good exercise for you and allows you a better chance to appreciate your surroundings. Often city centres, like the City of London, seem like sprawling enormous places by glancing at the subway or underground map, but sometimes sites may be easier to reach on foot. Cycling obviously has great health benefits and does not emit any CO2. Often you can rent bikes in city centres or purchase a used bike for fairly cheap if you are staying in one place for a longer period of time, for example while volunteering overseas.

4)    Public Transport

Taking public transport can often reduce the financial as well as environmental cost of travelling. Many buses and trains are increasingly green and run on bio-fuels or are electric. Even public transport which still runs on fossil fuels, is far more environmentally efficient then travelling by car, as they carry many passengers.

5)    Sustainability

While travelling on a gap year or volunteering overseas, making small changes can have a big impact on the environment. For example buying things locally will help contribute to the local economy, walking on main trails when hiking will reduce the process of erosion and disposing of your litter properly will reduce pollution. Other tips include taking rechargeable batteries as opposed to disposable ones and treating your own water with sterilisers and purifiers as opposed to buying bottled water.

Graduate Prospects, which is the UK’s official graduate career support service, launched an extensive survey during March 2012, to find out the number of the students, who are planning to study overseas. Bernadette Griffiths, the author of the article in the Student Times, discussed the results and their impact on the UK universities.

Out of the total of 500 students and school leavers, who were interviewed for this survey, 73% were strongly interested in studying abroad, and 24% were thinking about the option. Only less than 4% of the students dismissed the possibility of studying overseas entirely.

The survey further tried to uncover different reasons, which lead the students to make the decision to study overseas. It showed that 33% had their main motivation the desire for adventure, whereas 26% wanted to build an international career and gain some work experience. Around 8% of the interviewed students said that the main reason for choosing a university abroad is their dissatisfaction with the UK system, and 18% admitted that it would be their financial situation deciding for them because it is often cheaper to get their education abroad. The good reputation of the universities overseas played a crucial role for nearly 16% of the surveyed students.

When the students were asked about the destination where they would like to study the most, more than 34% answered the United States or Canada, while about 28% chose various European cities. The questions in the survey also aimed to find out what reasons could possibly discourage the students to leave the UK and study abroad.  Around one third answered that it would be their financial situation. About 27% thought that their inadequate language skills could deter their decision to leave, and 14% were worried that their degree, earned from the overseas university, may not be recognised by their future employers.

According to Mike Hill, chief executive of Graduate prospects, this survey proved that although there was the rising concern that increasing the university fees in the UK will lead the students to overseas universities, the bigger motivation is still the wanderlust. The number of the students, who want to study abroad because of their dissatisfaction with the UK system, is not as striking as many people expected. The results also revealed that studying abroad is becoming more popular but at the same time many students have no clear idea of what the studying outside of the UK really require.

Based on the survey results, the UK universities can estimate that the number of the students, who will want to study abroad, will be to a great extend, determined by a strong incentive – the travel adventure. It would be, therefore, very wise to make sure that these students understand all the conditions, which they need to meet before they decide to earn their degree abroad because the possibility to travel will be only one part of it.

Technology, the Internet, Computers and increasingly Smart phones have altered almost every aspect of modern life and there has been much written about this digital revolution and its benefits. While the technology and web services like social networking, blogging and picture sharing keep changing and continually advancing it is difficult to take a step back and assess what the long term impact has been and if there are any negative effects.

It is increasingly clear that modern technology and the Internet have had a profound effect on tourism, travel, overseas volunteering and gap years, to such an extent that some individuals now question the very value of travel. An interesting article in The Guardian titled, “Has technology robbed travel of its riches?” questioned whether the use of technology while travelling had diminished the experience. Rolf Potts a travel blogger commented in the Guardian that “The world is as interesting for travellers as it’s always been – but as wanderers we need to balance the utility of new travel technologies with the quieter, more organic rewards previous generations of travellers discovered on the road.” Technology and the Internet have provoked questions about the effect on travel and arguably to an even greater extent, the ability to fully immerse oneself in a new culture.

Advances in technology have allowed us to travel further, faster and importantly more affordably, opening up travel and overseas volunteering to all. With these advancements have come a number of more recent changes in the “internet age” for example, being able to remain in contact via social networking, blogging or by phone, being able to share pictures, thoughts and comments with friends and family back home and an ability to remain constantly connected to news from around the world.

These changes are reflected by the increasingly common question for travellers, or those preparing for a gap year, namely, should I take a laptop, Smartphone or iPad with me while travelling or volunteering overseas? While many can see the benefits and obvious risks of theft or damage, there is arguably a greater reason to think twice about our relationship with technology.

The risk is by being always connected to back home, you may not immerse yourself in the culture, sights and sounds of your new destination to the same extent. The feelings of culture shock and homesickness  experienced by some volunteers can be both aided and diminished by the use of technology, and so gappers, travellers and volunteers, must aim to strike a balance between being connected to back home and immersing themselves fully in their new culture in order to gain as much as possible from their experience.  The relationship between technology and cultural immersion then is as complex as it is dynamic. We believe that technology should be used to enhance the experience of travel and volunteering and not diminish it. Accordingly it is important to consider the balance between living in the moment and capturing it for all to see, and the difference between staying in contact with those back home and immersing yourself in a new culture, community and experience.

Recently the Guardian released an article by Rosie Niven, which discussed the importance of the gap year students for the UK-based charities. The number of the different communities around the world, which benefit from the influx of the international students who decide to spend their gap year abroad, is high. Nonetheless, the fact that the same need for help might be experienced by the local communities based in the UK should not be ignored.

The Guardian article mentioned a report published by the think-thank Demos, which revealed that there are around 85 specialist gap year providers in the UK placing more than 50,000 volunteers around the world. A survey in the Demos report also showed that some respondents were not entirely sure if their overseas volunteering activities truly benefited the host communities. This fact helped to launch the initiative of Year Here, which is a gap year programme that aims to encourage young students to stay in the UK and help to improve the local communities.

The principal idea is that each gap year student would spend three months working as an intern for some smaller charity or social enterprise, and then move to a larger organisation for the next six months. The larger organisation in this case would be a voluntary organisation, school or care home. Year Here is currently enrolling its first wave of students, but it is not the only organisation in the UK, which focuses on the recruitment of the gap year students for the home-based charities. For instance, the volunteering organisation CSV coordinates a full-time programme that pays for the student’s expenses in exchange for more than a six month commitment.

Engaging young volunteers, to participate in tackling social issues, is a great opportunity how to make them aware of the problems of their own communities. This teaches them a real life lesson as well as challenges them take a more proactive role in their own society.

Is Szoneberg, who is the CSV’s head of volunteering, confirmed that the number of the applications is increasing this year. According to her, one of the main reasons for the raising interest can be attributed to the structure of the program itself because it offers to its applicants something real. Furthermore, she believes that another crucial factor, fostering this increase, is that the young people are more aware of the fact that help is needed in the UK.

There are several voluntary organisations in the UK, which recognise the importance of the gap year volunteers for their own functioning. The environmental charity BTCV is one of the organisations, which has a long tradition of supporting volunteers, including the gap year students. Caroline Crossley, the project officer, admits that even though the BTCV does not actively advertise its volunteering placements as gap year opportunities, the organisation will support everyone who will be willing to take an active role.

Crossley also believes that volunteering requires certain “management, input, and support” on the side of the organisations, which are interested in arranging gap year volunteering placements. She advises them to recognise that volunteering is not a free resource. Hence, Crossley suggests that the organisations need to make sure that they “put together a good package.” It is necessary to remember what are the organisations trying to accomplish and what are the qualities and skills that they seek from their volunteers.

By Roberta Geraci

A common question by those taking a gap year, volunteering overseas or travelling the world is how to prepare yourself for your trip. While preparations will vary depending on the type, length, purpose and destination of your trip, there are some common top tips that can help you prepare for your gap year in the best possible way.

(1)  Choose wisely – the first thing to do is to ask yourself what kind of experience you are hoping to gain on your gap year. The type of experiences on offer will vary considerably and it is important you set out a clear goal in your mind. If you are looking to volunteer overseas, help others, learn skills and experience a new culture you should research your destination and gap year provider in as much detail as possible. The dangers of “voluntourism” have been increasingly publicised and it is important to ensure that your overseas volunteering programme is run responsibly and ethically. Initiatives like the Campaign for Real Volunteering will help assist you in what to look out for and how to ensure the most from a volunteering experience.

(2)  Finance & Funding – taking a gap year can involve a number of costs and expenses, from the cost of flights and accommodation, to gain a visa and insurance. It is important you accurately calculate the cost of your gap year and ensure that you have a way in which to raise money. Often one of the best ways to gain funding are through a bursary scheme or by fundraising. It shows commitment and will help you develop invaluable skills that can enhance your CV. See some of our handy fundraising tips here.

(3)  Safety first – safety is paramount and before planning any trip abroad you should consider a number of aspects to ensure you stay safe and healthy before, during and after your gap year. Essential details include ensuring you have the correct medical inoculations before your trip, taking out comprehensive insurance and following the advice of sites like the Foreign Commonwealth Office. If volunteering abroad, your sending organisation should be able to assist you, for example you can follow some of our handy tips on health and safety here.

(4)  Get the gear – getting the correct equipment can be the difference between a pleasurable experience and a nightmare one! Make sure you get the necessary essentials, like appropriate footwear and a perfect backpack. Remember the gear does not have to cost a fortune it just has to be well suited for the environment you are heading to.

(5)  Pack smarter – all of us dread packing but it doesn’t need to be a daunting task.  Packing smarter is better than packing more, so follow our tips on how to travel light and get the important non essentials like what camera to bring with you correct, so that you can concentrate on making the most of your experience.

(6)  Make an itinerary – If you are volunteering overseas often the organisation will assist you with a travel itinerary of all the flights, buses, trains and other means by which you will arrive at your destination. Make sure you know these details well and have copies of them with you before you leave. Emergency phones numbers are also good to remember just in case.

(7)  Minimise stress and strains – people sometimes imagine that taking a gap year and the amount of preparation involved can be a stressful and difficult task. Yet if you are thorough and well organised you can reduce many of the stresses and strains involved. For example follow our tips on how to beat the stress of travelling or our guide to stress free fundraising.

(8)  Prepare for change – being prepared for change involves the realisation that while a gap year will likely be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life there may be times where it can be challenging or difficult. Dealing with homesickness and culture shock are two of the most common challenges overseas volunteers face during their gap year; however, with the right attitude and commitment these can be easily overcome.

(9)  Research – preparing for your gap year can involve preparing physically, mentally and intellectually. Often knowing as much as you can about your destination will help prepare you for your gap year, so make sure you do your research. If you are volunteering, learn about the role you will be undertaking and try to follow advice of others who may have gone before you. For example former volunteers have provided good advice on teaching English abroad during their gap year.

(10)  Learn the language – learning some of the basics of the language of your destination is often a good way to help you hit the ground, running and acclimatise yourself to your new surroundings. Make use of the variety of methods and means at your disposal and practice a few basics before you go. You can find some of our language learning tips here.