African Gap Year - Design Your Life!

  South Africa

Johannesburg

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: January to December

Description: African Gap Year programs help you design your life! Take time out with a purpose. Prepare yourself for your future world of work and play in South Africa. Our African Gap Programs provide experiences that stimulate and equip young people to design their lives to be a force for positive change and improvement in their world. During your year out spend from 3 weeks up to 3 months in South Africa creating your blueprint for life whilst living in the African bush. Catch the vision of your future from dynamic futurists to discover which careers and industries will be created and growing. Profiles and assessments will equip you with specific action plans and study and career options, so that you can live a life of significance.

Volunteering

You can choose to volunteer to work with various conservation organizations or rural communities, to make a difference to the people of Africa. We are presently in the process of creating opportunities for a limited number of volunteers to work next year with orphaned black rhino's and eight cheetah at the Rhino Museum near Lapalala Wilderness School under the direction of the internationally-renowned Clive Walker; a breeding program for rare endangered African mammals, where volunteers work with scientists using artificial insemination techniques; children and teachers in primary schools in the local communities around the Lapalala Wilderness School in the northern part of South Africa; Lapalala Wilderness School on various projects, such as restoring land that has been severely eroded, repair and maintenance of roads and signs, and recording of data on vegetation, bird species and animal movements within the reserve.

Highlights: African Gap programs
- Understand what success will mean to you
- See your future through futurists' eyes
- Create your personal study and career path
- Be empowered to achieve your success
- Live the beauty that is Africa, and Have Fun!
- Travel, learn, have fun, make friends for life!

Volunteering
- Work in close contact with black rhino's and cheetahs, under the guidance of Clive Walker
- Contribution to projects needed by rural communities, and assistance with fundraising

Qualifications: The desire to create a life of significance by deliberately taking time out with the purpose of designing a blueprint for their life. An attitude open to new experiences and other cultures.

17 years old up to 30 years old can volunteer. Volunteers should be motivated to help whilst living and working with local people. A genuine interest in and commitment to conservation and improving the lives of rural communities is important. Volunteers need an attitude open to new experiences and cultures. English is spoken in South Africa. Any academic or sport or cultural qualifications and experience will be useful, but not necessary.

Cost in US$: USD 2,900 min

Salary / Pay: Medical insurance is provided for the duration of the volunteering stay.

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: School leavers and university students and graduates. From various countries around the world. A mixture of upper income and lower income, and from different cultures and races.

Age Range: 17 to 30

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to South Africa Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups of 1 to 5

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Phone Interview
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Alumni Network
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

African Gap Year's Mission Statement: Whether you are living in South Africa or not, we are all about helping you decide whether you want to take a gap between school and further studies or work. And if so, what are the available options available to you, both here in South Africa, the rest of Africa and overseas. South Africa has been the number one gap year destination for UK students since 2006.

Year Founded: 2005