Embarking on a gap year is an incredible opportunity to experience new cultures, make a positive impact, and step beyond your comfort zone. With diverse destinations offering unique and meaningful volunteering experiences, you’ll be making a real impact while immersing yourself in local cultures. Preparing well is key, so here’s a guide to essential tips, to ensure a smooth and successful gap year adventure.
Tips for Volunteering Abroad
Health & Safety
- Vaccinations: Each country has specific vaccine requirements and what you need will depend on where you’re going and what vaccinations you’ve previously had. We recommend you schedule a doctor’s appointment for around three months before your departure to discuss your travel plans and to get the necessary vaccinations.
- First Aid Kit: Bring a small first aid kit with essentials like plasters, painkillers, antiseptics, rehydration salts, anti-diarrhoea and any necessary prescription medications, as they’re invaluable while volunteering in remote areas.
- Travel Insurance: Comprehensive travel insurance that includes health, accident, and coverage for volunteering activities is essential. Be sure to review your policy carefully to confirm it meets your needs and covers you for all potential scenarios.
Packing Essentials
- Culturally Appropriate Clothing: Volunteering abroad often involves working closely with local communities, and dressing according to local standards shows respect. Countries like India and Nepal are more conservative, so modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees is ideal.
- Technology & Communication: A camera, a secure phone with international roaming or a local SIM, and a portable charger will help you stay connected to friends and family at home during your gap year travel and capture memories for you to look back on.
- Reusable Essentials: Items like sunscreen, insect repellent, and a water bottle are invaluable for volunteering abroad. Sunscreen, in particular, can be hard to find and much more expensive in some countries. In places like Cambodia, Thailand, and other regions, sunscreen can even contain bleach or skin-lightening agents, so it’s best to stock up before you leave. Bringing enough from home ensures you have safe, effective protection for your entire trip or be extra careful when purchasing abroad.
Language & Cultural Etiquette
- Learn Key Phrases: While English is widely spoken, knowing basic greetings and polite phrases in the local language is especially helpful in volunteering roles and shows respect to the communities you’re working with.
- Respect Local Customs: Customs vary widely—be prepared! In Thailand, for example, touching someone’s head or pointing with your feet is disrespectful. Research local norms and traditions for smoother interactions with the communities you’re part of.
Financial Preparation
- Currency and Cash Needs: While essentials such as transport to your volunteering location, accommodation, and your meals Sunday evening to Saturday morning are covered, you may still have additional expenses for things like weekend excursions and souvenirs to take home. It’s helpful to carry a mix of local currency and cards that work abroad for convenience and flexibility.
- Budgeting: Check the currency and exchange rates, and remember that budget needs can vary. Planning ahead ensures that finances won’t disrupt your gap year experience.
Country-Specific Tips for a Successful Gap Year
Each country has unique considerations, from cultural etiquette to environmental challenges. Here’s what you need to know for a safe and successful gap year and volunteering experience in each of our GapGuru destinations
Cambodia
- Climate: Cambodia’s tropical climate can be challenging, especially during the monsoon season. Bring lightweight, breathable clothing and a rain jacket.
- Respect Religious Sites: Cambodia’s temples, like Angkor Wat, require conservative clothing to show respect. When volunteering, being respectful of local customs will help you build trust with the community.
- Greetings and Etiquette: Cambodians often greet with a bow and palms pressed together (the “sampeah”). Showing respect and immersing in local customs will enhance your gap year experience.
India
- Stay Hydrated and Eat Wisely: Stick to bottled water and be cautious with street food that may have been sitting out in the heat. Staying healthy is essential when you’re volunteering long-term.
- Dress Modestly: Modesty is appreciated in India, and conservative clothing will help you adapt more easily to volunteering roles, especially in rural settings.
- Crowds and Personal Space: India’s high-energy atmosphere is full of bustling crowds. Adjusting to close quarters is an essential part of your gap year experience.
Nepal
- Embrace Local Culture: Nepal is known for its rich cultural heritage, with unique traditions across its many communities. When volunteering here, take the time to understand and appreciate these customs, as it will deepen your experience and connections with locals.
- Respectful Gestures: Simple acts of respect, like greeting with “Namaste” and using both hands when giving or receiving items, are highly valued in Nepal. Modest dress, especially in rural areas and around temples, shows cultural sensitivity and helps build trust.
- Prepare for Varied Weather: Nepal’s climate can vary widely by region and season. Packing layers is key, and a rain jacket is essential, especially if you’re there during the monsoon season.
Panama
- Sun Protection: Panama’s tropical climate means high sun exposure. Pack a hat, sunscreen, and protective clothing to stay comfortable during your outdoor volunteering work.
- Spanish Language Basics: Although English is spoken in tourist areas, basic Spanish skills will improve your experience and help you connect better with the locals you work alongside.
- Mosquito Precautions: Mosquitos are common in Panama. Use repellent and wear long sleeves, especially in forested or coastal areas.
Peru
- Respect Local Etiquette: Peru has a rich cultural heritage with strong indigenous roots, and respectful behavior is highly valued. When volunteering, take time to learn about local customs, such as greeting others with a warm handshake and asking permission and for consent before taking photos, especially in rural or Indigenous communities.
- Stay Hydrated Safely: In Peru, it’s best to drink only bottled or purified water, as tap water is generally not safe for drinking. Carry a reusable bottle with a built-in filter for convenience, and avoid ice in drinks or uncooked foods that may have been washed with tap water to prevent any stomach issues.
- Adapt to Climate Zones: Peru’s diverse geography includes humid rainforests, coastal deserts, and cool mountain regions. Pack a mix of clothing to stay comfortable if you’re planning to travel across different climates during your gap year.
Tanzania
- Local Cuisine and Dietary Considerations: Experience Tanzania’s flavorful cuisine, featuring staples like ugali and rice. Be open to trying local dishes, but communicate any dietary restrictions clearly during community meals.
- Learning Swahili: It might seem daunting but Swahili is a surprisingly easy language to pick up as it uses the Latin alphabet and has similar pronunciation to English. Learn some basic Swahili phrases to enhance your interactions with locals. Being able to greet people or ask simple questions will help you build rapport and show respect for their culture.
- Connecting with the Community: Engage with local people to foster meaningful relationships. Participate in community events and take time to learn about their traditions, which will enrich your gap year in Tanzania.
Thailand
- Dress Appropriately for Temples: In Thailand, dressing conservatively for temples is essential. Appropriate attire includes clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, such as long pants and tops with sleeves. A lightweight shawl can be useful for covering your shoulders if you’re wearing a sleeveless top. Additionally, choose shoes that are easy to slip on and off, as you’ll be required to remove them before entering sacred spaces. Respecting these customs will make your gap year experience even more meaningful.
- Backpacking: Thailand is a popular backpacking destination, consider investing in a good-quality backpack to make it easy to move around. Pack versatile clothing and use packing cubes to maximise space.
- Mindful Body Language: In Thai culture, feet are considered the lowest part of the body, and pointing with feet or showing the soles is disrespectful. Observing these cultural nuances is key for successful volunteering.