Volunteering in Africa can be a great and valuable way to spend your gap year, or a period away from work. Sign up with a charity with a good reputation and fins a project that appeals to you. A small amount of money will pay for your accommodation once your there, so you’ll be able to focus on your work. With this small investment of time and money you could make a real difference.
Before all that though, you need to consider where you want to donate your time and skills. With so many good projects being administered you may be spoilt for choice. The charity projects tend to fall in a handful of categories though, so choose from conservation, education, medicine, tourism and community projects and let that influence your destination.
Think about the skills, attributes and qualifications you have that could be of use when you volunteer in Africa. Some projects could be crying out for someone with your specific skill set, with work available that no one else can do. It is these areas that seem like the most useful places for you to volunteer in Africa.
Maybe you’re not sure where you skills lie.. If this is the case, and you are an English speaker then an educational project may be the one for you. Simply undertake a short Teaching English as a Foreign Language training course and you could share a really valuable skill.
There is great demand for people with medical skills in Africa, so if you are a doctor, nurse or even a medical student eager to gain some experience, a medical project could be perfect for you. However, make sure you choose a project and a region where you think your skills can best used.
Not everything requires lots of qualifications and prestigious skill sets though. Let your interests guide you. If you spend your Sundays chasing a football around the park then you may be able to coach a sports team, if you’re an amateur gardener you could help with food and water projects.
Are you interested in ?for a Gap Year in Africa Take a look at the Volunteer Africa website.