Plan My Gap Year

I recently signed up with two friends to volunteer in the day-care sector of PMGY Tanzania. The experience start to finish was amazing. Upon arrival at the airport the pick-up service removed the stress of when you first arrive in a new place. The volunteer house was simple but had a nice family feel. The coordinators did an excellent job at looking after you and making sure you settled in okay, I would definitely say you don't need to worry about feeling lost if you're going solo!
The volunteering was rewarding and everyone I interacted with in Arusha was very kind and helpful. I felt safe walking to and from placement every day. The volunteering itself consisted of working in a day care which had around one hundred children aged from one to six. Each day care and school was different but the one I was placed in had very little resources so I would advise thinking of some activities or bringing some tools that you can use to teach and entertain the children. I bought my speaker to day care everyday and the children loved it! The volunteering itself was my favourite part of the trip and I think its a great experience to do.
There are so many activities you can do after placement and on the weekends. I stayed for three weeks and went on a safari one weekend and to Zanzibar the next! PMGY organise the safari so all you have to do is pay and they can also help to organise any other trips you may want to do. All in all I would recommend to anyone.

PMGY have been absolutely fantastic at making my first time travelling beyond safe and enjoyable. As a 17 year old, fresh out of high school, PMGY were the ideal company to go through as the support leading up to arriving in India for the medical project, as well as constantly throughout. The house in Faridabad is absolutely incredible and has the loveliest homely feel to it. Vishy takes care of you ridiculously well and him and the team never leave you feeling like you need anything - there is so much support and you are looked after so well! The medical project involved leaving the house with a local doctor and travelling to the location of that days project. This may include hospitals, old-age homes, nursing homes, slums or housing complexes. The work you would participate in on project included basic health checks (blood pressure, blood sugar, weigh-in etc.) and a brief consultation with patients to find out what problems they are having. You would complete this as part of the team, along with the oversight of the doctor, who would also decide what medications the patient needed and could be given at the time. You generally spent 3-4 hours on the project - usually seeing around 20-30 patients - before returning to the house for lunch, all of which is prepared for you by local ladies in the house. I spent 4 weeks in India, which I felt was the perfect amount of time to become acquainted with the local area, the team and go on a number of weekend trips (all of which Vishy will organise for you!) I cannot recommend PMGY enough!

I chose to do this programme solo at the age of 19. There were many times were I questioned even going as I was scared to go solo but going was the best decision I ever made.
The coordinators in the PMGY house are so welcoming and will truly give you the best experience.
The opportunity to do activities are endless and you really get out of the experience what you put in.
The coordinators will also support you within your volunteer placements and will assist you with any problems. The volunteer placements are only until 12pm so you also have the rest of the day to explore Arusha. Would highly recommend To anyone and would love to go again myself🤗.

I had the best time on my trip, and was very quickly immersed in a completely new culture and trying things I never thought I would. There was 24/7 access to support within the volunteer house which provided much comfort of safety.

There are so many volunteers and so it is very easy to meet your sort of people very quickly. My friends and I had the best time and would do it all over again.

The weekend trips are very well planned. They provide you with a packed weekend filled with must-see activities. It was also another chance to meet more of the pmgy volunteers and socialise.
I recommend doing the weekend trips that have plan my gap year staff attending, and aren’t with a private company. Due to the fact that this means you don’t have the support for that weekend. For example, the Maldives weekend is run by a private company and so no plan my gap year staff attend and you need to be extra careful.

Meeting lots of friends from across the world and seeing a whole new culture and side to life was a highlight.

One thing that I think could be improved, is that the volunteer programmes only run for a couple of hours each day and so I believe more of a difference could be made if this was lengthened.

There was a good private tuktuk service provided by plan my gap year which meant it was very easy to get around safely.

I absolutely loved everything about volunteering with pmgy!! I did childcare volunteering for 5 weeks! I extended my time as I was living it so much! It’s like a big family, they help you with everything and truly care! the rooms are comfortable and the food is really nice although a bit repetitive. We extended our visas and the process was easy with pmgy. The volunteering was so much fun and the kids are the best, so eager to learn making it feel so rewarding. Thank you for the best time plan my gap year Bali!!❤️