Plan My Gap Year

Program Reviews

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Spyros
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Awesome experience

The volunteer trip to South Africa was a unique experience that you live once in lifetime. First the country of South Africa has the most beautiful and majestic landscapes I have ever seen. The nature and the wild animals combined just astonish you! The program was perfect when it comes to the transportation, quality of accommodation and food in the reserve and staffs communication and friendliness. Especially the staff were so kind and caring that are one of the main reasons that I would return to the program just to see them again and see how they doing. The program has the full Africa safari and animal close encounter experience that it promises.

Pros
  • Friendly staff
  • Nice food
  • Close animal encounter
Cons
  • The work was too easy and basic at least for me
  • I wanted to contribute a bit more
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Elina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best two months in Sri Lanka

I spent 8 weeks in Sri Lanka and it was an incredible experience!
It’s hard to say anything negative about the pre-departure support. Whatever I had in mind I got an answer, sometimes even in few minutes! In country Ash and the rest of the local team were always happy to help when needed and with their help we got to experience so much more than what a ”normal” tourist would experience! I did the childcare project at girls home and everyday I left the project with a smile on my face. When we taught them English, they taught us to dance in return!

I highly recommend PMGY Sri Lanka, my advice is to book flexible flights because you might want to extend your trip!

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Lluïsa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wildlife volunteer in Cusco, Peru

I went to Peru last autumn and volunteered in the Wildlife Sanctuary. It was an amazing experience and I met loads of lovely people there. The actual sanctuary was so welcoming and the included us in their work, we could interact with the animals and show the visiting groups of tourists around. It was also so nice to have a volunteer meeting place to hang out at with everyone and the host family was lovely too. I wish I had stayed for longer! Cusco is such a nice city, safe, lots of fun and good night life. I loved it!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I originally planned to stay there for 4 weeks, but once I got there I realised there was no way I was going to have enough time to have the whole experience in such a short time. Time flies by when you're there so make sure you book your trip for as long as you can because you will for sure love it once you are there!
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Tarique
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best time ever!

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Jakub
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best volunteering program!

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What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
You don’t need to have any special skills to take part in this volunteering. Comfortable work clothes and cloth gloves will be useful. Most of work tools are guaranteed.
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Imogen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Ghana

I travelled to Ghana with PMGY to do the childcare programme. The trip was an unreal experience and you meet so many amazing people! If you’re concerned about travelling out there on your own, you honestly have nothing to worry about as Seth will meet you and the other arrivals at the airport to take you to the accommodation the next day. The people who look after you whilst you’re out there are really accomplished and will help you with anything you need. The weekend trips are generally something that most volunteers take part in and are really worth going to as you get to do so many interesting things. Volunteering at the orphanage can be overwhelming initially but is overall very rewarding and worth while. You should make sure you take wipes with you and sponges as the water does sometimes go out. It’s also worth taking clothes such as hoodies and other comfortable clothing for when you’re chilling in the evenings and maybe something for going out in as most weeks everyone goes out for karaoke night! Also the more donations you can gather before you go, the better! Even if it’s just stationary, it’s really appreciated.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
I ate fufu on the trip which is made from cassava and has a chewy, stretchy texture.
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ilaria
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best time ever!

My experience in Cusco has been absolutely wonderful. I volunteered in an afterschool program for 3 weeks with other volunteers from all over the world.
We did many different activities with the kids: games, homework, we taught them some basic english.
The team was very outgoing, checking in on me regularly to ensure a very smooth process in Cusco. My home stay was amazing, I've been hosted by a wonderful old lady who made sure I always had everything I needed (and the food was great!)
Volunteering through Proyecto Peru was an experience that will not be taken for granted, and I thank the team so much for making my time in Cusco memorable.

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ARTHUR
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Africa experience

I travelled the Great Africa experience over 6 weeks with PMGY. I started in South africa at the kwantu reserve which was so amazing and great for animal lovers. However if you are there longer than 2 weeks it can get repetitive unless you do the 8 week ranger program. I went to tanzania where the project was amazing and the house staff were so nice. Then in Ghana I had a great time with the taxi drivers who are easy to get along with. Seth also made me feel very welcome and the whole crew were wonderful. Only thing is there isn't many protein options for vegis however this is understandable in a place like kumasi. I would highly recommend this experience as a reliable safe and wonderful trip around Africa's highlights.

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Madison
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

PMGY Sri Lanka

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What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice would be to embrace everything that comes your way, even if it is unfamiliar! You never know until you try, and for me this mentality ended up giving me experiences that I will cherish forever.
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Marilyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Incredible experience with PMGY in Ghana

Had an absolutely lovely time with PMGY in Ghana. Everything pre-departure wise was very well planned and one felt comfortable and save at all times once there. The placement programs are incredibly enriching and rewarding. But keep on open mind when traveling. If you are vegetarian, maybe take some vitamin supplements with you, because the food served is very basic and mostly carbs (if you skip the meat).
But overall I am looking forward to travel and volunteer with PMGY again in the future! :)

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Seeing elephants literally right outside your hotel room is just an unbelievably cool experience!