An Incredible Year

This program is for anyone with an adventurous spirit, compassion, and a good sense of humor! Since there are so many countries included in the Global Gap program, I will focus on stories from my ten week experience in South Africa. The projects offered are challenging and rewarding, and I have learned a lot about myself during them. In Cape Town while we worked at the Human Rights Office, I spent most of my time visiting three juvenile detention centers. I have never been so humbled and happy to work with people before, from playing games to creating constructive workshops to giving informative presentations. You are given a lot of freedom and responsibility in the project, and I appreciated that.

You can have the rare combination of being both a tourist and a volunteer on this trip. The projects give you lots of time to explore and even connect you to activities outside of the project. Two of my favorite things I did on this trip were shark cage diving with great whites and jumping off the tallest commercial bungee jumping bridge in South Africa! These are two completely optional weekend activities that are priced separately, but well worth doing. The wonderful balance between enjoying what the country has to offer and giving back to the community is what makes this program superb.

My favorite moments in South Africa are centered on my fellow Global Gaps. During Halloween our whole global gap group dressed up in hilarious costumes and took a bus into Cape Town’s downtown, and I remember when we climbed Table Mountain together and celebrated at the top. Never underestimate the friends you will make on this trip. Project’s Abroad was exactly what I wanted when I was searching for a gap year program. I did not want to travel without an organization, but I also wanted an organization that gave me freedom to tailor this trip to what I would get most out of it. I found both in Projects Abroad.

I can assure you the other countries have equally impressive stories that you can experience as well. I would highly recommend this program, and it can be made your own. This trip is what you make it!