For those who are thinking about embarking on a gap year adventure this year, Direct Travel Insurance suggests that volunteering – either by getting involved in environmental conservation or with a humanitarian organisation – may be the most interesting way of meeting other like-minded travellers whilst contributing to a good cause.
Volunteering can be hugely rewarding, whether it entails being involved with a sector you are familiar with or experienced in (such as working in a hospital if you are a medical student) or doing something completely new because it is inspiring or simply because you empathise with the ethos of a particular project or charity.
Do your research carefully in advance and consider joining online forums where volunteers share their good and bad experiences. www.vso.org.uk is an organisation that works through volunteers to fight global poverty. It is a very good place to start if your skills are in demand in the country of your choice. The FCO’s dedicated website www.gogapyear.com also offers tips and advice on gap year travel and volunteering overseas.
Direct Travel, a leading provider of travel insurance in the UK, warns that travellers should be prepared to come across companies that charge a lot of money with the promise of an unforgettable experience. Unless you know people who have been very satisfied with their services, it is probably best to stay away and seek advice before parting with your money. This excellent article which appeared in the Daily Telegraph recently, gives an excellent account of how things could go very wrong if you put your trust in so-called specialist companies without doing a background check first.
Gap year travel is usually associated with fun, a sense of adventure and the thrill of the unknown. Sharing a skill or helping a local community can easily be a part of such a trip. Volunteering overseas is in fact a wonderful way of learning about a new culture and you are also likely to stay with a host family from whom you will learn a lot about local customs and traditions.
One last thing: it may seem like common sense but if you don’t speak the local language, it may be extremely difficult to get involved as much as you had expected to. Think carefully about your destination and enrol on a language course before you leave and locally. For example, if you are going to do a placement in a hospital in Quito and don’t speak any Spanish at all, things will be extremely difficult and you may end up not contributing very much. Be realistic about what to expect and be prepared. The surroundings may not be as idyllic as you had expected but the experience is guaranteed to be very enriching.
Whatever you decide, don’t forget to arrange travel insurance before you leave. You will have to declare what work you will be carrying out, even if you are volunteering. Bear in mind that if your occupation is dangerous, you may not be able to get any cover so call us in advance and find out as much as possible about what your work will involve: we may be able to provide cover for your occupation subject to an additional premium being paid. Please call us on 0845 605 2700 for further information.
Direct Travel Insurance has insured over a million travellers in the last 12 months. So come to us for both single trip travel insurance and annual holiday insurance. We also offer specialist cheap travel insurance such as backpacker travel insurance.
