By Community Correspondant Jude Mitcham

A gap year abroad is likely to be the experience of a lifetime and will be on many young minds as A Level results are published this week. For many years, backpacking was the traditional gap year route, but volunteering abroad is on the rise. Richard McKenzie of Lattitude Global Volunteering explains why gappers are keener to embrace their inner Samaritan.

For most people, taking a gap year is about seeing new places, doing new things and meeting new people. Both backpacking and volunteering can provide these opportunities but in comparatively different ways. Backpacking allows the opportunity to see as much of the world as possible. But how much of one country can you see during a five day stopover? And is it ethical to create such a large carbon footprint by flying to ten different countries in one trip?

Overseas volunteers tend to fly to just one country, which can then be explored extensively by foot, bicycle or public transport. This considerably trims the carbon footprint and can help to put money back into that country’s economy. It also means seeing areas off the beaten track that are not listed in guidebooks.

Doing something new and different is a must when on a gap year. Gappers often seek out extreme activities like bungee jumping or a parachute jump! Making a positive difference to somebody else’s life is different, challenging and also rewarding.

Caring for street children in India, helping environmental conservation efforts in Australia, or giving Fijian children a head start in life by teaching them English, can all make a real difference to the people of the community as well as to the volunteer. Volunteering provides invaluable life skills and experience, helps to focus the gapper’s mind on their career and to appreciate and make the most of their time away. It also enhances a CV, and could positively influence university and job applications. For people considering a gap year, a short quiz at www.whatkindofvolunteerareyou.org.uk can help to decide what they are best suited to.

Gappers travelling around Australia, hostel by hostel, are guaranteed to meet plenty of people, who will more than likely be other backpackers from a similar walk of life to their own. Global Volunteers staying in the same area for several months not only get to meet people who have a completely different life, culture and background to them, but are given the opportunity to live and work with those people. This allows the opportunity to get to know the country, its culture and its people, for a real gap year experience. Gap year volunteers often find that they have made friends for life, sometimes finding a second family within their new community.

Volunteering isn’t necessarily for everybody and is often challenging; but with the variety of projects and locations available, there is a better chance of finding something to suit you. Look for a reputable organisation like not-for-profit organisation, Lattitude Global Volunteering (http://www.lattitude.org.uk/gapyear) which also has South London specific funding options available for those who may not otherwise be able to afford a gap year.

It is important to choose an established organisation that runs sustainable projects to be sure that the volunteers really do have a positive impact on the communities. Lattitude Global Volunteering has been assisting young people to make a difference abroad for over 35 years. The organisation’s projects range from environmental conservation to child care, from teaching to medical placements and are available in 17 countries.

To find out the benefits of volunteering, visit http://www.lattitude.org.uk/gapyear or call 0118 959 4914