Gap Year Abroad | Projects Abroad US

Ready to break free from the ordinary and embark on a transformative journey? Your gap year is your chance to discover what you're truly capable of, and Projects Abroad is here to help you make it unforgettable.

You’ll gain real-world experience and support communities in need at the same time. It’s an exciting and different way to start the next chapter of your life after high school. If you are looking to do something this fall or winter, we recommend our Gap Projects:

On a gap year program abroad after high school, the experience can be designed to benefit your exact interests and goals. You can explore a career you’re interested in, like medicine or law, and add relevant work experience to your resume. We have options for students who’ve deferred their college acceptance, and for those who don’t feel they’re ready for university just yet. Whatever your motivation, we’ll be there to help you find what you’re looking for.

There’s a lot you can get involved in by volunteering abroad on your gap year. You can protect endangered ecosystems and wild animals on a Conservation Project. Or, give children the educational support they desperately need on a Childcare Project. If you’re eager to be more independent, we recommend joining Flexi Trips and customizing your own gap year program.

All of our programs focus on implementing long-term, sustainable solutions. We don’t believe in quick fixes. So no matter how short or long your gap year abroad is, you’ll be part of ongoing efforts to make a real difference.

Why should I volunteer during my gap year?

We want you to get the most out of your gap year. So, depending on your goals, we’ll help you put together a gap year travel program that will benefit you the most.

Here are six of the most popular reasons our previous volunteers chose to volunteer abroad for their gap years:

Explore a career path: Explore potential career paths and discover what you’re passionate about. It’s also a great way to find out if you have what it takes to pursue an especially challenging career, like medicine or law. If you’re not sure what you want to do, you experiment and spend time on various programs and internships.
Gain practical experience: Get your career off to the best start with global experience. You’ll learn directly from local professionals by working alongside them. For example, you can shadow doctors in Kenya, or sit in on meetings with lawyers in China. With real-world experience under your belt, you’ll give your resume an extra edge over the competition.
Get an international perspective: People around the world are struggling with different challenges and issues every day. You’ll gain a deeper insight into these global issues, and you’ll learn about different ways to help people where it’s needed most.
Become a part of positive change in the world: At Projects Abroad, our first goal is to benefit the communities we work in. Each of our volunteer projects and internships is ethical, well-supported, and part of a better future. We work with continuing management plans to make sure our impact is sustainable. We track our impact using resources like our own Global Impact Database. You can read about our impact to find out what you’ll be a part of.
Travel and tick countries off your bucket list: Use your gap year to broaden your horizons, immerse yourself in new cultures, and explore breathtaking landscapes. It’s an opportunity to see the world as a new classroom!
Discover what you’re capable of: Travel can be a transformative experience. Seeing a different part of the world will give you a fresh perspective of who you are in the world, how you can help others, and what your strengths are.

Projects Abroad will support you every step of the way. We can help you choose where to go and which projects to select. Wherever you go, our staff will be available to make sure you have the gap year of your dreams.

Students volunteering with Projects Abroad for their gap year help plant mangroves in Fiji, South Pacific.

Frequently Asked Questions about gap years

We’ve been organizing gap year adventure tours for 30 years now, so we’ve answered a lot of questions in that time! Here are some of the most common ones that come up.

What is a gap year?

A gap year is your chance to take a break from school, work, or university. It's about taking time to grow as a person and getting ready for the next stage of your life. Most people choose to travel, try new things, learn new skills and meet new people.

We think the best bit about gap years is that there are no rules! No two gap years have to be the same. It’s about finding something you’re passionate about.

At Projects Abroad, we focus on gap year travel programs. Most people don’t travel with us for the whole year, but instead for two or three months. Then they spend the rest of the year doing other things.

We think that’s the best way to pack in as much as possible to your gap year!

If you need some inspiration to get you started, we’ve put together five steps to planning the perfect gap year.

What can I do for a gap year program?

Our gap year programs are individual plans designed specifically for you. You can choose to gain experience on an internship, or do service work. We can help you customize the perfect gap year for you, and you can also combine different projects and countries.

Our Flexi Trips are ideal for customized gap years. You can choose various types of work, such as:

You can also participate in a Team Trip if you’re interested in teaming up with a set group to tackle a specific challenge in a short period of time.

Will I be safe on my gap year abroad?

At Projects Abroad, your safety is our primary concern. We won’t send you to a country that’s politically unstable or considered unsafe. In addition, we have dedicated staff in-country who are there to support you 24/7.

When you arrive in a country to kick off your gap year abroad, we’ll have staff there to meet you at the airport. We’ll also make sure you get to the airport safely when you fly home or to your next destination. On your first day, you’ll receive a full briefing. We’ll teach you everything you need to know about where you’re living and the work you’ll do.

As an added measure of safety, all of our placements are fully researched, safety audited, and risk assessed in accordance with the British Standard BS8848 for the Adventure Travel Sector. This means our programs offer peace of mind that you’ll be safe and well-looked-after.

Can I do gap year volunteering abroad for free?

We often get asked if we offer free volunteering abroad for gap years. The short answer is no. There are several reasons why we ask all our participants to pay a fee for volunteering abroad. Read more about why our gap year projects have a program fee.

Don't forget that most people organize their gap year volunteering plans a long time in advance. If you're still planning a future trip, you can make use of our fundraising advice to help make your gap year more affordable.

You can also pay for any Projects Abroad trip gradually over time in instalments. For example, you only need a small deposit when you apply to join us.

Can't find what you're looking for?

We’d be happy to talk about creating a custom gap year for you. Most of our staff have had gap years abroad themselves, so they’re ready to answer your questions, big or small.

(+1) 619 320 2424

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