What to do and where to go in your gap year?

Go abroad, give your time and grow your potential

A gap year is the perfect opportunity to take a break from your regular routines, responsibilities and long to-do-lists.

Taking a gap year (or semester) is your chance to pull out of the rat race, travel to new destinations all over the world, gain some experience and get a fresh perspective on life. To do something completely out of your comfort zone – to stretch yourself, learn new skills and engage with interesting people from different cultures.

Perhaps you have to make a big decision and need time to think? Or do you need to add impactful experiences and valuable skills to your CV to improve your chances of getting into college or scoring that dream job?

Taking a gap year after high school and college to volunteer or intern with locally-led community development programs is a great way to enjoy an unforgettable travel experience, while also contributing to lasting social impact. 

Using your gap year to teach abroad is a particularly popular option for many English-speaking students, and serves as an important tool to empower locals in countries where tourism is a primary job creator.

Ideas and inspiration

There are many proven benefits of taking a gap year! Find out more about where in the world you can travel to, what GVI programs you can join and how you can make the most of your time off.