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Gap Year Volunteer Abroad Programs
Your gap year, with people like you.
Structured volunteer programs across 23 countries — built primarily for 17–25 year olds. Shared houses, group orientations, and community projects made to help you meet other travellers your age. Under £700 for a fortnight in most destinations.
since 2007
Three routes into a gap year abroad.
Whatever your starting point, you’ll land somewhere you’re wanted, in a group that shows up for each other.
Y13 finished — now what?
Take the year between school and uni to travel with purpose. Volunteer 4–12 weeks across teaching, wildlife or community, then keep travelling on your own steam.
Between semesters or a full year out
Summer break, sandwich year, or a full gap semester. Structured placements you can point to on a CV — teaching, medicine, conservation — with weekends free to explore.
Travelling abroad on your own for the first time
Airport pickup on day one, shared volunteer house, and a group of people your age already there. The safe way to build travel confidence before you go fully solo.
Programmes with the youngest volunteer mix.
Six of our most-booked programmes by under-25s over the last 12 months.
Nepal · KathmanduVolunteer Teaching in Nepal
Classic gap-year teaching in a local school. 4-week average stay, group orientation on day 1, weekends free for trekking.
Kenya · NairobiVolunteer Teaching in Kenya
Community teaching placement outside Nairobi. Weekends free for the Masai Mara safari add-on most volunteers do together.
Thailand · Chiang MaiElephant Sanctuary Volunteering
Ethical elephant care at a rescue sanctuary. No riding, no tourist rides — actual conservation work with rescued elephants.
India · Delhi2-Week Special Volunteer Program
Our cheapest starting point — teaching + childcare in Delhi with a shared volunteer house and an average age of 21.
Sri Lanka · GalleSea Turtle Conservation
Beach hatchery work at sunrise, marine plastic surveys, and free time on the south coast in the afternoons.
Cambodia · Phnom PenhCommunity Development Project
English teaching + community construction in Phnom Penh. Cheapest all-in weekly price in South-East Asia.
See what your week actually looks like
@volunteeringsolutions on Instagram
Real gap-year stories from the last 12 months.
Reviews verified by Reviews.io. Ages shown are ages at booking.
“Booked two weeks in Nepal before uni started. Ended up staying six. The volunteer house had 8 of us aged 18–24, all doing different projects, all going out to eat together after work.”
“I was nervous about doing my first solo trip. Airport pickup, orientation on day one, and a coordinator I could message on WhatsApp anytime made the whole thing feel possible.”
“Ethical elephant work in Chiang Mai. No riding, no photo ops with baby elephants — actual mud, actual food prep. Exactly what I wanted, and half the price of the big brands.”
“Went for the teaching, stayed for the friends. Still travel with two of the girls I met on this trip three years later.”
Gap year questions, answered.
What’s actually included in the fee?
Shared volunteer house accommodation, meals (breakfast + dinner), airport pickup on arrival, orientation on day 1, project placement + supervision, 24/7 in-country coordinator, and a certificate of completion. What’s not included: flights, visa, travel insurance, personal spending money.
How safe is this if it’s my first time abroad alone?
Every arrival is met at the airport by our in-country coordinator. You’ll live with other volunteers (never in a homestay by default), get a briefing on local safety, and can WhatsApp the coordinator any time. Our teams have handled everything from lost passports to hospital visits — you’re never dealing with a new country alone.
Can I fundraise or use grants to pay for this?
Yes. About 30% of our under-25 volunteers use fundraising platforms (GoFundMe / JustGiving) to raise their programme fee. School-based grants, university bursaries, and the DofE Awards’ financial support scheme also apply to many programmes. Ask us for a template fundraising letter.
What’s the youngest / oldest volunteer age?
Most programmes accept 17+ (with some at 18+). Our average volunteer age this year is 24. Under-18s are welcome on most programmes with a parental consent form. If you’re 26+ and want a quieter, private-room setup, ask us — every destination has a comfort option.
How long do people usually stay?
The 17-25 average is 4 weeks. One-week trips exist for tight breaks; anything from 8 weeks up qualifies as a full gap-year semester, and we run placements up to 6 months. You can extend once you’re there if you’re loving it — many people do.
Ready to plan your gap year?
Message us on WhatsApp and one of our team will help you match a programme to your dates and budget. No pressure, no auto-emails.