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| Saving Planet Earth |
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Gap years aren’t just about sightseeing and exploring beyond the usual tourist trails. They can also give you an opportunity to help save the planet!
Aislinn was sailing up the Amazon as part of a 40-strong European team organised by BSES (British Schools Exploring Society). For a month she joined a research project run by the University of Peru, investigating the biodiversity of the area and helping to collect data on the status of endangered species such as turtles, caimans (alligators), macaws and river dolphins. It was a rewarding experience. GOOD FOR THE PLANET If you’re at all concerned about the environment, a gap year is a great opportunity to do your bit for the planet. Thanks to a range of companies and organisations, you can gain some hands-on experience with endangered animals and contribute towards the preservation of precious ecosystems. Shumba Experience is a company that runs projects in Africa where you can assist conservation professionals in their work with leopards, lions, hyenas and rhinos. “Volunteers play a vital role for conservation in Africa,” says the company’s founder Mark Rowley. “They not only contribute financial support but also provide valuable assistance in developing the project.” But you don’t have to travel the world to help the planet: the Scottish Highlands, the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales are also prone to erosion and ecological upset. From the preservation, repair and improvement of pathways to the restoration of native plant life there are lots of British projects that will give you the chance to do your bit. Such projects can involve a lot of hard, physical work, and may be short-term - conservation projects in the UK organised through the likes of i-to-i or BTCV can run for just one or two weeks at a time. But they still allow you to join a local community and to live and work with like-minded people from far beyond your normal circle of friends. Wherever you choose to volunteer, it’s likely you’ll come back with a far greater interest in environmental issues and positive action. “As a committed team we did our bit to conserve the Amazon jungle, working with the indigenous people in the reserve,” says Aislinn of her trip up the Amazon. “And it made us think too about the future and how, as individuals, we could conserve our own surroundings and have more respect for and awareness of the environment as a whole.” GOOD FOR YOU “I was fascinated by the wildlife in Africa and by doing this placement I could also help with their conservation,” says Sarah Edwards, who spent part of her gap year on a wildlife conservation course in South Africa courtesy of Shumba Experience. “The course had a great amount of variation and I learnt everything from wildlife research to bush survival skills. The overnight camping was great fun and I even helped cook dinner on the fire. I loved seeing the animals in their natural environment - especially the lions - and I was very fortunate to be involved in the relocation of elephants and rhino. It was a thrilling experience!” But the benefits of volunteering to you as an individual extend much further. There are also positive implications in terms of your future career. “Showing an interest in wider issues than those on your own doorstep and having participated on an environmental or conservation placement can earn you bonus points when added to a CV,” according to Liz Haigh of WorldWide Volunteering. Robbie Barnes - who undertook a gap year in Australia planting trees, surveying animals and building paths and fences - agrees. “Volunteering can be great fun; it can be a gateway to new experiences and new places, and I am convinced that my experiences as a volunteer give me an edge over other job applicants.” Emma Hunt, who took part in a geological-based study trip to Greenland, found the social aspect that comes from being part of a team of like-minded people really important. “After so many years isolated from my friends due to ME,” she says, “it was very exciting to be part of a close group for a month. Not always easy, but I know I have learnt a great deal about my capabilities during this expedition. My illness has produced benefits as well as drawbacks; it does still affect my life, but now I know that if I can focus on my goals it will give me the determination to carry on through all obstacles.” LASTING MEMORIES Choose the right project and your volunteering experience could have a lasting impact on both you and the communities you’re helping. “It may seem like an exciting adventure to travel to a far-flung destination to help out with something which has no real significance in your own life,” says Liz Haigh. “However, you are soon exposed to environmental or conservational issues which are of real significance to local people.” Sophie Couch of Greenforce agrees: “A conservation project allows volunteers to travel deep into a country and see some of its remotest and wildest sides. It allows you to meet people that otherwise have no contact with western cultures, and to get your hands dirty and contribute to a project where you can actually see the benefit to both the environment and the local community.” And the results can last well after you’ve unpacked your rucksack. “Living in this environment and focusing on the survival aspect gave me a lot of time to think,” says Ammar Waraich, who, like Aislinn, took part in a BSES expedition into the Peruvian Amazon. “Finally, I was not stressed or tense about anything. I could just be in tune with myself, and enjoy my time with the fantastic people around me. Back home, I am now a more relaxed and confident person.” DOES HELPING SAVE THE PLANET COST THE EARTH? Taking time out to help save the planet doesn’t always come cheap; you’ll need around £1,000 to take part in many overseas projects - money you’ll have to find from sponsorship, short-term work or generous family and friends. However, some charitable organisations do charge considerably less for your involvement - and they still take care of all travel and living costs, as well health and safety matters. Besides, the new skills, unique experiences and friendships gained from such a CV enhancing project - plus the knowledge that your ‘front line’ work will have a direct and lasting effect on the animals and environment - surely means you should think of that money as an investment - for both you and the planet! Find out more BSES Expeditions 020 7591 3141 www.bses.org.uk BTCV 01302 388 888 www.btcv.org gapyear.com www.gapyear.com Greenforce 020 7470 8888 www.greenforce.org i-to-i 0870 333 2332 www.i-to-i.com WorldWide Volunteering 01935 825 588 www.wwv.org.uk Year Out Group 01380 816 696 www.yearoutgroup.org |
