Gap year blogs
Personal stories - Tips and advice - Programme insights - Latest news
Should I go to university or take a gap year?
Firstly, we'd like to wish everyone the best for their continued studies this year. We know it's been a really difficult period for students. The uncertainty around exam results, university places and employment have understandably left many feeling in a state of...
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Deal With Language Barriers While Traveling S.E. Asia
How to Deal With Language Barriers While Traveling to S.E. Asia by Erica Sunarjo So, you have picked your travel destination. South East Asia, it is! Your bags are packed, and your flight booked. You have pondered a list of sights you want to visit, With the many...
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How to choose more sustainable travel kit
Taking a gap year is all about gaining new experiences and a new perspective on life. When you choose to take time off from work or school, you know that your lifestyle will change. You will also gain a new appreciation for the world around you. How to choose more...
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How to Avoid 5 Gap Year Mistakes
Successful gap years require a strategy and this blog will help you avoid 5 gap year mistakes. Gap years have long been popular in Europe and are gaining more traction in the United States—and for good reason. According to a Gap Year Association survey, study abroad...
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Evidence the benefits of your travel on a CV
Gap years have been around since the 1970's but the last decade or two have seen more people than ever before deciding it's an option for them. In a globalized world, businesses need experienced candidates who understand other cultures, speak another language or are...
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4 Things to Research in Advance to Stay Safe Abroad
It’s hard to get banned from Canada, but I know someone who did. He didn’t do anything illegal. But because he didn’t research Canadian laws and customs before visiting, he did some things at the border that the customs agents found suspicious. The result? An arrest...
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Last minute Christmas gift panic?
Last minute Christmas gift panic? Africa & Asia Venture (AV) have got you covered with their Gap Year Vouchers. If you are hoping to take a Gap Year or know someone who is, these vouchers make the perfect last minute Christmas gift. You can purchase AV vouchers...
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Handling the stresses of teaching overseas
Preparing how to handle the stress of teaching overseas will really improve your experience. Teaching English in a foreign country as part of your gap year is likely to be one of the most demanding experiences you'll ever have. It entails relocating to a new country,...
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Travel in 2021
It's been a terrible year for most people with too many facing the loss of family, their health or employment. Talking about gap years and travel in 2021 can seem frivolous by comparison. That said, the travel industry has been one of the hardest hit by restrictions...
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Boost your well-being during Covid19
For students around the world, the plans for a 2020/1 gap year changed dramatically as a result of the coronavirus crisis. If you’re one of those students whose plans got completely warped amid the crisis, time to look on the bright side. There are ways to use this...
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Watch Netflix overseas
Watch Netflix Overseas: Even whilst enjoying a brilliant adventure overseas, you may sometimes crave a bit of home life. Pancakes, Your own bed or favorite TV show. It’s no secret that Netflix US has the largest library out of all available regions – sitting at over...
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5 Common Travel Challenges
Travelling is not always easy and you will most definitely get into unexpected situations. However, some of these can be foreseen and prepared for. Here are 5 common travel challenges you will face while traveling abroad. Being Unprepared This is an...
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How to travel with only a backpack
How to travel with only a backpack: Travelling light can be extremely liberating. When you travel light, you’re often able to go off the beaten path and find some hidden gems that you wouldn’t otherwise find. However, most of us are prone to overpacking and it can be...
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How to prepare your gap year finances
Taking a gap year between secondary school and higher education offers a variety of valuable opportunities. These promote personal growth and experiential education. Students can volunteer or create additional time to explore a degree they want to pursue. Additional...
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Graduate Gap Opportunities in Africa & Asia
If the end of your degree is fast approaching then you are probably starting to think about what comes next. Will you rush straight into your first graduate job or will you choose to take graduate gap opportunities in Africa and Asia? If you dismissed the idea of a...
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10 Year (GAP) Challenge
Africa & Asia Venture (AV) saw some amazing photos posted by friends on Facebook's 10 year challenge. It got us thinking. Why don’t we challenge our AVs to show us their pictures from their time on AV and where they are now?! We have a large extended AV family and...
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How A Career Break Can Boost Your Productivity At Work
Around 50% of UK employees take a career break to escape the stressors of everyday life, so if you've hit a plateau and nothing appeals more than taking a meaningful break, it may be time to consider a sabbatical year. From working with children in Kenya to...
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Why a Gap Year is Great For Your Career
You have spent over a decade working hard through your school years. It seems only fair that you take a little bit of a break before diving into college and a gap year is great for your career. You’ve spent the majority of your life in classrooms up to this point and...
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Pledge to stop volunteering in orphanages
Re-think Orphanages. The Pledge: Year Out Group members have stated their support to stop volunteering in orphanages, which they will sign formally when they renew their membership for 2019. "Our organisation pledges that if we have not already done so, we will now...
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How to be proactive on your gap year
Taking a gap year is the start of an exciting adventure. Whether you choose to spend it travelling the world, volunteering or working, there’s no doubt it will be a great learning experience. You do need to be proactive on your gap year though! However, after 12...
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