Our Projects

Most of our volunteer projects are ideal for those wanting to have a gap year experience either before or after university. Some are particularly suited to volunteers considering a career in medicine, humanitarian, teaching, social or environmental work. You project partner will be somebody of a similar age to you self.

With most of our gap year projects, we generally put together two volunteers working as project partners. Your project partner will be somebody of a similar age to yourself. Your project partner will be somebody of a similar age to yourself. You are also welcome to jointly apply for a project with a friend. There are projects in Ecuador, the Galapagos, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Costa Rica to choose from. For details, see our group projects.

Our projects are regularly visited by James Chapman, the Outreach International Director and the needs of volunteers carefully assessed. We only work with initiatives where there is a genuine need for volunteer support and where the support cannot be provided by local people.

Articles / Volunteer Evaluations

	Kerri McGuiness 19) faced her greatest challenge yet on her gap year abroad in Ecuador. "The initial project was to paint the school's playground but all week the locals chatted to us, watched us intrigued for hours, and thanked us. Knowing we've brought this new element of fun to a deserving community is a much greater achievement then the painting itself." Kerri McGuiness flew out to Ecuador to begin a gap year abroad with Outreach International. Kerri had finished her exams and she wanted to take a gap year abroad before going on to university. She felt that she was not ready to launch into student life just yet and was not sure what she really wanted to do. The thought of volunteering overseas would be a "chance of a lifetime". Kerri had a hunger for challenge and knew that she would make a great volunteer. She found Outreach International through searching for gap years abroad on the Internet. After her application she met up for an informal meeting with the director to talk about the projects more. Kerri can be described as outgoing with bags of enthusiasm and a warm heart. She wanted to share this with others, so she decided to volunteer for a worthwhile project, helping carry out conservation work alongside a local community in the Amazon rainforest. During her three months she worked together with another Outreach International volunteer at the reserve called Maquipucuna and at a local primary school. The following quotes are some of Kerri's experiences and thoughts about her project: "The time had come to paint the school - which from the moment the idea came to mind (week 1) Jo and I bounced off each other and what started off being a hopscotch or two in the School developed into the playground equivalent of the Sistine Chapel. No joke." "The painting, although slow (brought on by my perfectionism) was a doddle. It was the obstacles that stood in the way that challenged me, the kids being the primary one. When I was younger any type of paint would've set me off... the messier the better. I was prepared for chaos, just not Ecuador Chaos! Los niños locos (that’s the crazy kids) jumped, ran (barefoot) and rolled in every bit of wet paint going. I love them in small doses, I enjoy the portions I get but at the end of the day I can walk away. This freedom keeps me fresh and allows me time to prepare for the next day." "Maquipucuna is a wonderful oasis. Working there puts a spring in my step. Basically I can work when and where I want... really self-driven which clearly suits me (until I overdo it!)." "Since day one I had been going like the clappers and not allowed any time to enjoy the fruits. This hit me whilst chatting to some tourists and they were asking about some of the trails... I hadn't a clue. Why? I'd been working too hard to really experience them. So one morning I walked to a waterfall before brekkie, sometimes it's just a stretch session... watching the sun come up behind the trees, sampling every hammock in the place... takes time." "There is one moment that takes the biscuit. On the river trail, perched on a rock, flow of river singing me to sleep. Never gonna forget that one."

• Case Study by Kerri McGuiness

	I finished work at SOS on friday - it was very emotional, and very surreal!! I cant really believe that the main objective of my whole gap year, and the thing ive been planning for so many years, is already over. Its gone so fast but i do feel as though i made the most of it and got so so much out of the experience. my last week was tough - id already cried once by the tuesday (yep im still a bit of a drama queen!!) and friday was highly undignified on my part. on my last day they did a little presentation for me - aracely, the director, thanked me on behalf of everyone for all my support and gave me a card with a really touching message in, and a present - a very pretty top. then angelo, the teacher for the escolares, gave me something that the children had made themselves for me - a really lovely miniature wooden chest of drawers, that theyd painted and carved really carefully, and written a message on the back. the virginia and monika, who i worked with every day with the 2 year olds, gave me a card that theyd made and secretly got each one of our now 30 toddlers to put their fingerprint inside in individual hearts, with a really lovely thankyou message from Virginia. Then each of the staff in turn came up individually to thank me and say goodbye - it was completely overwhelming and by the time i tried to say something myself i was really crying and probably completely incomprehensible!! i couldnt believe how appreciative they were - ive not done anything extraordinary, just what i came here to do - but theyre so grateful. i also found out that normally, virginia is allowed to have a maximum of 20 kids in her class, but since id been there theyd been able to take on a good 10 more into my group - which is fantastic. i was worried though about what would happen after i left, just because its way too much work for one pair of hands, but theyve now split the group into two so that all the children can keep their places. so basically even without doing anything amazing, just by being there, my presence more children can come to the centre and therefore have a greatly improved standard of living. really made me happy because honestly all ive really done over the last 4 months is take toddlers to the loo and br}eak up fights (!) but just my presence has helped. i also wanted to thank everyone again for all the support you gave me in being able to come out and do this - from a selfish point of view, i have had the best experience of my life so far, and i think i have helped a bit as well. it was also sad to leave quito yesterday, as id got so settled there, and got some really close friends, but its exciting to be independent and off seeing places and doing things. at the moment im in ambato, just south of quito, having a bit of a rest day then heading south tomorrow, to be in guayaquil on saturday. budgeting is my main priority now so im staying in a hostel that leaks when it rains, doesnt have hot water, and may well have fallen down by the time i go back this evening, but its $3 a night so im not complaining!!!

• Case Study by Emily Shirtcliff