Gap Year in Ghana for $2,945

[MiamiDAP]

"Why do you feel compelled to argue that this is not an incredibly valuable experience, when those who have been there/done that say otherwise?"

If anybody choose to go,they should, but to say that it is incredible is to overvalue it. That is the only thing that I am saying, that it is too much glorified.

[mapesy]

hsmomstef, Have your son check with his college's volunteer placement office. In my daughter's case, her university recommended projects that weren't the larger, named programs that are typically found on an "international volunteer" google search, but were instead collaborations between universities and local communities. At the time she went, she had her choice of three such projects.

For kids who need a little more structure in their international volunteer experience, her university recommended Cross-Cultural Solutions and one other program that I can't recall right now. I'll try to remember to ask my daughter about it when she calls, but she's currently out of the country with no computer access. It's not one of the more well-known programs, but I remember that it requires college transcripts and recommendations from professors.

(My daughter didn't do a full gap year, so I'm not sure about those programs.)

[hsmomstef]

He is still in high school -- so no college volunteer placement office to ask yet. I suppose he could ask after he gets admitted.

He doesn't need more structure -- right now he is not planning on using any program or company at all -- but if we could find a group that would work for him, that would make me feel better.

[owlice]

If anybody choose to go,they should, but to say that it is incredible is to overvalue it.

Who are you to say that someone else's experience is not incredible?

[mapesy]

hsmomstef, Just to clarify, my earlier post that you quoted was in response to an earlier post about "voluntourism" programs and not gap year programs.

How old is your son? He might have trouble finding an international volunteer placement if he's younger than 18 unless he travels with a group or parent. If he's looking for a gap year opportunity right after high school, I recommend that he contact the volunteer placement offices at the colleges he's interested in attending and ask them for suggestions.

[katliamom]

agree with mapesy, opportunities are pretty limited for kids under 18. I know some private high schools have international volunteer programs, though if I recall hsmomstef's son is homeschooled.

[Orange_Juice]

Parents, I'd love to hear about your kids' successful (and unsuccessful!) gap year experiences!

I'm a college sophomore (rising junior) who's planning to take this year off and possibly transfer to a different school for the fall 2009 semester (probably to a school that offers block scheduling).

I know that there are plenty of search engines out there for gap year opportunities, but I'd like to think outside of the box a little bit. I'm skeptical of how meaningful various programs can be if they focus on how much sightseeing the volunteers get to do on the side, plus I don't have a ton of money to work with.

I'll probably have to spend some time at home working to save up more money, but I ultimately I want to do meaningful work away from home. The US isn't out of the question, but I'd prefer to volunteer or work abroad. I'm more interested in somehow making a difference than I am in hiking or sightseeing. I also want to try to integrate myself into a community and get to know people rather than moving around too terribly much.

Also - I'd prefer to use as little parental financial support as possible so that I don't have to answer to them in terms of what I decide to do. I've studied abroad before (high school exchange student in South America), so my parents aren't THAT uptight about letting me travel, but I don't know how to convince them that Africa (for example)/ is a safe place to travel/volunteer. Thoughts, parents?

I really appreciate any help you can provide!