Superb Twitter Application for Travellers

This looks like it would be a great way to gather together peoples opinions on a holiday destination, find out things to do there or even meet up with fellow Twitterers when you're there!

I wil be recommending it to our volunteers to stay in touch with a quick soundbite about what they're getting up to, as well as when they head off backpacking after their placement ends.

Completely free as well!

I'll use it next time I go away.

http://twttrip.com/

David

Gap-Year.com - A great resource for volunteering

This website offers really useful information and answers the questions you should be asking while planning your trip.

Does anyone have any other site you use before travelling, or even during?

Slumdog Millionaire boosts Tourism...lets see a volunteering boost too

USAToday report that Slumdog Millionaire has boosted tourism to Mumbai.

http://tinyurl.com/c3p4q6

It's good that it has raised awareness of the plight of orphans and street kids, but now is the time to get involved, volunteer and help out, not just be a spectator.

You can help empower some of these children that have very little and put smiles on their faces during a 3-6 month placement with us. Find out more on our website or Facebook page.

http://www.changingworlds.co.uk/default.aspx?qlink=india

Claire is soon to return from volunteering in India

This is an extract from an email we have just received from one of our volunteers, Claire, and it shows how much she has enjoyed her gap year experience:

"Hi guys, Just a little note to remind you that we're coming home!!! YAY! Cannot tell you how mixed up my emotions are right now as are the other two girls. We are so excited to have completed our placement and that we are coming home but at the same time absolutely devastated that we have to leave our new home."

"We are all very attached to India and have huge ties here including friends and new families. I will be returning to SOS (the orphanage) for a day before I leave if possible to say goodbye to my friends there and my Indian mother who took care of me while I was there. I am still in contact with a number of people including several volunteers."

"I cannot begin to tell you how amazing this experience has been. I know you hear it from every single person who becomes part of the team but I do really mean it. Nobody really understands what it means when they say a gap year changes you. Now i understand."

If you want to find out more about our placements in India email david@changingworlds.co.uk or go to our website: http://www.changingworlds.co.uk/default.aspx?qlink=india

Thinking about taking a Gap Year in Australia?

This is a great sounding book that you should read if you have been, or are thinking about going to Australia:

Description taken from the publishers site:
Life seemed quite straight forward for John Watters; finish school, do a degree and get a job. Then, one day, he read about a country with so much space that nuclear explosions occasionally take place in the middle of it and nobody really notices. Immediately, his adventurous soul had been released. Obtaining a job deep in the isolated Australian Bush, John attempts to explore the country from the inside out: first as a native, then as a tourist. From this perspective he is able to portray the real Australia with truly hilarious consequences before joining his fellow backpackers on a bus journey pilgrimage along the country’s eastern coast. With a heart-stopping skydive over The Great Barrier Reef, a close encounter with a crocodile, a humorous day out in the bizarre world of Aussie Rules football, and some of the most extravagantly exuberant characters on the planet providing a magnificent stage, Bonza Voyage truly captures the enchanting spirit of the long distant traveller.

You can buy it direct here: http://www.lulu.com/content/2548568

Have a look at the placements we offer in Australia where you can experience the amazing way of life yourself, and perhaps write your own book?! http://www.changingworlds.co.uk/Default.aspx?qlink=Australia

The idea of a 'Gap Year' is growing in the USA

USA Today have reported that students leaving high school in America are becoming more interested in a Gap Year.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-06-18-gap-year_N.htm

Gap Year's have been the norm for over 10% of school leavers in the UK and are steadily increasing.

We send people from all over the world and so can advise which countries you are likely to get visas for, as well as answering any other queries you may have about volunteering and gap years.

You can see our earlier post that highlights how good a structured gap year looks on your CV.

Adding a Gap Year to your CV can help you stand out

This article backs up our opinion that employers see a structured Gap Year as being extremely worthwhile.

It shows that you are a completely rounded individual and this article talks about the options available to you:
http://tinyurl.com/ccaa5r

Ways to Change the World on Matadorchange.com

This article shows you what you can do to make a difference to someone elses life:

http://matadorchange.com/10-ways-travelers-can-change-the-world/

All of our projects have the same themes in mind.

Jade is going to Kenya

Hi all,

I have just been sent this link by one of our future volunteers. She is heading out to Kenya for 3 months in 2010. She is being very active on the fundraising front and there are lots of good ideas here if any of you need to raise money for your gap year.

http://tinyurl.com/bdcgk4

If you read the comments on the site you'll see it has obviously sparked some passionate debates!

If anyone has any fundraising ideas of their own it would be great to hear about them.

Thanks guys,

David

Welcome to our new blog

Hello world!

We have previously been using another blog site but felt that Blogger linked in to all of our activities much better.

Please start having a look through all the links and photos we have put up already, and gradually the content will start building as well!

Thank you for reading,

David