Feb-mester Resources & Planning Ideas
A "Febmester" is your time to volunteer, travel, work, or try something new!
Below is a listing of just a few of the infinite possibilities that you can explore to create an experience that is unique to your personal interests!
Volunteer:
Global Volunteers is a private, non-profit, non-sectarian, non-governmental organization engaging short-term volunteers on micro-economic and human development programs in close partnership with local people worldwide. Working at the invitation and under the direction of local leaders, volunteers help create a foundation for world peace through mutual international understanding. Our purpose is to maintain a genuine, sustained service partnership with the host community and provide volunteers a genuine opportunity to serve.
International & Cross-Cultural:
AMIGOS de las Américas
AMIGOS operates quality, youth-led programs throughout the Americas which improve the health and well-being of millions. Supported by a vigorous network of Pan-American chapters and partner agencies and a sound financial base, youth from diverse backgrounds and from throughout the Americas challenge themselves and expand their world view by participating in self-directed, meaningful service with communities different from their own.
AMIGOS operates quality, youth-led programs throughout the Americas which improve the health and well-being of millions. Supported by a vigorous network of Pan-American chapters and partner agencies and a sound financial base, youth from diverse backgrounds and from throughout the Americas challenge themselves and expand their world view by participating in self-directed, meaningful service with communities different from their own.
Cross-Cultural Solutions
Cross-Cultural Solutions is widely known as the leading organization in the field of international volunteering.
Our volunteer programs are unique in every way. Our global infrastructure supports thousands of international volunteers each year and over 250 sustainable community initiatives. More than 250 CCS in-country staff members are working year-round, ensuring that you are volunteering with a project that interests you and is contributing directly to the goals of each community. No other short-term international volunteer program has such a global presence and community-centered approach toward volunteering abroad.
Cross-Cultural Solutions is widely known as the leading organization in the field of international volunteering.
Our volunteer programs are unique in every way. Our global infrastructure supports thousands of international volunteers each year and over 250 sustainable community initiatives. More than 250 CCS in-country staff members are working year-round, ensuring that you are volunteering with a project that interests you and is contributing directly to the goals of each community. No other short-term international volunteer program has such a global presence and community-centered approach toward volunteering abroad.
Foundation for Sustainable Development
FSD partners with more than 300 community-based organizations throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America to support sustainable change. Our development model relies on active community participation to mobilize lasting solutions. While respecting local value systems, we partner with local leaders to build networks and collaborate on community-driven approaches to development issues.
FSD partners with more than 300 community-based organizations throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America to support sustainable change. Our development model relies on active community participation to mobilize lasting solutions. While respecting local value systems, we partner with local leaders to build networks and collaborate on community-driven approaches to development issues.
NGOabroad
NGOabroad is a unique service that helps you enter or advance in international humanitarian work & provides frugal, customized international volunteer opportunities
NGOabroad is a unique service that helps you enter or advance in international humanitarian work & provides frugal, customized international volunteer opportunities
TBB’s Gap Year is a rigorous eight-month international service-learning program. Each program group consists of sixteen Gap Year students and three Program Leaders. Together they engage a powerful itinerary and curriculum that explores the essential question: “How can I be a proactive agent of change?” Throughout four “core country” stays around the world, students engage with host communities, experts in the field, and the TBB curriculum to develop deep understanding of the greatest challenges facing our global society.
Where There Be Dragons
Dragons programs are authentic, rugged and profound learning adventures that expose the beautiful and complex realities of the countries in which we travel. Featuring extended itineraries, Dragons programs encourage deep immersion into strikingly different physical and cultural landscapes, combining the best in experiential education, travel, service learning, and physically and intellectually challenging experiences.
Dragons programs are authentic, rugged and profound learning adventures that expose the beautiful and complex realities of the countries in which we travel. Featuring extended itineraries, Dragons programs encourage deep immersion into strikingly different physical and cultural landscapes, combining the best in experiential education, travel, service learning, and physically and intellectually challenging experiences.
Outdoors & the Environment:
Earthwatch Institute
Earthwatch expeditions are ongoing research projects confronting critical, current issues, run by qualified and respected members of the scientific community. Topics span a wide range of scientific study including climate change, endangered species, history of civilizations, sustainable development, and the state of the oceans.
Earthwatch expeditions are ongoing research projects confronting critical, current issues, run by qualified and respected members of the scientific community. Topics span a wide range of scientific study including climate change, endangered species, history of civilizations, sustainable development, and the state of the oceans.
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
A non-profit educational organization teaching technical outdoor skills, leadership, and environmental ethics. Courses range from a few weeks to an academic year in locations from Wyoming to Mexico to India.
A non-profit educational organization teaching technical outdoor skills, leadership, and environmental ethics. Courses range from a few weeks to an academic year in locations from Wyoming to Mexico to India.
SEA Semester offers field programs in marine and environmental studies for Boston University credit combining coursework in Woods Hole followed by a sailing research voyage on one of SEA’s tall ships in the Atlantic, Pacific, or Caribbean.
Worldwide Opportunities in Organic Farming (WWOOF)
Organic farms around the world receive volunteers and offer training and lodging in exchange for work in the garden or on the farm.
Organic farms around the world receive volunteers and offer training and lodging in exchange for work in the garden or on the farm.
Consulting Resources:
Gapyear.com offers an extensive listing of possibilities to help plan your gap-year or time-off with opportunities in travel, work, and volunteering projects world-wide. This is a great place to begin your search.
Interim Programs
Interim has designed creative gap-year opportunities for more than 5,700 people of all ages and built relationships with organizations worldwide. Their database encompasses over 5,600 program opportunities. Interim works one-on-one with individuals of all ages to tailor a combination of program options that match interests, needs, and goals. They guide people through the process of identifying reputable placements, securing those placements, and adjusting to the changes that inevitably take place as individuals take on new experiences.
Interim has designed creative gap-year opportunities for more than 5,700 people of all ages and built relationships with organizations worldwide. Their database encompasses over 5,600 program opportunities. Interim works one-on-one with individuals of all ages to tailor a combination of program options that match interests, needs, and goals. They guide people through the process of identifying reputable placements, securing those placements, and adjusting to the changes that inevitably take place as individuals take on new experiences.
Taylor the Gap is a gap year consulting service run by Marion Taylor '79. It is a customized service for students interested in taking time out to expand their horizons outside the traditional educational track. This time of self-exploration enables students to gain self-confidence, focus, and motivation for future educational pursuits.
Books on Taking Time Off:
Before You Go: The Ultimate Guide to Planning Your Gap Year. By Tom Griffiths. 2003.
Gap Year Guidebook 2010. Wendy Bosberry-Scott. 2010.
Jobs in the Sun: Gap Year and Career-Break Opportunities. By Charles Davey. 2006.
Lonely Planet The Gap Year Book. By Joe Bindloss, Charlotte Hindle, and Andrew Dean Nystrom. 2005.
Lonely Planet The Big Trip. 1st Edition 2008.
Planning Your Gap Year: Hundreds of Opportunities for Employment, Study, Volunteer Work and Independent Travel. By Nick Vandome. 2005.
The Complete Guide to the Gap Year: The Best Things to Do Between High School and College. By Kristin M. White. 2009.
Your Gap Year: Everything You Need to Know to Make Your Year Out the Adventure of a Lifetime. By Susan Griffith. 2010.
