We have seen over the last weeks and months that the situation of some countries including Tunisia and Egypt can turn very sour very quickly. As i write this article now there are signs in Algeria that they could be trying to rise up against the president. The question is would you still volunteer abroad knowing full well a situation like this could arise where you are?

Most volunteer work in Africa are not in compromising or dangerous countries. The companies that you choose to book your volunteering experience with are most likely in touch with the foreign office and are also having feedback from their representatives in the country of work about any problems arising. The countries that people choose to volunteer abroad in are usually developing countries and it is only to be expected that problems will occur from time to time. There would be absolutely no need for volunteers to work in a country that doesn’t have any problems at all, after all that’s what you are there to do.

You can become a volunteer in Tanzania or a volunteer in South Africa and have the most wonderful, unforgettable experience. The fact that Egypt, Algeria & Tunisia are on the same continent as you is completely irrelevant. The problem Africa is facing is it seems to get tarnished with the same brush. Just because a couple of countries are having a hard time many assume the entire continent is off limits.

The question is would trouble in Egypt or Tunisia really stop you travelling to Africa as a whole. Let’s be real here, Africa is the second largest continent in the world so if you are in South Africa you are actually closer to Antarctica than you are to Egypt. Try not to let unrest in one country affect your travel plans or your mind set about the country you are travelling to.

There are so many different opportunities available to all and they can be found by a click of the button online.  You are also able to search through gap year directories and speak to the people that run these directories about which projects would be best suited to you. You can read reviews online download brochures and find out how to plan your gap year abroad. Whether you wish to volunteer in Malawi or volunteer in Uganda make sure you get off to the right start.

The whole ‘you can only take a gap year when you are aged between 18-25′ has gone out the window in recent years and many people of all ages are now taking part in these adventures. Taking a good amount of time off work can actually help you in the long run. Instead of just taking two weeks off work take some real time out to recharge your batteries and really get a good experience of the rest of the world.

There are a wide variety of volunteer work in Africa to choose from ranging from conservation work in Zimbabwe to teaching in a school in Kenya to working with HIV/AIDS victims in Tanzania. In some cases gap year companies will pay part of the volunteer’s expenses but this is only in specific cases.

A lot of people dream of volunteering in Mombasa. In fact if you are one of those people who are interested in a gap year jaunting around the world then you are also able to improve your employee skills and go back home with an enhanced C.V. Things like learning a new language, building a school or teaching English are all activities that will help you get a better job. No matter which activities it is you wish to do you can be guaranteed it will not be like any other experience in the UK or in any other western country but will be something that you remember for the rest of your life.