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Take care of abandoned cats who are waiting to be re-homed or enjoying living out their days in comfort. As well as the usual tasks such as cleaning, feeding and walking, you’ll also get a chance to help with plenty of ‘playtime’ and cuddles. Explore the fascinating city of Barcelona in your free time – from visiting the beach to checking out the sights, there is almost too much to keep you busy!

Join an expert team on a ‘Big 5’ reserve, situated on the edge of the beautifully wild Kruger National Park. With over 400 baboons in various stages of rehabilitation, you’ll get to learn so much about these amazing primates during your time at this bespoke centre.

Get off the beaten track to live on a beautiful Costa Rican beach, protecting the turtles that nest and hatch on the golden sands. Live like a local as you make a genuine contribution to marine conservation.

Join an international team of volunteers who are working together to care for rescued elephants in an inspirational sanctuary. Together you will be helping these elephants to have a life as close to the wild as possible, a far cry from their previous lives working on the streets or in tourist camps. Highlights of this elephant volunteering project in Thailand include bathing and walking the elephants, allowing you to really get to know these gentle giants.

Volunteer at Eastern Europe’s largest bear sanctuary, helping to care for the world’s most beloved animal. Watch the bears enjoying their newfound freedom as you look after their basic needs in this beautiful woodland haven. Romania is described by many of our volunteers as “Europe’s hidden gem”, and with its vast number of outdoor, historical, cultural and city pursuits, you won’t want to leave!

Bears, birds, orangutans, monkeys, gibbons, deer, otters – and much more! – are being cared for by volunteers like you at this inspiring sanctuary on the outskirts of Thailand’s largest national park. Help to look after over 700 neglected animals, rescued from the cruel tourist trade, and brought to this sanctuary to recover. If that isn’t enough of a draw, there is even an on-site elephant sanctuary that you may be able to help at too.

Become part of an elephant research team, monitoring these gentle giants in their daily lives together. The project is located in a beautiful park, where you will be working closely with rescued elephants as they recover from previous trauma and stress. In your free time, explore the stunning Garden Route and immerse yourself fully in this wonderful corner of Africa.

Work closely with wolves in a beautiful sanctuary in one of Portugal’s Nature Parks. These shy creatures are no longer able to live in the wild after having been kept in zoos, traded illegally or hunted by humans. Help to provide care and a life as close to the wild as possible to the largest members of the much-loved dog family.

A shocking 33% of food that is produced worldwide each year goes to waste. This food waste volunteering project aims to tackle food waste in its own small way by collecting unused food from supermarkets and restaurants – and redistributing it to some of the poorest people within Lisbon.

Become a research diver on an exciting volunteer marine conservation project in Thailand. Get involved in daily dives to explore the health of the marine environment just off the stunning island of Koh Phangan. Suitable for new and experienced divers alike, this Thailand Coral Reef Restoration Project allows participants to play in active role in tackling marine decline, all whilst enjoying the wonders of life under the sea.

 

Step off the trodden tourist trail and into the heart of stunning Sri Lanka, where elephants are still clinging on to life in the wild. Work closely with the local community to help promote the survival of the endangered Asian elephant, all whilst enjoying seeing these creatures roam in their natural habitat – a rare wonder.

Explore one of the most beautiful and untouched destinations on earth – New Zealand! Help local conservationists with their efforts to preserve some of New Zealand’s most beautiful locations. Chose from two gateway cities on the North Island and one on the South Island.

Head into the heart of Borneo’s rainforest, helping to regenerate habitats and monitor local wildlife. From orangutans to pygmy elephants and from primates to crocodiles, you will be preserving these creatures and their habitat for generations to come. This is a once in a lifetime experience to live in a small remnant of paradise, immersing yourself in a way of life that has all but been forgotten.

South Africa is home to the amazing Marine Big 5 – sharks, whales, dolphin, penguins and seals – and their existence is under threat. Spend your days out on the water observing marine life, all whilst contributing to innovative shark conservation and eco-tourism measures. Help out at a penguin rescue centre and with beach clean ups to improve the damaged marine world. And if that’s not enough, why not tick something off the bucket list and go cage diving with sharks too?

Experience the rare desert elephants in the wild, helping these endangered animals and rural communities to co-exist in harmony. Enjoy all that desert life brings, from cooking over camp fires to sleeping under the stars, and throw yourself into the volunteer role, which includes tracking elephants, doing building projects and helping the local community.

Join our 4 or 6 week Anwarter ski instructor course in Austria and have a guaranteed job for the rest of the season.

Our course is based in Kaprun, Zell am See, and you could then work anywhere in Austria as an instructor.

Want to tour Japan without breaking the bank? Join our 13 day adventure which starts in Tokyo and heads west towards Hiroshima. This backpacking Japan tour has been carefully created to ensure that your experience is authentic and unique. You’ll stop at all the hot spots along the way and get to experience all that makes this country so iconic.

Borneo has gone down in legend as one of the best places in the world for wildlife lovers. One of its most beloved species, the Bornean sun bear, is under threat of extinction, but you can volunteer to help tackle this tragic predicament.

Head to dynamic Vietnam – a country rising in popularity with the traveling community. Take part in cultural and sightseeing activities, gain a TESOL qualification and then teach in Vietnam for up to a year!

Looking to see the best that India offers? Take part in a backpacking tour that will take you to the iconic highlights, as well as taking you to areas that are less explored. Choose to join either the 18-day tour of the north and west or opt for the shorter 13-day north India tour.

Bag yourself a qualification as a ski or snowboard instructor whilst on holiday in Whistler Blackcomb. Our 4 week course is designed to give you all the training you need to pass the CSIA or CASI Level 1 instructor exam. AST Level 1 is also included.

Express route to gaining both your Level 1 and Level 2 ski instructor qualifications in awesome Whistler Blackcomb.

Gain your CSIA or CASI Level 1 and 2 qualifications as a skier or snowboarder on our professional 11 week course in Whistler Blackcomb – North America’s number 1 ski resort. Avalanche Skills Training (Level 1 and 2) is also included so you get to experience the backcountry as well!

Sunny Sydney is the perfect place to live and work for up to a year, with options to extend for two or three years on an amazing working gap year in Sydney. Start with a fantastic 7-day orientation programme, including visits to local attractions, and receive full support in setting up your admin. Find paid work quickly through our exclusive online job database. Prefer another city?

Options to start in Melbourne and Perth are also available – please ask

Adult gap years are on the up, giving rise to the phrase “Gap Year for Grown Ups”.  Our volunteering holidays for over 50’s are suitable for everyone, with people in their 60s and 70s travelling with us for durations of 1 week to 12 weeks. These carefully selected projects are able to offer accommodation and tasks that are suitable for a variety of ages, and most can be adapted if you have specific limitations – just let us know.

Volunteering abroad for older people certainly doesn’t limit you to being away from home for months. Oyster welcomes volunteers looking for over 50’s holidays for just a week or two- just be prepared to work hard and get stuck in as part of your holiday!

You will be joining a group of people from all walks of life, working together to make a genuine contribution. You can choose to volunteer with a wide range of animals or on conservation projects around the world, to teach English or sport to children and adults, or help children who have been dealt a tough hand. These projects enable you to make a genuine contribution, experience a totally different way of life and meet a group of like-minded people. It comes highly recommended!

You can read more about adult gap years, and some of the misconceptions in our guide to mature travel.

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