2004 gap year volunteers in the Philippines
The trip
The 2006/2007 Gappers went to Tajikistan at the end of October 2006 to visit Christian Aid partners and find out about their work. You can read all about their experiences here.
As part of a gap year with Christian Aid, you will take a trip overseas to get hands-on experience working with local agencies.
This is how it works. Before setting off on your overseas trip you will receive a detailed briefing from one of our country specialists, some of whom will have spent years working in the country you're going to visit.
They will brief you thoroughly so that you can be prepared for what you'll encounter there.
Together, you'll work out what you want to get out of the trip and what skills and equipment you’ll need. Previous gap year volunteers have undertaken photography, filming and writing training before heading off on their trips.
Once you arrive in the country, you'll meet with Christian Aid partner organisations, and learn about their work.
This is how it works. Before setting off on your overseas trip you will receive a detailed briefing from one of our country specialists, some of whom will have spent years working in the country you're going to visit.
They will brief you thoroughly so that you can be prepared for what you'll encounter there.
Together, you'll work out what you want to get out of the trip and what skills and equipment you’ll need. Previous gap year volunteers have undertaken photography, filming and writing training before heading off on their trips.
Once you arrive in the country, you'll meet with Christian Aid partner organisations, and learn about their work.
Tajikistan
In October 2006, the gap year volunteers visited some of our partners in Tajikistan. These included:
- Zumrad, offering disadvantaged young people and children training and social opportunities
- Youth Eco-center in Dushanbe, working to build civil society through environmental education programmes and to develop a culture of volunteering
- NVC, working with pensioners in Dushanbe
- Youth Group for the Protection of the Environment, educating young people about environmental issues
- Neki, working to provide food, day care, health care and educational facilities for families with disabled children
- Ghamkhori, running women's centres and going into schools to teach young people about malaria, drug addiction, HIV, water-transmitted diseases and reproductive health
- Rights and Prosperity, an advocacy NGO campaigning for the rights of orphans in Tajikistan
- RAN, an NGO working with those who are particularly vulnerable to HIV in Tajikistan, mainly injecting drug users and sex workers
A life-altering journey
You’ll do a lot of good work, and you'll learn a great deal, but we won't keep you so busy that you can't see the country you're visiting.
You'll have a bit of time to relax and soak up the culture. This will be the most intense part of your year with us.
You'll have a bit of time to relax and soak up the culture. This will be the most intense part of your year with us.
'The trip changed my attitude to the way I live my life.'
The things you'll learn in these two weeks will help you put Christian Aid's work in context. We hope it will leave you with lasting memories.
‘The trip changed my attitude to the way I live my life. I think more about what I buy and where I get it from, how I talk to people and whether I really need that new thing.' Becky, Liverpool, 2005
‘The trip changed my attitude to the way I live my life. I think more about what I buy and where I get it from, how I talk to people and whether I really need that new thing.' Becky, Liverpool, 2005
Sharing your experience
A month or so after you return, there will be a debrief to help you understand the blur of information you'll have learned on your trip.
You’ll work with Christian Aid country specialists, the broadcasting unit and the gap team to organise workshops, slide shows and videos that can help youth and student groups see what you’ve seen.
And you’ll get a chance to relax and talk about it all.
‘The past months I have seen so many things, both in the heat of Nicaragua and the frost of Leeds, that proves that Christian Aid really works and that Gappers are one of the best resources Christian Aid has for getting the message out.' Jonathan, Leeds, 2006
Bonus section: Nicaragua trip report 2005
Next: Your team
You’ll work with Christian Aid country specialists, the broadcasting unit and the gap team to organise workshops, slide shows and videos that can help youth and student groups see what you’ve seen.
And you’ll get a chance to relax and talk about it all.
‘The past months I have seen so many things, both in the heat of Nicaragua and the frost of Leeds, that proves that Christian Aid really works and that Gappers are one of the best resources Christian Aid has for getting the message out.' Jonathan, Leeds, 2006
Bonus section: Nicaragua trip report 2005
Next: Your team
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