Not getting the grades you need for university can be extremely upsetting, especially when you thought you had your future career mapped out.
Emmanuel Eboué of Arsenal has recently thrown his support behind the latest Projects Abroad sport project. Projects Abroad have set up a football academy to help develop the talents of a local community team based in Ghana. The academy, which has 3 youth teams and 1 senior team, provides top quality coaching for over 80 players in the Cantonments area of Accra, the capital of Ghana.
The town of St Louis, Projects Abroad's base in Senegal is well known because of its international Jazz festival. People travel from all over the world to play, watch and appreciate the music in St Louis.
No one can deny that protecting the environment can be as dry as the dust of the ever-expanding Sahara Desert. Now all that’s changing with Projects Abroad. We’ve been working with Club4Climate and soon we’ll be launching our eco-clubs – dance-clubs with a big eco-twist – around the world.
May has been a month of great excitement with the implementation of our first initiative at the Ese'eja community of Palma Real, a visit from an old friend of Taricaya, Mauricio Ugarte, the commencement of our first in depth botanical investigation and some breathtaking wildlife sightings around the reserve.
Richard Clowes, Deputy Director of Projects Abroad is cycling 1,000 miles from Lands End to John O'Groats to raise money for Addis Ababa Safe House in Ethiopia.
Seventeen year old Manon Oliver from Esher is the 20,000th volunteer to join Projects Abroad. Manon and her brother, both from ACS Cobham International School have joined a two week medical project in India this summer.
Inca Trail - As always the volunteers on the Inca project have kept up their hard work on keeping the Inca Trail in Sicre (not far from Huyro) clear of vegetation. The volunteers have been working with machetes and pruning sheers to carry out this work. The work aims to protect artefacts which may be present on and around the Inca Trail.
Although our places are filling up for the summer we do still have some places available. Please give us a call or send us an email to check the availability of our summer placements.
After its emergence as a Projects Abroad destination last year, Morocco has been rapidly expanding in terms of volunteer numbers and placements! As of this month, we're beginning sports projects in and around Rabat, which is our base in the country.
Thailand is the only one of our destinations to take their main school holidays during April and the start of May. This year we've been running two exciting holiday teaching programmes, one in Ao Nang and one in Chumphon.
The 2-Week Specials programmes were introduced by Projects Abroad four years ago in response to lots of interest from students who wanted a gap year taster experience either in a school holiday or in the summer before starting university.
Country Director, Tim DeWinter tells us about a recent drawing competition organised by Projects Abroad:
On 2nd December 2007 two Cornish gig rowers began the ultimate rowing challenge: to row across the Atlantic Ocean.
The International Year of the Reef 2008 is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs and threats to their sustainability.
The African Cup of Nations began this month, with 16 teams battling it out in a 3 week footballing extravaganza. The eyes of the continent turned to Ghana - the host nation, and they did not disappoint.
From 8th - 24th August 2008 the biggest ever Olympics is being held in Beijing, China and you could be there!
Projects Abroad is launching three new destinations in 2008, Brazil, Jamaica and Togo.
News has hit Manchester United websites following a piece in the Independent newspaper this week about a possible link up between Manchester United and Projects Abroad's Eikomena Football team who play in the Moldovan A Division.
2007 was a fantastic year for Projects Abroad in terms of the sporting achievements of our staff.
Conservation director, Stuart Timson gives us the latest news from the Taricaya Reserve.
James Caan - of BBC Dragon's Den fame - has asked Projects Abroad to set up a teaching and care programme in Sudan.
On 2nd December 2007, two Cornish gig rowers began their adventure to row across the Atlantic Ocean in aid of Cornwall Hospice Care.
In the light of the recent arrest of Gillian Gibbons who was teaching in Sudan, Sky and BBC News asked Director Peter Slowe to appear on their evening news shows this week.
Assistant Manager, Catherine Stidston tells us how the volunteers in Sri Lanka had the chance to experience a traditional Sri Lankan wedding.
As the Khao Lak trip is where I left off last month, I'll begin with that. Though the principal aim was to clean beaches, the trip was a good opportunity to show the present volunteers a wider view of Thailand and impress on them the enormity of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami as Phang Nga was the province that was hit the hardest, with whole coastal communities being practically wiped out.
South African volunteers witnessed a great accomplishment on Saturday night as the Springboks took the 15-6 victory over England for the Rugby World Cup!
Our Teaching Programme in Peru takes a different form in the school holiday period in January and February, when we run a scheme to improve the English of the local Peruvian teachers.
The conservation project at Legodimo reserve in Botswana has been developing rapidly. We now have a clear view of the Limpopo River thanks to our volunteers who spent a hard day's work with their machetes.
August to October here in Mexico is our rainy season, it might not be the best time to come for a holiday, but it is definitely the best time to do our work at Tecoman turtle camp.
Last week Projects Abroad volunteers on programmes in Cape Town gave up their weekend to work with the housing charity, Habitat for Humanity.
Projects Abroad have made a donation of food and medicine to the Chincha area, one of the worst hit areas in last month's earthquake.
Projects Abroad volunteers are helping to promote and improve rugby skills in Ghana through our rugby sports programmes.
On Tuesday the 11th of September 2007, Projects Abroad Volunteers in Ethiopia had the rare opportunity of (re)celebrating the millennium! Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, also called the Ge'ez calendar, which consists of twelve months of thirty days each and a thirteenth month of five or six days, which are usually referred to as the 13th Month.
August has come and gone and as usual there has been lots of progress in the jungle with some exciting sightings around the reserve, new additions to the animal release program, the completion of the collection phase of the turtle project and much more.
If you are entering your gap year, or are a parent of a gap year student, you may be concerned about recent news stories concerning the merits of gap year volunteering.
Looking at the reef and beach clean-up figures I see we have hit some fantastic milestones in our mission to keep Krabi and the surrounding seas cleaner.
The basic principle of the curry kitchen is to provide a nutritious lunch made from local produce for local people.
Firstly I would like to report that we have had our 100th booking for 2007 and so we are on track to reaching our highest numbers in any given year since the centre's conception in 2001.
Tim DeWinter, Director of our projects in Peru, fills us in on some Inca history and updates us on the work of our Inca Project volunteers.
Emily Huxtable is one of the few volunteers to go out to Mongolia with Teaching Abroad in the depths of the Mongolian Winter.
The volunteers on the project in May have been busy as always, working hard to achieve great results and battle the periodic spells of wet and windy weather, which threatens (and often succeeds) to disrupt the dive plans.
May has been another full month with plenty to report on from around the reserve and also further a field as Mauricio and I headed off to Venezuela to the VIII Neo-tropical Ornithological Conference.
Teaching Abroad volunteers joined several hundred Ghanaians in a march to raise awareness about sexual and reproductive health for women.
Congratulations to Kathrin Boy, the 1000th Teaching Abroad volunteer from Germany who signed up last week!
After getting the go ahead to proceed in early January this year, we have been putting up posts from around the world.
Ben Jacobs, a Sports volunteer in Ghana tells us about the project and how it has improved his chances of playing international football in the future.
Teaching Abroad volunteers joined forces with Wetlands International and the local Krabi authorities to run a school conservation camp.
Conservation Manager, Oliver Garcia tells us about the new Crocodile Conservation programme which now forms part of our ongoing conservation work in Mexico.
February saw the arrival of our 500th volunteer at Taricaya and that made the month special to those of us who have been involved in the project from its infancy.
Teaching Abroad has linked up with Archaeology Abroad to highlight a Fieldwork Award available to our volunteers.
Assistant Country Manager, Jessica Bailey tells us about a recent volunteer weekend spent rafting the rivers of Southern Sri Lanka.
India volunteers, Alice French and Ben Thurman tell us about their weekend of cricket, cows and controversy.
Conservation Manager, Marten Meynell updates us on all our conservation work from Ao Nang in Thailand.
On Thursday the 18th of January in the town of Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu, Teaching Abroad Director Peter Slowe met with a committee of ten of the regions most senior doctors to discuss the subject of volunteering.
Stuart Timson, Director of our incredible Conservation Project in Peru gives us all the news from the Taricaya Research Centre.
The beginning of December saw Teaching Abroad Senegal help to coordinate an AIDS awareness day in the Pikine district of St.Louis.
On December 1st Teaching Abroad Mongolia made a donation to the State Second Maternity hospital in Ulaanbaatar.
Sugar Bay Children's Camp in South Africa won an award last month as the best service provider in South Africa.
Sarah Gregson, has been on our Conservation Project in Thailand since the start of October, here she tells us about a recent beach clean-up project that the volunteers got involved in.
Congratulations to the winner, Stacey Edwards and two runners-up, Erin O'Quinn and Katie Arneil. Stacey wins a weekend trip for two to Paris.
Teaching Abroad volunteers and staff were surprised to meet Senegalese International footballer and Bolton striker El-Hadji Diouf in St Louis last month.
Romania Country Director - Gabriela Badea-Gheracostea tells us about some extra activities that our Care & Community volunteers have recently been involved in.
Tim DeWinter, the director of our Teaching Abroad Peru programme tells us about his incredible recent discovery of an Inca settlement.
The first outing for our brand new Teaching Abroad Cambodia 'Dirty Weekends' is a clean up day at the Lighthouse orphanage just south of Phnom Penh.
Alongside their regular medical project, many volunteers go out once a week to different schools and care homes in their area on our Medical Outreach project, to take care of the wounds and cuts of the local children.
Medical volunteer Mohit Singh, from Canada, has left a lasting legacy following his placement in Sri Lanka.
Matt Baker was a teaching volunteer with Teaching Abroad in Ghana. Since returning to the UK he has raised £1000 to donate to the schools where he worked.
Journalism volunteers in Romania are continuing to take the Teaching Abroad newspaper The Brasov Visitor from strength to strength.
British volunteer Georgina-Kate Adams last night gave a live television interview on BBC News 24 to counter recent media reports that have questioned the merit of gap-years.
Former Care & Community volunteer Erin O'Quinn would really appreciate your support for her children's library initiative in St Louis, Senegal.
A group of Teaching Abroad volunteers in Bolivia chose an unusual way to spend their evening on June 24th.
Radio journalism volunteers in Senegal may soon find their fame spreading far beyond the town of St Louis, as they broadcast over the Internet.
10 doctors and 15 volunteers worked together to treat over 1000 patients on Sunday, June 11th at a Teaching Abroad medical camp in Rayagiri.
For all you photographers out there, we are giving away 2 tickets for an STA Travel Key Accounts Eurostar weekend away in Paris. Runners up will each receive a Lonely Planet guidebook of their choice.
Last month ten volunteers on our Conservation in Thailand project embarked on a four day, four night live-aboard trip to the Similan islands.
British volunteer, Catherine Hughes' stay in Ghana has inspired her to build a community library for the village of Kwamoso in the Akuapem Hills.
Schools separated by over 5000 miles in Mexico and Scotland have been brought together by two retired Teaching Abroad volunteers.
In Cambodia tradition dictates that when a new house or building is in use, Buddhist monks should attend a ceremony to officially bestow their blessings.
Stuart Timson, Director of our incredible Conservation Project in Peru gives us all the news from the Taricaya Research Centre.
From the first time she set foot on the beach in St Louis teaching volunteer Danielle Paffard wondered what could be done to help clear the litter that spoils an otherwise idyllic spot.
Sajani Amatya, Director of Teaching Abroad - Nepal was recently chosen to receive an Unsung Heroes of Compassion award from his holiness the Dalai Lama.
Last week four Leatherback turtles came ashore at our Tecoman Turtle camp to lay their eggs.
Laura Tovey, Assistant Country Manager in Ghana tells us about a new project in which our journalism volunteers are getting involved.
Teaching Abroad - Bolivia, are working jointly with Maria Christina Orphanage to restructure the home and provide care for girls, boys and young adults with mental disabilities or special needs.
Volunteers on Teaching, Care & Community or Spanish placements in the Peruvian Sacred Valley have the chance to join the Teaching Abroad football team during their stay.
If we could choose a destination of the year for our website, this year Mongolia would probably win! 2006 marks the 800th Anniversary of the founding of the Mongolian Empire and the country is dedicating the entire year to celebrating the occasion.
Jo Walton, has been working as an Assistant Manager for Teaching Abroad in Sri Lanka since September, here she tells us about a recent group volunteer 'clean-up' effort at one of the children's homes.
Assistant country manager Jess Doyle reports back from the Teaching Abroad - China, Christmas party.
Back in June a Teaching Abroad teaching volunteer, Scott Liddle, began a small newspaper with his students from the Linguistics Department at the Universidad Mayor de San Simon while on placement in Cochabamba.
Volunteers and children at the 'Casa Juan Diaz' care home in Mexico have been working hard to complete a large-scale map of the world.
Teaching Abroad volunteers and staff were proud to attend the opening ceremony of the newly constructed fisherman's shelter in Keelamuttom on the South Coast of Tamil Nadu.
Teaching Abroad are thrilled that last month nearly 100 children completed a three month-long computer training course at Mawala IT Centre.
Joel Ibarra, who works as a member of staff for Teaching Abroad on our Conservation Project in Mexico updates us on their work.
The time has come again to bring you up to date with the latest goings on at Taricaya and as usual there is so much to report it is hard to know where to start.
Teaching Abroad - Ghana would like to say a massive thank you to Becka Jaroszevicz, who after volunteering on a Care & Community Project for three months in 2004...
NACER ('No a conductas en riesgo' meaning 'No to unsafe behaviour'), is a youth group begun by Dr. Gino Badani...
Teaching Abroad are delighted to have supported ICTC this summer to bring a hugely successful summer course to the children of low-income families.
Not getting the grades you need for university can be extremely upsetting, especially when you thought you had your future career mapped out.
The month of July has flown by incredibly fast as both staff and volunteers alike have been busy.
The Ghanaian schools may have broken up for the summer holidays, but there is still plenty of teaching for volunteers to get involved in.
"We feel part of the village of Keelamuttom. We live with a family here...
Looking back at your time away on a project can be all the more memorable when it culminates in something which you help mould and create.
John Etheridge was the first volunteer working there from Teaching Abroad and responsible for the painting project.
Scott Liddle who is on his gap year in Cochabamba came up with the idea of the students putting together a newspaper to practice their English.
Natasha Whiting joined Teaching Abroad in Thailand to work in a refugee camp.
Volunteers who have been working on the Ghana medical programme have started to work on an outreach programme going into the Orphanages where volunteers work in and around Cape Coast.
The volunteers in Zurite, the base for our Inca Projects, are to be involved in two significant and exciting projects. The restoration of the beautiful 17th century church in the village square has recently started while an excavation of the original village site will begin in mid-May.
A couple of years ago some volunteers set off on their trip of a lifetime with a Teaching Abroad placement. Little did they know that their trip was to have a profound affect on their own lives and the lives of the children they were working with."
The vaccination campaign was organised by the Head Doctor at the Centro de Salud Sarcobamba who passed a huge "Gracias" to Teaching Abroad for providing her and her staff with "caring and dedicated volunteers."
When they arrived at their placement at Snowland Ranag School in Kathmandu Niamh Creed, Nicole Von Kaenael and Tamara Wood were shocked that some of the children were being taught lessons in the dining area and even in the playground.
In the wake of the tsunami no one knew how the teeming wildlife in the seas surrounding Sri Lanka would be affected.
We are pleased to announce the introduction of new projects in the beautiful, south-east Asian country of Cambodia.
Three volunteers from Germany have recently made a real difference to the surroundings of children who attend crèches in and around Vaalwater in South Africa.
When Kathy Miller decided to travel to Southern India with Teaching Abroad in 1999, little did she realise how much it would change her life. Five years on, Kathy's charity, The Neem Tree Trust has gone from strength to strength.
We are continuing our work without interruption in India and Thailand, since none of the places where we operate in those countries has been directly affected.
This year has just flown by. This time last year at Taricaya the canopy walkway was still a distant dream...
Our latest teaching placement in the ever-popular Ghana involves teaching English in the Buduburam refugee camp near Accra.
Teaching Abroad former volunteer, Ruth Charlton, would like to thank everyone who came along to the Refihlile School Trust Charity Ball back in November.
Dorrie Oliver, a teaching volunteer in Ghana last year, recently sent her school in the Akuapem Hills a present, which impacted not only her school but others in the area.
One thing that you find if you have been away with Teaching Abroad is that you want to tell everyone about your time overseas. Lots of our volunteers write about their experiences and what it is like for them.
If you are studying French, Spanish, Russian or Mandarin why not take part in one of our placements on your year out?
In Summer 2004, Teaching Abroad sent 60 sixth-form students on programmes. Some were between AS levels and A2's; others were between A2's and University.
During September and October, volunteers and staff created a flower garden at the Casa de la Alegría, one of our Care & Community placements in Bolivia.
All the latest news from our Taricaya team in the jungle! Find out about our innovative mahogany project and animal release programme.
Continuation of our important turtle conservation work is well under way at our new camp, Mismaloya. With a bigger stretch of beach and ambitious plans for development, this project promises to be bigger and better than ever!
For those of you that share the Mongolian's love of horses, we now have the perfect placement! Work alongside practising local vets caring for these beautiful animals.
Since returning from South Africa, past volunteer, Ruth Charlton has been committed to raising money to help the children in the school where she taught. Her latest challenge is organising a Charity Ball.
We have found that more and more volunteers are taking advantage of their time out to not just travel in the developing world but also to spend some time visiting Australia.
Everyone wants to find out about where they want to go and what they want to do. In many cases we have new websites which you can look at for more information.
