A bunch of happy punters-porters kids at a local hill school in Nepal.
There are many Gap Year organisations who will arrange everything for you and place you in a school, institution, or activity of your choice, and for this they will ask for a contribution or fee which in some cases is really expensive. Not everyone can afford this, but fear not you can do most everything for yourself and arrange a real adventure and/or worthy activity using your own initiative and common sense.
Take teaching in schools in particular-what I and many other travellers do to is to help out on a more informal level. I always have a "pocket portfolio" of photos and postcards from the UK to amuse, entertain, and educate as I travel. When I have the time and inclination (which is often)I drop in on the staff room and offer to take a class. I cannot stress enough how much both staff and pupils welcome the opportunity to practice their english on you, and to ask you all kinds of questions about life and times back in "proper" UK. It's called"show and tell", and your photos will be a great ice breakerwhen you meet local people in eating places and on the train etc......
Take photos of all the happy smiling faces, and when you come back and are asked what you did on your Adventure, big it up as you like, talk the talk, let the enthusiasm and self confidence you've built up make an impression on the interviewer-and at the end of the day you're more likely to come to mind and be shortlisted.
If I was an interviewer, I'd be more impressed by someone who'd gone out and worked for the funds, organised the whole trip, adapted, compromised, budgeted, and come back self confident and matured-than someone who'd had it on a plate.
Freelance volunteering is more flexible and you can suit yourself, you can do it anywhere-what have you got to lose?-it's great fun, and you'll be hugely appreciated.....don't forget the photos, that's REALLY important!
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