Africa & Asia Venture - Gap Year & Summer Volunteering Programs

I miss it. I miss the morning routine of showering and breakfasting rapidly to get out the door at 7:45 for Mohammed (my bodda bodda driver aka motrobike) to whisk us along the dirt and tarmacced roads to Milalani school. I miss the bustling smily school day featuring packed classes full of mischevious yet (mostly) studious funny kids. Teaching lessons from improv long jump to what on earth photosynthesis is has helped shaped my confidence and going with the flow abilities today.Our home village of Mwaembe with a stunning beach too was full of amazing people. We befriended the legendary local 'Marcus Rashford' for example, always eager to help us hop into a tuk tuk. The culture was non-stop action for me and my almost fully new 10 friends, experimenting in ugali digestion and trying to mimic the perfect rhythm based dances at weddings and 'baby showers' (unsuccessfully but would v much recommend for the fun).I would stress this is not a holiday, you and your group have freedom in a completely new country and a food and transport allowance to figure out together. The program has taught me invaluable lessons in sharing ideas with others to come to a conclusion that suits all. Such discussions took us to other-wordly places such as Lake Naivasha, home to Crater Lake where we took the most amazing waking safari amongst Masaai giraffe, plains zebra, impala, waterbucks, buffalo...Swahili couldn't be more fitting too- a fast but not overly difficult language to pick up bits, akuna matata.AV is special. Easy access, clear info from great people all the way through, providing you with the perfect balance of everything that Kenya and afar has to offer. Twende AV!

I spent 4 weeks in Kenya with AV and it is suffice to say that it was the best time of my life. I made friends for life - not only with the other AVs I was living with but with the locals who I still talk to almost on a daily basis. AV really looked after us whilst we were there, providing necessities such as information, knowledge and electric fans. The staff both in Britain and Kenya were both kind and supportive, our guide Khalfan even missed his prayers at the mosque in order to get me to the hospital.Although the experience can be expensive for some, the value for money you get is superb, especially as it costs less than other gap year firms.Teaching is both challenging and rewarding, I miss the teachers and children at Vingujini Primary School and I can't wait to go back. If you want to be both challenged and rewarded, AV is the company for you.I am very thankful to AV for all the fun, challenges and personal development they have gifted me with. My advice - If you don't have many commitments in the UK go for much longer than 4 weeks, you won't want to leave Kenya.

Wow, thank you AV!! I went on the 16 week programme departing to Kenya in January 2022. I met the most incredible people in the community, who I am still in regular contact with to this day. From invites to weddings, funerals, playing in football matches, teaching, painting and exploring a new culture, you do really get involved with everything.The support you get from Sarah in the UK through to Khalfan in the village is great. They were always on hand when you have a question, and even now asking for job references later down the line. I truly wouldn’t be in the line of work I am now if it wasn’t for my experience and confidence gained through AV.

Volunteering in Kenya with AV in the summer of 2016 was an amazing experience. I got to meet and great people from across the globe and the local community were very friendly and welcoming. AV were incredibly well organised in preparing the volunteers for what to expect and what to bring. The UK and Kenya office were very efficient, making the whole process very simple and easy for the volunteers, in addition to keeping families at home updated with our progress. The projects and extra activities available were amazing. I can not speak highly enough of our guide Charles. He knew how to get the most out of us and made sure we had as great an experience as possible. The more you put into this fantastic experience, the more you get out.

I spent 3 months or so living with the family of an indigenous peoples called the Lepchas in North-East India. This was an incredible experience and one I remember fondly. The host family I stayed with were so kind, welcoming and generous. I taught the children of the village English, which was a good challenge and very enjoyable - the children were so keen to learn and really appreciate what you can offer them. The scenery here is spectacular and very rural - the nearest market is an hour walk over the hills. Perfect for anyone looking for something completely different and away from the usual comforts of home!Africa and Asia Venture offer a very special opportunity to live and work in a unique place and become part of an indigenous community. You can give plenty back while taking away a lot yourself from this experience!

I spent nearly 11 weeks with AV on the beautiful southern coast of Kenya. What an experience it was. I highly recommend AV.If you're looking for full cultural immersion on your gap year, here is your answer. Within the first fortnight, we had already attended weddings, supported the local football team, gone to the local market, got rustic (!) haircuts and started teaching at our placement schools.It was the first time that I had been away from home for an extended period of time, as well as living with a group of individuals my age. This brought many challenges as well as rewards and is all part of the experience. I formed relationships that I will treasure for a long time, both with my housemates as well as our hosts.I also witnessed that there is a direct correlation between the effort you put in and the amount you get out. I was committed to the school and wanted to make a difference, which was obviously immensely appreciated by our hosts. Getting to know the kids and teachers takes time but is so rewarding.I had to leave early on account of increasing Covid-19 restrictions but I will be back!

This was undoubtedly the most incredible and surreal experience of my life. I was in Kenya for 2 months and within the first couple of weeks we were already teaching the children subjects of our choosing, getting involved in local weddings, football matches and mud hut building, having hour long chats with the local tailor on her living room floor and being invited round our host's house to learn how to make national dishes.The schools we were volunteering at were brilliant with the teachers being extremely accommodating, friendly, and helpful and the children were super fun and cheeky and more or less kept me smiling 24/7. I felt far more like a friend to them than a teacher but I still like to think that they learnt a lot from me - I know I learnt a lot from them.At the weekends, we would go and explore the coast, visiting game reserves, beaches, and villages and getting to snorkel, camel ride and try different cuisine. Everyone was so kind and supportive wherever we went. They were the most caring and selfless community I've met and were eager to teach us about their culture.There were 10 other volunteers and as cliche as it sounds, they become my second family and Msambweni became our home away from home. We all learnt and grew together and I am so grateful to have met such amazing people because experiences like this are much better shared.I cannot recommend AV more. They provide the perfect balance between support and independence and give you the opportunity to get as involved as you wish to be.

I couldn't be happier with my decision to spend 5 weeks in South Africa through AV in the summer of 2015. We lived with a wonderful local family and spent our days in the local primary school, helping out with English classes and extra curricular activities. AV were excellent throughout the entire process and provided great pre-trip advice, support whilst we were there and then were keen to take on our feedback once we had a landed back in the UK. You will also make friends for life!

In 2014 I had a life changing trip to Uganda for 3 months with 4 others. Becoming an AV was one of the best decisions i’ve made and still years on myself and others on my trip stay in touch. AV are such a communicative company who made the trip such less daunting for myself, who at the time was 17.Uganda is an amazing and beautiful country with the most friendly people. I feel extremely privileged to have had the experience and I plan to go back in the future!

Recently returning from my Volunteering trip to Msambweni in Kenya I have had time to reflect on what an amazing experience Ihad. It was so heart warming being able to help the community and teaching at Msambweni primary school. Being able to see the improvements of the students in my class but also talking to the teachers on ways I have been taught in England. The location of the House if perfect, it is right on the coast and only a short walk away from the local market where you will find the worlds best mangos! The locals are such lovely warming individuals that really help make your time special and make you feel extremely wanted amongst their local community. AV were extremely helpful throughout and prior to the whole trip and allowed me a stress free time away which has really helped me changed myself for the better.