As travel restrictions ease, we can’t wait to get out and explore the world again. If you’re feeling the same, we’ve got some exciting news for you – our new Summer Camps are now open for bookings!
Our Summer Camps give everyone aged 16-18 the chance to enjoy the adventure of a lifetime with an unforgettable volunteering experience in summer 2022. If you’re looking to make up for lost time, meet new people, learn new skills and broaden your horizons, this is the trip for you.
Come along to our virtual info evening on Wednesday 7th July at 6pm via Zoom to learn more!
Here’s five reasons why our Summer Camps will help make summer 2022 your best yet…
Three unique destinations
You can choose to volunteer in Ghana, Kenya or Zanzibar, each of which offer a truly unique experience.
Located in West Africa, Ghana is a vibrant, beautiful country with friendly people, breathtaking landscapes and pristine beaches. Dancing and drumming are hugely important to the way of life, and it’s likely that you’ll be welcomed to your partner school with an energetic display of both! If you’re looking for an authentic experience of rural African life, this is the destination for you.
On the other hand, Kenya, located in East Africa, is a country of real contrasts. While it boasts spectacular scenery, incredible wildlife, and a thriving tourist industry, a large proportion of the population still live in extreme poverty. If you want to experience urban Africa, where real development is taking place, this is your destination.
Finally, Zanzibar, an island off the coast of Tanzania, is world famous for its white sandy beaches and historic Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the ‘Spice Island’, Zanzibar is alive with enticing smells and incredible sights. If you’re looking for a taste of island life, historic Zanzibar is the place for you.
With our Summer Camps, you can also choose to spend 13 nights in Kenya or Zanzibar, or 28 nights in Ghana. So, whether you’re looking to make a meaningful impact in a shorter amount of time, or you’re after a longer, more immersive volunteering experience, there’s a trip for you.
Whichever option you choose, you’ll make a real difference at our partner schools and explore a fascinating destination as you create memories to last a lifetime…
Explore your destination
…and on that note, we’ve made exploring your destination easier than ever by including at least one adventure activity in your trip package!
In Kenya, you’ll get to experience a breathtaking safari drive at Lake Nakuru National Park, where you can spot lions, zebras, giraffes, rhinos and much more roaming in the wild. Next, you’ll head to the Equator, where you can witness the Earth’s gravitational pull in action. Finally, you’ll hike down the spectacular Thomson Falls – one of the deepest waterfalls in East Africa.
In Zanzibar, you’ll explore the cobbled streets of historic Stone Town on a guided tour, before visiting a local spice farm to learn how Zanzibar earned its nickname as the ‘Spice Island’. You’ll wrap up your weekend with an overnight stay in a beautiful beach resort, where you can watch the sun set over the Indian Ocean.
Finally, our Ghana Summer Camp includes three adventure activities, so you can explore everything your destination has to offer. Stay overnight at the tranquil Keta Lagoon, learn about the dark history of the slave trade on a tour of Cape Coast Castle, explore the rainforest with a hike through Kakum National Park, and feed monkeys by hand at a protected wildlife sanctuary.
Hike through the rainforest at Kakum National Park.
Enjoy an authentic experience
Did you know that we exclusively employ local people to run our volunteering programmes?
Our in-country staff are all Ghanaian, Kenyan and Zanzibari – they live and work in the communities you’ll visit, and know the areas where we work far better than we ever could, which means you’ll benefit from local knowledge and experience. When you arrive in Africa, our friendly in-country teams will be waiting to greet you, and will be by your side until you depart for home.
In addition, we only use locally owned accommodation and transport, and source all the food on our trips locally too. This means that our Summer Camps will take you far beyond the normal tourist trail, giving you a genuinely authentic experience of your destination.
Meaningful volunteering
Whichever Summer Camp you choose, our unique model of volunteering ensures that you’ll make a real difference at our partner schools.
We only work with schools that have been set up, and are run by, members of the local community. We don’t own our partner schools, and we never will. The reason for this is simple – our partner schools’ founders know their communities, and their communities’ needs, far better than we ever could.
In addition, all the volunteering you’ll be doing will be decided and led by our partner schools, so that the work you do is wanted, needed and welcomed. You’ll also work alongside local teachers and builders, and never replace them, to ensure a high quality of teaching, sports coaching and building work.
All the volunteering you’ll do will be wanted, needed and welcomed by our partner schools.
Safe and hassle-free travel
We’ve organised thousands of trips over the past 12 years, so you can rest assured that you’ll be in good hands.
Our expert UK team will take care of all the planning for you, and will arrange your flights, accommodation, insurance, in-country transport and meals. You’ll also benefit from comprehensive pre-departure support before you travel, so that you feel fully prepared for your experience.
Then, in June 2022, you’ll meet the UK staff who will accompany you to Africa, and the rest of your team, at a face-to-face pre-departure day. Finally, when you arrive at your destination, our friendly in-country team will be waiting to co-lead the trip.
During your trip, you’ll have access to 24-hour support and, in the event of an emergency, we’re supported by critical incident specialists, Pharos. You can find out more about our Safety Management System, which ensures the highest possible safety standards, here.
We also hold a number of accreditations which should prove that we’re an organisation you can put your trust in.
