Plan My Gap Year- Structured Volunteering The Way It Should Be

Online, November 10, 2011 (Newswire.com) - This week marked the official launch of Plan My Gap Year (PMGY) and their new website PlanMyGapYear.co.uk.

PMGY is an upcoming provider of affordable and meaningful structured volunteering and intern programmes across six countries in Asia. Based in the UK and founded by previous volunteers, Gad Mimran and Philip Russell, PMGY offers 25 volunteering and intern programmes ranging from Teaching English to Buddhist Monks in Nepal to Medical Internships in Thailand. Their programme fees range from £200 for 2 weeks to £1350 for 6 months.

With the rise in tuition fees and ever increasing competition in the graduate job market, more young people are turning towards taking a Gap Year. However, there is a heavy price tag associated with Gap Year volunteering in the UK market. Having faced this problem themselves, Gad and Philip from PMGY set out to create an offering that would provide travellers with stimulating structured Gap Year travel at a price they could afford.

From their own experience of travelling and volunteering in Asia, Gad and Philip recognised how volunteering provides an individual with the opportunity to contribute towards a worthy cause, develop key skills and engage with a local community. The pair spent seven months developing PMGY from an initial concept to its present form. During this period they spend two months personally vetting and inspecting a number programmes across Asia. Philip Russell states "It was essential that we assessed, in person, all the programmes that we offer. When I receive an enquiry from a potential volunteer, I know that I can tell them exactly what they can expect from our programmes".

PMGY assists their volunteers every step of the way. After you apply for a programme the PMGY team can book your flights, organise insurance quotes and provide you comprehensive pre departure support. The team are actively engaged in the projects they support and maintain contact with volunteers throughout their journey. All PMGY fees are completely transparent so travellers know exactly where their money is going. Furthermore, they work closely with their local teams to ensure that the projects they support are sustainable and need-driven.

So there you have it, Plan My Gap Year: structured volunteering done the way it should be.