Invest in Your Future – Get Out There on expedition with Raleigh International!
Why take a Gap Year?
Taking time out after school or university or during a break from your studies is a fantastic opportunity to do something different, meet a completely different mix of people, immerse yourself in a different culture and become more globally aware. What’s more, by making the right gap year choices you can really improve your soft skills and confidence – vital in boosting your employability skills, to give you the edge over the other 600,000 plus 2009 and 2010 graduates. According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters 68% of employers said that soft skills were the second most important selection criteria after a 2:1 degree.
Employers Recommend a Raleigh Expedition
Doing a 5, 7 or 10 week overseas expedition with Raleigh International is an incredible work experience opportunity that beats being stuck in an office and gives you the transferable skills that employers are looking for. According to Richard Reed, co-founder of Innocent Drinks, "If you've done Raleigh, you've actually acquired and honed a lot of the skills that you need in the workplace, in terms of leadership, management, project delivery. It’s a pretty phenomenal thing."
A Raleigh expedition is perfect for who are looking to develop key employability skills, explore new cultures and make a real difference to the world they live in. On an overseas expedition with Raleigh you'll work on much needed community and environmental projects, plus undertake a challenging adventure phase.
Raleigh International is a youth and sustainable development charity that has been running adventure and challenge expeditions for 17-24 year olds for over 26 years. The organisation is committed to increasing the confidence and soft skills of young people as well as contributing to sustainable environmental and community development.
Expeditions operate year-round in Borneo, Costa Rica & Nicaragua and India. This year saw volunteers working on Sun Bear conservation projects in Borneo, constructing schools in remote villages in southern India, and trekking the Los Maribios volcano chain in Nicaragua.
“In this job market, evidence of soft skills and the ability to show how you can add value to an organisation are going to be more important than ever,” advised Raleigh’s chief executive Stacey Adams. “This can be really tough for new graduates when they don’t have much previous work experience – although all of the graduate recruiters that we work with tell us that a well constructed gap year is a great way to develop these soft skills.”
Christine Harry went on expedition to Costa Rica & Nicaragua in autumn 2009. Upon her return from expedition she gained the role of UK coordinator for a children’s charity in Nottingham:
‘’Before Raleigh I was sending off lots of job applications each week and apart from getting a few interviews, it was pretty fruitless. Quite simply, being able to take part in an expedition is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I have incredible memories of my time in Costa Rica & Nicaragua, of the people I met, the places I saw and the work we did for the communities.
Taking part in an expedition builds on a variety of skills, such as leadership skills, communication skills and interpersonal skills. Being on Raleigh has further improved my fluency in Spanish, as a linguist it is always very useful to spend time overseas. Though I was sad to leave, I feel like it is not really the end but the beginning for me.’’
Interested? Apply now!
Raleigh International also offers bursaries worth up to £2,000 for our expeditions, to enable those who otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to take part in an expedition. Find out more here.