At any one moment there are thousands of people around the world taking a gap – time out – who have finished school, university or college, are between jobs or careers, or who have finished their career or are retired.

A gap is anything you want it to be:

• You may wish to meet people from different cultures and countries, and spend time getting to understand them
• You may want to acquire specific skills and experiences that you will need later when entering your chosen (or next) field of work
• You may have a desire to do something personal and very specific for which you may not have the time later in life, like climbing the world’s 5 highest mountains, or backpacking through Australia
• You could desire to give back by volunteering to live and work with those needing your help, be they communities or organisations
• You may need to just relax and unwind between jobs or careers
• You could plan to work hard in a job for a year or less to earn hard currency (i.e. British pounds, US dollars or Euros) that you can save and bring home to finance your studies or to set you up materially in life. There are many opportunities to work in places like Dubai, Iraq or on oilrigs, and many organisations pay very well for hazardous or specialist jobs

A gap will definitely change your understanding of life, and cause you to see yourself, other people and your role in the world in a different way.

One thing about a properly planned gap is that you will be challenged to step out of your comfort zones. A gap will not be easy, but should be very rewarding if you prepare for it thoroughly. The information on the African Gap Year website will provide you with ideas on the type of gap experiences you wish to have, both locally and in other countries, and will help you to research, plan and arrange your gap year properly.

The global gap year industry is huge, and South Africa is the number one destination (according to BBC News report, 14 Aug 2006) for the largest market in the world, i.e. the United Kingdom. South Africa is the most popular destination in Africa due to being the most technologically advanced and developed nation on the continent. If you are a South African you should seriously consider and investigate the large number of opportunities available in South Africa and neighbouring African countries before rushing overseas. Plan a combination of experiences in South Africa and abroad that will allow you to reach your goals and dreams.