International Information
Unit Trip Abroad
Independently organise a trip for your unit, or a group of units. Speak to your International Advisor about necessary forms, licences etc.
International Camps Abroad (and in the UK)
Camps take place every year, usually for 12-18 year olds, plus leaders. If 18+ you can apply to join a service crew at a camp/jamboree/moot. See www.girlguiding.co.uk for a list and contact details.
World Centres
Attend a session on a given theme, make a personal visit for a holiday, or volunteer to be on the staff (for 4-6 months, usually ages 18-30). See www.girlguiding.co.uk for links to the World Centre websites.
Division/County/Country and Region and CHQ Trips
International Opportunities (INTOPS) events will be held locally, to select participants and leaders for trips abroad organised by your Division, County, C/R and CHQ. Ask your County International Advisor about the next local INTOPS.
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GOLD
Opportunity for 18-30 year olds to participate in community development projects with Guiders overseas. Selected in GOLD INTOPS weekend. GOLD, the acronym for Guiding Overseas Linked with Development is an initiative whereby teams of 4-8 members from Girlguiding UK travel overseas to work in partnership with another Association. This is a fantastic opportunity for developing your skills and experiences whilst learning about a different culture and working on a community based project. See www.girlguiding.co.uk for more information.
Europe for You
This is a programme organised by the World Scout Bureau to help you discover Europe, and give details of European Scout and Guide campsites. See www.scout.org/europe for more details.
Exchanges
These take place based on local/regional/CHQ contacts with other countries (e.g. Japan or Russia) or you can start your own with guiding friends you've met at international events. Contact your County/Region office or CHQ or talk to your County IA.
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Other Opportunities Overseas
Through guiding you will have gained experience of teamwork and leadership, camping and outdoor activities, fundraising and community work, plus much more. These will all be useful skills to have if you want to take up one of the following options outside of Guiding. These organisations are all members of the Year Out Group, which means the provide high quality stuctured programmes in the UK or overseas for young people taking time out.
Africa and Asia Adventure (Tel: 01380 729 009; website: www.adventure.co.uk)
Age range: 18-24. 3-4 months teaching English and sports in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Botswana, Nepal and the Indian Himalayas. Comprehensive training in TEFL, Swahili, Hindi or Nepali is provided, plus accommodation, food and a local salary.
African Conservation Experience (Tel: 0870 241 5816; website: www.conservationafrica.net)
Conservation and research work on Game Reserves in South Africa. Projects may include darting rhino and elephant, game capture, tracking, wildlife veterinary work and rehabilitation, game counts and monitoring, at times done on horseback.
BSES Expeditions (Tel: 020 7591 3141; website: www.bses.org)
Adventurous expeditions involving science fieldwork and conservation to wilderness areas overseas e.g. Greenland, Svalbard, the Himalayas, Namibia, Lesotho for 4 weeks to 3 months. Age range 16 to 20.
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BUNAC (Tel: 020 7251 3472; website: www.bunac.org)
Offers a range of work/travel programmes worldwide e.g. USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ghana, South Africa and Argentina. Programme lengths vary. Many opportunities available from teaching sports on summer camps to teaching in Ghana or waiting tables in Vancouver.
CESA Languages Abroad (Tel: 01209 211 800; website: www.cesalanguages.com)
Offers courses all year, from 2 to 24 weeks, in Europe, South America, Japan and Russia, with selected language schools to experience the living language, first hand. Accommodation included.
Coral Cay Conservation (Tel: 0870 7500 668; website:
www.coralcay.org)
Works for protection and sustainable management of coral reefs and rainforests. Expeditions depart throughout the year to Fiji, the Philippines and Honduras to survey reefs and rainforests. All training, including scuba diving, is provided.
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Flying Fish (Tel: 01983 280 641; website: www.flyingfishonline.com)
Flying Fish provides training and work placements for sailors, divers, surfers and windsurfers in Australia, Greece and the UK, leading to professional qualifications from the RYA, AYF and PADI. No previous experience required.
Gap Activity Projects (Tel: 0118 959 4914; website: www.gap.org.uk)
Organises voluntary work overseas in over 30 countries. GAP volunteers work alongside staff in such areas as foreign language assistants, assisting in schools, outdoor education and conservation work.
Greenforce (Tel: 0870 770 2646; website: www.greenforce.org)
Environmental expeditions focussing on wildlife conservation in developing countries. Projects range from tracking elephants in Zambia to climbing trees in the Amazon and diving on coral reefs.
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i TO i (Tel: 0870 333 2332; website: www.i-to-i.com)
Volunteer work and teaching placements in 19 countries, including Cambodia, Mongolia and South Korea. Placements include English teaching, journalism, conservation, care work and other professions.
Project Trust (Tel: 01879 230 444; website:
www.projecttrust.org.uk)
12 month placements include English teaching, work in orphanages/children's homes, medical and journalism projects, and environment and development work. In many countries including Chile, South Africa and Namibia.
Raleigh International (Tel: 020 7371 8585; website: www.raleigh.org.uk)
3 month expeditions to do challenging community, environmental and adventure projects in Borneo, Chile, Ghana, Namibia, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
SPW - Students Partnership Worldwide (Tel: 020 7222 0138; website: www.spw.org)
A youth development charity recruiting 18-28 year olds to work
with African and Asian volunteers in rural communities for 4-9 months; building
awareness and changing attitudes to health, social and environmental issues with
emphasis on HIV/AIDS awareness.
Teaching and Projects Abroad (Tel: 01903 859 911; website: www.teaching-abroad.co.uk
Teach English, sports and many other subjects or work in medicine, journalism/media, business, veterinary medicine, care, community action, conservation, animal care or archaeology. Countries include China, Ghana and India.
Trekforce Expeditions (Tel: 020 7828 2275; website: www.trekforce.org.uk)
Expeditions in Central America and East Malaysia, concentrating on endangered rainforests and working with local communities. 2-5 months of expedition work, teaching in rural communities and learning new languages.
