Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Go to China for a chance to volunteer at the Bifengxia Panda Reserve, the world's largest. Your activities will include gathering bamboo, the major portion of a panda's diet. You also will clean their nesting area and might have the opportunity to gather scientific data for behavioral research. The most exciting part of your volunteer experience will be watching baby pandas play in the mornings. With Gap Adventures, visit the reserve for a 13-day trip that includes travel in China. See the Terracotta Warriors, the Great Wall of China and Tienanmen Square, all on guided tours during your stay.
Travel to Cambodia for volunteer service at New Hope. A community-based organization resulting from a grassroots movement, New Hope's mission is to bring promise, hope and dignity to the rural community of Mondul 3. A variety of services are needed and volunteers work in a wide range of areas. Spend your days teaching in the local classrooms or working with families in need of assistance as a social worker. For more hands-on volunteer projects, work with construction crews who are building libraries, schools or hospitals. Engineer-oriented projects include establishing water sanitation services and electricity to residences and businesses. For this particular project, Gap Adventures provides a 15-day trip that includes travel in Laos and Cambodia. During your trip, explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Angkor Wat, and sip tea at French-influenced cafes.
In Nepal, volunteer your services to the Kathmandu Project located in the Kathmandu Valley and established by the non-government agency, Stichting Veldwerk. The goal of the group is to improve the basic conditions and livelihood of the area. Stichting Veldwerk focuses on vocational job training for handicapped young people, disadvantaged women and orphans. Agricultural development, including organic farming, alternative energy, farm development and goat-rearing practices are other areas of interest for the group. As a volunteer, use your knowledge base and manual labor skills to plant trees, construct a community center or teach about deforestation problems. Gap Adventures offers a 12-day tour that includes participation in the Stichting Veldwerk volunteer project. Spend free time on excursions within the local Annapurna Range and travel to the Chitwan National Park for a ride on the back of an elephant.