So, you want to volunteer on your career break. There are hundreds of volunteer opportunities around the world, so you're guaranteed to find one that suits you.
Volunteering has come a long way since the early days of the gap year. While traditional opportunities are still there - digging wells, counting turtles, teaching children - there is now a wealth of exciting opportunities for career breakers.
You can choose to do something completely different from your day job - like climb a tree in Peru to photograph birds on a conservation project.
Or you can use the skills you're currently using in your day job to benefit people less fortunate than you. Projects in developing nations need skilled professionals to help them market themselves, raise awareness, manage, teach them business skills and so on.
Whatever volunteer placement you choose, you're pretty much guaranteed to develop in confidence, learn new skills and return home with that warm happy feeling that only comes from knowing you're making the world a better place.
