By joining our gap year volunteer programs in Jamaica, you will embark on a journey of self-discovery while being fully immersed in the rich Jamaican culture and helping the less fortunate along the way.
Whether you want to explore the world after high school, test the waters of your future career path by volunteering in fields like medicine or sports, or you have decided to defer university to give back and gain work experience, a gap year volunteer abroad trip is always an excellent option.
While on your gap year volunteer trip, you will receive our full support before you arrive, while you are in Jamaica, and even after you depart. You will still be joining volunteer projects where you will need to use and develop your critical thinking skills, knowledge and even learn new skills to complete sustainable projects.
You can choose from a wide range of volunteer areas to specialize in during your gap year volunteer abroad project, such as:
You can also join our Set Volunteer Projects to join other volunteers from around the world doing fun yet structured volunteer projects.
Make a genuine impact on the world by going into communities that are in need and lending a helping hand
Exploring your true potential, testing your strengths and weaknesses and gaining a new perspective on the world
Get hands-on experience in any career paths you wish to pursue in the future by volunteering in projects where you will work hand in hand with professionals in the field, or explore many career paths and see which one appeals to you more
Live with a Jamaican family and enjoy the Jamaican way of life, while you learn all there is to know about our culture
Examine and understand issues faced by people living in developing countries, and help to solve these issues
Here are some of the highlights of joining a volunteer project with us:
The following transfers are included in our gap year volunteer programs:
Depending upon the area of specialty you wish to volunteer in, you will be either placed at a facility in the parishes of Kingston or St. Catherine, both of which are close to your volunteer home base.
As a part of your gap year volunteer programs, we provide you with complimentary classes on the Jamaican culture, which you will receive a certificate for upon the completion of your project.
During the cultural classes we will touch on the following topics:
We will begin these lessons as soon as you arrive to get you on the fast track to learning about the Jamaican culture so you will better understand the island and its people.
During your gap year volunteer abroad project we will also give you a lesson on Patois (pronounced Pat-Wah) which is our local dialect. It is a second language you will hear many locals speaking around you. During your Patois lessons you will learn the following:
Our gap year volunteer abroad projects include accommodation at Barnett’s Homestay, where you will stay with Jomo Barnett, the Managing Director of Jamaica International Projects and his family. This is a quaint yet secure homestay in St. Catherine, about a 30-minute drive out from Kingston.
Full breakfast and dinner are included in your package each day. We cater for volunteers with special dietary requirements such as gluten allergies, diabetes, vegans and more.
Our number 1 priority will always be the health and safety of our volunteers. Here are some of the steps we take to ensure your health and safety during our gap year volunteer abroad programs:
$729 USD Per Person
Extra Weeks – $550 USD Per Person
$150 USD Per Person
To secure your space in the gap year volunteer programs you will need to make a payment as soon as possible, as space is limited and will go quickly. Once you apply to book this program you will be required to pay the Project Cost, as well as the volunteer processing fee in full. You can pay with credit card, or by bank wire transfer.
We encourage all volunteers to do some fundraising back home before you arrive in Jamaica. This can help you collect donations in cash or kind that you could take along to give to your volunteer site.
Whatever items you can collect you can take along with you as an extra piece of luggage.
Read through this page to determine if this project is right for you. If you have decided to book this project, proceed to the booking form and submit it. Once you make a booking you will need to pay your package cost in full to reserve your booking, as space is on a first come-first served basis.
By submitting the booking form, you will NOT be making a binding commitment to join the project, however, it will allow us to better advise and assist you in booking the best volunteer project for you. If you are interested in this project but you are not ready to book, please complete our enquiry form, utilize the live chat option, give us a call or send us an email for more information.
A Program Advisor will review your application and contact you within 24 hours via email. You may then schedule an interview to learn more about us and tell us more about yourself and your goals. After the interview, if you are successful, we will then proceed to send you a request for payment of the volunteer project cost. By making your payment in full you will secure your space in this project. Only then will your project be guaranteed.
After making the payment and submitting your volunteer application, you will be sent a list of documents that you need to submit. Please submit these documents as soon as possible, so if you are planning to join this program then you should start the process of obtaining them from now. These documents are:
Once you are accepted into the volunteer project, have submitted the relevant documents and have secured your placement with a payment, you will need to cover all your remaining expenses, such as cultural immersion/adventure costs and add-ons. If you wish to update your package during or after this period, please contact your Program Advisor.
