Case studies : Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO): Katherine

Katherine set up 2Way Development (a UK registered social enterprise that places volunteers with established development charities worldwide) in 2003, after completing a year with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) in Nepal.

I completed my degree in tourism management at Plymouth University in  2001, and during my course I spent a year with VSO, based in Kathmandu, Nepal. I set up 2Way Development after this in 2003 and studied for an MA in International Development at the London School of Economics in 2006.

I worked with VSO as a project manager for an environmental education project in a national park in rural Nepal. I was successful in sourcing my own project but found it incredibly hard to find, contacting 100 charities all over the world over a period of six months.

I spent the first 6-8 weeks making cups of tea and photocopying before I became project manager. I had to prove myself and work my way up, getting to know people and letting them get to know me. Our job was to develop a visitor centre in the national park, which would enable local people and tourists to interact with each other whilst sharing information and protecting the park, and I had to make sure that the plans were implemented. I couldn’t speak the local language and was living in basic conditions, so there were high days and low days. I became friends with local people and was the only non-local person at the project site for most of the time.

VSO funded me completely and gave me a local salary, but these places are thin on the ground and very competitive. If you’re prepared to fund yourself completely, it can be a great investment. You need to take the fundraising seriously and I’ve seen people who have successfully raised £1,000 in three weeks. 

The most rewarding aspect was breaking through barriers. The greatest challenge was being young and female in a management position, so it took time and perseverance. It was a varied and challenging experience but I bought into the project and was invested in its success. I could not have set up 2Way Development without this experience, as it helped me to make choices and see what’s important to me. 

What you do during your gap year totally depends on individual need. I was looking for a real experience rather than a programmatic placement. The good thing about many gap year companies is that they give support and have many contacts, so if you’re young and going overseas for the first time, this may be what you’re looking for. 

My advice to anyone thinking about taking a gap year would be to just do it! Think about where you want to be and what the right pathway may be so that you’re taking the long term view. Use your gap year to get where you want to be. Also, I’d urge people not to devalue the merits of a gap year experience as it’s a valuable investment.