Volunteer Gap Year Projects in Africa?

I'm really interested in spending my gap year volunteering in Africa. Can anyone share their experiences or recommend organizations that are reputable and offer meaningful projects for recent high school grads?

Sure, it sounds like an exciting and enriching experience you're planning ahead for. There are quite a few organizations that organize these types of gap year volunteer experiences in Africa. Here are some that come highly recommended:

1. Cross-Cultural Solutions: Known for its great variety of volunteer placements. Through them, you might find yourself teaching English in a school or working in a healthcare center. They offer opportunities in countries such as Ghana, Tanzania, and Morocco.

2. GVI (Global Vision International): This is another well-regarded organization that offers a broad spectrum of project types, from wildlife conservation in South Africa to community development in Ghana.

3. Projects Abroad: They're quite a large organization and offer an incredible range of projects across different African nations. Projects include education, healthcare, conservation, and human rights.

4. African Impact: This organization is focused solely on projects in Africa. They have a wide range of options - everything from teaching to wildlife conservation - in countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Tanzania.

5. Love Volunteers: They offer a range of opportunities in Malawi, Kenya, Ghana, and more. Projects vary from healthcare and education to environmental conservation.

Remember, it's important that the efforts of these organizations align with your own skills and interests, and that your work will genuinely serve the needs of the local community. Start by identifying what kind of impact you wish to have, then explore projects within that realm. Keep in mind, that these experiences can be demanding and require a lot of personal initiative, adaptability, and resilience. Feel free to reach out to former volunteers or directly to these organizations for more information or to set up informational interviews. Best of luck on your gap year journey!