Explore the World, Discover Yourself!

Dreaming of seeing the world? Need a change of scene? Not sure what career path to choose? Take time out to experience life beyond the walls of the cubicle or the classroom! Whether you want to immerse yourself in the rich culture of Spain, volunteer in French-speaking Africa, explore the bustling city of Tokyo, or do all three, a Gap Program will be the greatest adventure of your life.

Gap Programs aren’t just for students! People at all stages of life are taking time off for international travel:

Recent Grads

If you’re not ready to jump into college studies or a full-time job, a Gap Program offers the chance to gain valuable life experiences, learn more about yourself and the world, and return home feeling more motivated, focused, and ready for challenges that lie ahead.

Career breakers

Whether you are between jobs or just need a break from the daily grind, taking time off to travel can give you a fresh perspective, a chance to hone new skills, and might even lead to a new career path.

Life Gap – Programs for adults 50+

Many adults put off travel to raise their children or develop their careers. It’s never too late! Take advantage of this time in your life to fulfill lifelong dreams of traveling the world and experiencing different cultures.

Why do a Gap program?

• Learn about yourself and gain valuable life experience
• Increase your language proficiency
• Gain a deeper cultural understanding
• Develop leadership skills
• Form new friendships
• Discover a new purpose or a career you may have never thought of before
• Enter college or the workforce more motivated, focused, and ready for challenges that lie ahead

   Flexible Programs

Greenheart Travel can customize your Gap program and help determine what works best for you. By selecting from our Greenheart Volunteer Projects, Language School classes, Professional Internships, and Independent Homestays, you can create an adventure based on true cultural immersion and experiences not found on any tour bus.

Volunteer: Looking to make a difference by donating your time to a meaningful service project in a community around the world? Choose from a wide variety of projects in over a dozen countries including environmental conservation, children’s welfare, community development and education.

Language School: Want to learn more than just the basics taught in your high school language classes? With an emphasis on conversation, your language study and practice outside the classroom will allow you to truly gain fluency unmatched by language study in your home country.

Internships: Gain international experience for the career ahead of you or in preparation for your university studies. Greenheart Travel offers internship placements in seven countries and in a variety of fields giving you hands-on training and an insider’s perspective on another culture.

Independent Homestay: There is no better way to learn or improve your knowledge about a culture and a language than to live with a family and experience every day life first hand.

Sample Gap Program plans:

• Take French language classes in the heart of Paris for two or three months and then volunteer in the West African country of Benin in a small local school for three months.
• Study Spanish for two months in Cuenca, Ecuador and then travel to Barcelona, Spain for a five month internship to gain professional work experience in your desired field of study.
• Learn many languages! Spend one month at each of our language schools in Germany, Spain, Italy, and France.
• Explore South East Asia- Take one month of Japanese at our language school in Tokyo, spend two months volunteering at a turtle rescue project in Thailand, and then travel to India for a one month homestay.

These are just a few of the combinations of programs you can choose from for your Gap Program Abroad.

Accommodations

Accommodations and meals will depend upon the programs you select for your Gap program. Most participants will be living with carefully screened host families during their time abroad. This immersion experience will give each participant a unique perspective on daily life in another culture and will allow them to build lasting relationships founded upon cultural exchange. 

Some programs offer accommodations in a shared apartment or student residence. Most programs include half board (2 meals per day) or full board (3 meals per day). Please contact us for further details specific to each program. 

Your support system

Greenheart Travel holds the safety and well being of our participants to be of the highest importance. We provide a thorough network of support for both the participants abroad and family in the U.S. Greenheart Travel provides a 24 hour phone line in case of emergencies. Each participant will have an experienced, on-site local coordinator who is trained to work with cultural exchange participants. Your local coordinator will be available to you at all times should any difficulties or questions arise during the program.

Greenheart Travel also covers all participants with mandatory, comprehensive medical insurance for the duration of their program.

Travel and Visa Arrangements

Upon acceptance, we will instruct you on how to make travel and visa arrangements. All travel and visa arrangements are the responsibility of the participant and need to be booked according to our instructions. 

Deadlines

Applications are due three months prior to departure. Depending upon the program combination you choose, application requirements may differ. Contact us for exact details.