Working for mediation organisations for gap years, gap years and working holidays abroad: what is it, why would you do it, and where is the best place to go?

What is working at mediation organisations for gap years, gap years and working holidays abroad like?

• Not everyone who goes abroad already knows exactly what he or she wants to do or become. Many people first want to experience, discover and try out before they decide about the future.
• Mediation organizations for gap years, gap years and working holidays help with exactly that process.
• Anyone who works here guides young people and young adults in arranging a period abroad: working, traveling, volunteering, internships or a combination thereof.
• The work is a mix of advice, selection, planning and expectation management, and sometimes also adjusting plans that are too romantic.
• The target group is therefore often young, enthusiastic and sometimes unrealistic and the workload often peaks around the end of school and academic year.
• Be prepared for many repetitive questions, the answers to which are of great importance to each person over and over again.
• Many repetitive questions (yes, also the one about earning money and traveling at the same time).
• Work pressure peaks around the end of school and college.
• There's a big responsibility to give the right information.

Responsibilities:

• Advising on gap year and gap year programs.
• Matching candidates with work, internships or volunteer projects.
• Supervising registrations, intake interviews and selection.
• Provide information about visas, work rules and insurance.
• Maintaining contact with partners, hostels, farms and projects.
• Providing guidance before departure and sometimes during your stay.

Working conditions:

• It's often office work with seasonal peaks.
• Full-time or part-time positions are available, as well as internships and sometimes volunteer work.
• The salary depends on the commercial or social approach of the organisation.
• Temporary contracts aren't uncommon.
• Sometimes you can get discounts on trips or programs.

What are the reasons for working at mediation organisations for gap years, gap years and working holidays abroad?

• To feel involved: Helping people with their first big step outside their familiar environment.
• To develop communication skills: Working with young people, parents and international partners simultaneously.
• To become organizationally aware: Learning to deal with rules, program requirements and international agreements.
• To strengthen empathy: Empathize with doubts, enthusiasm and uncertainty.
• To build stress resistance: Maintain calm during last-minute changes and exciting departures.

What skills and motivations do you need to work at mediation organisations for gap years, gap years and working holidays abroad?

• Communicating: Providing clear explanations about expectations, rules and reality.
• Empathy: Understanding where someone is coming from and what he or she needs.
• Organisational awareness: Knowing how programs, partners and procedures are related.
• Planning: Working with departure dates, deadlines and files.
• Stress-resistance: Dealing with busy periods and emotional situations.

What are the best countries and locations to work at mediation organisations for gap years, gap years and working holidays abroad?

• Countries with many working holidays and gap year programs: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan.
• Countries popular for volunteering and gaining experience: South Africa, Thailand, Indonesia, Nepal, Peru.
• Countries with many gap year projects and internships: Spain, Costa Rica, Mexico, Ghana.

What are the risks of working at mediation organisations for gap years, gap years and working holidays abroad, and are you insured against those risks? 

• What are the risks of working at mediation organisations for gap years, gap years and working holidays abroad, and what happens with some regularity:
  • It often happens that participants are misinformed: Incorrect expectations can lead to disappointment or premature return.
  • It is common for visa and work rules to change: This can have consequences for planned programs.
  • It often happens that work pressure is high in short periods: Especially around the end of school and college.
  • When working abroad healthcare can be expensive or rare to find: This can increase costs. 
• Are you insured while working at mediation organisations for gap years, gap years and working holidays abroad?
  • There may be several reasons why you need separate insurance when working abroad.
  • Local employers generally offer limited or no supplementary insurance.
  • There's a risk of accidents, for example, because you're doing work with which you have little experience.
  • During work, internships, or volunteering abroad where you receive compensation or a salary, your own health insurance coverage in your home country may be cancelled.
  • See the pages on: insuring international Insurances for working abroad, for internships abroad, for volunteering abroad, or for expats and emigrants.