Lattitude Global Volunteering

Lattitude Global Volunteering is an international youth development charity that specialises in sending young people on long term, challenging voluntary placements worldwide. Formerly known as GAP Activity Projects, Lattitude Global Volunteering have been operating since 1972 and it was their name from which the term ‘gap' year was coined.

Lattitude Global Volunteering helps young people from developing countries as well as developed countries to volunteer (specialising in the ages between 17 and 25), they make sure their placements deliver sustainable value for the children, communities and institutions that their volunteers work in. They aim to match every volunteer to a placement that really needs their skills and where they can have the most benefit as part of a larger, ongoing programme.

Lattitude Global Volunteering do not offer "voluntourism"; the efforts of the volunteers are both needed and appreciated. Lasting between 3 and 12 months the placements are unique, structured and rewarding, they are designed to allow a complete immersion in the culture, encouraging a positive and productive relationship between the volunteer and the host, to the maximum benefit of both. For 40 years, Lattitude Global Volunteering has been sending young people to volunteer around the world, they are dedicated to the educational development of volunteers and the host communities they work with.

Lattitude Global Volunteering supports its volunteers throughout the application, selection and matching process, during the placement and after a volunteer returns. Lattitude Global Volunteering has relationships with Embassies and High Commissions in the countries to which they send volunteers and has dedicated local representatives and Country Managers in each country who work with hosts and volunteers to make sure both get the most from the placement and to resolve any incident that may occur when they are on placement.