CAFOD offers young people life-changing gap year

CAFOD is inviting young people from East Anglia aged 18 to 30 to take part in its gap year programme called Step into the Gap.

As part of the 10-month programme, they will be based in a university chaplaincy or a secondary school chaplaincy team gaining new skills, developing as leaders and gaining work experience.

Earlier this year, five young adults from the Step into the Gap programme travelled to Cambodia to see the work of CAFOD and its partners first hand.

Hugh, Daisy, Francis, Orla and Rebecca saw the work of two CAFOD partners, Cambodian Organisation for Children’s Development (COCD) and Karuna Battambang Organisation (KBO). Inspired by some remarkable people, Orla shared that “the happiness and joy of the people has been undeniably infectious, making each encounter as beautiful as the next.”

The group visited a variety of agricultural projects such as chicken rearing and vegetable farming as well as Water and Sanitation projects. One project was focussed on accessing toilets safely where people wouldn’t have to journey into the jungle, another project taught school children how to wash their hands. Now in the face of COVID-19, it has become even more clear how important and life-saving projects like these can be.

 “Going to Cambodia was really life changing for me,” said Hugh Cafferky, a current participant of the Step into the Gap scheme.

Now back in the UK, and in lockdown, the gappers are coming up with online ways to share about their experience.

At 11am on Thursday 30 April, Julia Corcoran from CAFOD, who organises the scheme, will be putting on a webinar, in which three gappers will be speaking about their experiences.

You can join the webinar through this link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5157170635437819661

There are still placements available for September. There is more information including how to apply at www.cafod.org.uk/gapyear 

Pictured above are five Step into the Gap volunteers in Cambodia

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