If you are thinking about a change in your career or are
bored at work and just need a break from your old life, then
why not travel the world with Kaya. Spend your career break
finding out who you really are, volunteering on a project to
support communities and environmental projects all over the
world.

While you may still be considering your options, taking a
career break doesn’t need to ruin your career and a
sabbatical can actively enhance your skills and impression
to the work place when you return, or when you seek a new
direction in life. After all, in those all important next
interviews, which of the many candidates all with equally
impressive work credentials, will be remembered?

The one that walked with lions on the African Plain, that
fought for advocacy in women’s rights for victims of
prostitution in Costa Rica , that taught Thai women affected
by human trafficking and helped teach Ghanaian slum dwellers
how to start a business. That’s who!

Don’t let your successful career close doors for you. Make
the most of your very valuable time and see the real world
from the inside out. Whether you choose to work in your
field of training, or want to do something entirely
different to get away, there are projects out there where
the help of a mature career breaker is invaluable. Kaya are
here to offer you career break advice and help you kick
start your new life today.

If you're a bit unsure where to start with your travel
ideas, we've hand-picked our top 5 projects for volunteers
who are taking a break from their careers - check them out
on the right-hand side of the page!

Our featured career break testimonial comes courtesy of
Heilwig Jones, Director of Kaya Responsible Travel. You can
read her story below.

“I wasn’t always involved in the volunteer industry. Back
in 2003 I was a successful, 26 year old, London Advertising
Director, making TV commercials for the likes of Magnum ice
cream and Panasonic. Working long hours for demanding
clients took its toll and after months of deliberation I
decided to quit my job and go out and travel the world.

As a single young woman, travelling alone, I was a bit
worried about visiting the more difficult countries in
Africa and Asia, so I decided to sign up with a volunteer
company to work in the game reserves of Africa. It was the
best decision of my life. My experiences would fill a book;
nursing a sick, rejected baby baboon, learning songs in Zulu
as I helped children with their reading and filming and
editing videos for a ‘save the elephant’ campaign.

Volunteering gave me confidence to continue my travels
alone. I travelled the coast of South Africa, then the whole
perimeter of Australia and New Zealand before arriving in
Thailand for New Year 2004.

I missed the tsunami by 2 days. I was lucky. Thousands were
not. I had to find a way to help...”

Read more of Heilwig’s story href="http://www.kayavolunteer.com/Career-
Break.html">here...