Quest Overseas - Gap Year Travel

There are just two days left on the Go Overseas Big Apple Giveaway - just leave a review on your time with Quest Overseas and be in with a chance of winning some cool Apple gear.

iPads, iPods, iTunes gift cards...all pretty nifty prizes!  Here in the Quest office we've been eyeing up a shiny iPad 3 for a while now, so enter and be the envy of us all!  Why not give it a go?

On the weekend of 28th & 29th April, we are holding our Training Days for Volunteers. We encourage all volunteers coming away in the summer to attend, so get in touch now if you're considering applying to volunteer.

We reckon our Pre-Departure Training Day is the most important part of a volunteer's preparations for July, ensuring you arrive at the start of your Quest Overseas not only fully equipped but also mentally & physically prepared to make the most of your time with us....

• An opportunity to acquaint yourself with the nitty gritty of volunteering with Quest, with briefings on all aspects including cultural awareness, kit, and healthy travel.  You can also ask us such important questions as "how can I fit all of this stuff into my rucksack?" or "will there be many insects in the jungle?"

• We'll also help you to put your project in its context - both with the project history and country background and in its wider global context.  And have a lot of fun along the way!

• Just as importantly, Training Days give volunteers a chance to meet up with team mates before the trip, so you won't arrive at the airport not knowing your colleagues/housemates /friends for the coming weeks. Also present will be Quest Leaders and UK staff - we all come prepared to be grilled!

 Who:     Volunteers, Quest Leaders, UK Staff

 Where: South London Scout Centre, Dulwich

 When:  Saturday 28th April - South America Teams
               Sunday 29th April - Africa Teams

As it can be a bit tricky for volunteers to pop across to Africa to see how their hard work has paid off, we like to keep everyone up to date where we can...

The people at Mwandika and Maliro send their love to the 2011 Quest Malawi Team, who built and decorated the fabulous Kumwandika Orphan Feeding Centre - latest photos below:

Fancy getting hands on in Malawi?  Join our teams departing in July 2012 or April 2013!

At Quest, we're not ones to skimp on a celebration - and if we've got the chance for another New Year, we're going to take it ... particularly if it gives us the excuse to nip down to the nearest Chinese takeaway for a spot of lunch.

2012 is the Year of the Dragon, supposedly marking progression, perseverence and auspiciousness - and potentially unexpected events. We may not know much about astrology at Quest, but we do know that our teams are certainly going to need perseverence working hard on their projects - we've just got our fingers crossed for not too many unexpected events!

So, Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone (literally "congratulations, may you be prosperous").

There are hundreds of different ways to go about fundraising for your Quest project, from applying to travel grants to collecting money in a tin.

One way that's really good fun and a great way to publicise your project is to organise a big event and get the whole town involved ... and that's just what Jason Maddrell, volunteer on the 2012 Kenya WaterRelief Summer Team is doing.

On March 8th, Jason's organising a fabulous Casino Night at the Riva Bar on the Town Pier in Gravesend.  For just £10 entry, attendees will get a glass of champagne, canapés, free casino chips - and the chance to win at the roulette, blackjack and poker tables, all with professional croupiers... sounds like a top-class event!

And to maximise publicity for the event and for his fundraising efforts for our Kenya project partner Excellent, Jason's got in touch with local radio station KMFM and the Kent Messenger newspaper. Brilliant!

Top tips to make your own event a success