Sabbatical abroad – time out from the job
Are you a professional with professional experience, are you in the middle of life and have already established yourself in everyday working life over the past few years? At the same time, do you always long for a breather, for meaning, for a change of perspective and for new experiences and challenges? Then a break from your job in the form of a stay abroad with a meaningful commitment could be just the right thing for you!
Our sabbaticals abroad programs offer those with work experience the opportunity to volunteer at our many locations in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and Oceania. Whether it's "just" an extended annual vacation of four weeks or a sabbatical year abroad of up to one year: Team players with practical experience are an important enrichment for our projects! With your know-how, you can get involved in various areas in a targeted and sustainable manner and make a difference locally. Your employer will certainly benefit from your newly acquired skills. Together we will find the individually suitable project for you - let us advise you!
Note: Both in our records and in ours Consultations we build up a trusting and personal relationship with our participants through a familiar "you". A more formal address is of course no problem - if you prefer the "you", please let us know at the beginning of the contact.
Popular projects
Nepal | Teach
from 4 - 12 weeks
from 17 years
Zimbabwe | wildlife
from 2 - 12 weeks
from 18 years
Nepal | community work
from 4 - 21 weeks
from 16 years
The most important things about your sabbatical abroad
Requirements
To at one Sabbatical project To participate, you should have a certain level of physical fitness. Since some of our destination countries are in regions with a tropical climate, this can lead to increased physical stress.
Good knowledge of English (or Spanish/French) is extremely important for optimal cooperation with the local teams. If you would like to brush up on your language skills, that's no problem: you can also book a language course through RGV - not only in English, but also in the local lingua franca (e.g. Swahili or Nepali).
The standard of living and the generally harsher living conditions at some of our locations often cannot be compared with Central European standards. You should be aware of this when choosing your destination country. With enough openness, flexibility, motivation and genuine interest in the culture and people of your host country, you will definitely collect a lot of unforgettable impressions and experiences - and the positive memories of this special time will last a lifetime!
The sabbatical is offered by RGV for participation of up to one year. If your sabbatical year extends over an entire year, it is also called one voluntary social year (FSJ).
Areas of activity and projects
Basically, we distinguish between the following areas in volunteer work:
- Social & Teaching
- Medicine & Nursing
- Animals & Wildlife
- Environment & Climate
- Handcraft
- Sport
- Creative & Community
Professional support from RGV
From the idea, to the planning, to your stay abroad and, if necessary, after your return: we are at your side in all phases of your sabbatical and you benefit from our individual advice and expertise at all times.
We also support you in finding the area of ​​application that suits you best. Inform us in advance about your professional profile, your skills and your ideas so that we can give you the best advice over the phone. Of course, you are also welcome to visit our Munich office directly for a personal consultation.
Duration of stay and travel dates
The flexible start dates of our projects offer you maximum individual freedom when planning your time off from work. In concrete terms, this means: You determine your departure date and the duration of your sabbatical abroad yourself and can also easily extend it on site. For optimal project placement, however, you should register at least three months before your planned departure date.
The minimum duration of your work assignment is two weeks, and for some projects four. Especially in the social area, a longer period of at least two or three months is recommended - especially when working with children. It doesn't matter whether you decide to take a leave of absence from your job or want to save up for your sabbatical year - it's best to discuss the details of the sabbatical with your employer.
entry requirements
Different entry regulations apply for each destination country: the visa is sometimes issued directly upon entry, in other cases it must be applied for before departure. We would be happy to advise you on that visa application.
On-Campus Support
In each destination country takes care of one local team about the volunteers. Our local partners will help you to settle in, have lots of useful insider tips for organizing your everyday life and are always available if you have problems or have any questions.
Accommodation for sabbaticals in our destination countries
Naturally, the wishes for the standard of accommodation differ depending on the personal phase of life. Our younger participants often live in so-called volunteer houses with shared rooms or in double rooms with a host family. We offer an upgrade in accommodation for your sabbatical: you usually have the choice between your own apartment or a single room with a host family.
An apartment offers the advantage that you can relax after a fulfilling day at work and have complete privacy. In a host family, things can definitely be more lively, especially if smaller children live in the household. The big advantage here, however, is that you can get to know life on site much more authentically. You get intensive insights into everyday life on site and enjoy family company. The choice of accommodation is a matter of taste and ultimately always an individual decision.
Upgrading the accommodation means an extra charge: Depending on the destination country and accommodation, the costs for this differ from our basic package. Tell us your preferred type of accommodation and we will determine your specific fees for your destination.
Do you have questions about your sabbatical with RGV? Then send us a non-binding Enquiry or just call! We would be happy to advise you individually and recommend projects that fit your wishes, needs and plans!
