Vision Beyond Borders

Do I have the right skills for a sabbatical in a developing country?

Lets see..! Our job is to identify your transferrable skills, your soft skills and suitability to our partner organisations. Your job is to tell us about your goals, skills and experience. Along with other key information, we will work with you to identify a shortlist of projects most suited to both yourself and the partner organisation. This will be addressed in our first face-to-face meeting with you. And the more exciting bits will follow!

Your age, gender, ethnic background, religious beliefs and sexual orientation are not important. Provided you have relevant transferrable skills and experience to offer, we can match you with one or more partners.

What will I gain from a sabbatical experience?

So much! Taking a Vision Beyond Borders sabbatical will be a life-changing experience. It will increase self-confidence, awareness and understanding of other cultures. You will learn and develop your interpersonal skills and communication. You will make new friends from many different walks of life who will open your mind to countless new experiences. It is likely that you will become more creative, resourceful, flexible and adaptable. And when you return home, no doubt you will find life back in the West more of a blessing than ever. You will be fulfilled and emotionally rewarded by the impact that you have had and the difference that you have made to a deserving cause. Don’t be mistaken, this will change your life!

What age do I need to be to take a sabbatical?

Your age is no obstacle provided that we can match your skills, experience and goals to one of our partner organisations. If you have concerns about your age impacting, please give us a call.

In what type of organisation am I likely to be working?

It all depends..! All of our partners do amazing work whether they are local businesses or NGO’s. They could be micro-finance schemes, grass roots community organisations, street child centres, conservation projects, schools (non-teaching roles), orphanages, women’s rights organisations or co-operatives. And of course it all depends on your goals, skills and their needs!

What is my role likely to be? Will I really be ‘making a difference?’

A commitment of Vision Beyond Borders is to suitably match our clients to our partner organisations to enable us to reach its development goals. A bespoke role will be drawn up by us in partnership with you and our partner organisation to ensure that you use your skills to benefit them. Your individual goals and ambitions form part of this important process. It is in our interest that your work has a positive and sustainable impact on our partner organisation.

Why is Vision Beyond Borders run as a limited company and not as a charity?

As a company, we do not want to be reliant on donor funding to support our clients and projects. We operate as a social enterprise meaning that we are a commercially run, non profit maximising organisation that is driven by social aims. Our social aim is to support our partner organisations in developing countries by providing our clients (you!) as support tools. We believe that our commercial values and principles when applied transparently and ethically have the greatest potential to sustainably support individuals and organisations that are lower in the economic pyramid.

How much does a Vision Beyond Borders cost?

All costs are tailored to suit your placement. The fee includes our matching process, pre-trip advice and support, your ‘job pack’, tailored handbooks, 24hr support line, regular tailored support calls/emails, career support on your return and much more. You will incur the cost of flights, visa’s, insurance, vaccines and other health arrangements (but not without our professional support!). We will work with you step-by-step through these processes should you require.

As part of our Ethical & Environmental Code, no fee is charged to our partners.

Will I have to pay for my accommodation?

Rarely. There is no simple answer to this question until we have matched your skills with the needs of our partners. The majority of our partners provide free accommodation to volunteers. As part of our rigorous matching process, we will consider your budget and personal requirements. Remember you will be in a developing country where the standard of living is unlike that of the West. We’re afraid you will have to forego a few creature comforts too!

Can I take my family?

Of course! Who wouldn’t want to involve their family in the experience of a lifetime? Naturally, this will take a lot more planning and consideration but it is possible. It’s fine if only one member of your family has business skills. Partners and children will easily find activities supporting communities amongst many other things! In the short-term family members can also take advantage of the incredible national parks and sites of interest.

Whilst we support mind-expanding experiences for children, we would advise against taking school aged children out of Western teaching curricula during term time. We do advise entirely against taking infants (children under 5) to malaria regions due to universally unavailable preventative medication.

I have a disability. Can I still take a sabbatical in a developing country?

Can I apply as a non-UK resident?

Yes! You must however be willing to have a face-to-face meeting with us in the UK before we undertake the matching process. In some instances, a meeting can be arranged to take place using Skype or other VOIP technology.

Am I able to work on more than one project at any one time?

Whilst we would generally advise against this, it is possible. Please contact us for further information.