17, travelling in 2010/11...any advice?

Hokay, so me and my friend are ordering loads of brochures to start volunteer work abroad. The sort of stuff we want to do will hopefully involve getting our hands dirty and making a difference. We’re both still studying in college but we’ll be out by June next year etc. My dad is really worried about me going travelling and told me to come on here and try and get some advice from people who have gone before. So if it’s possible could any of you lovely people give me some advice on what to take, what to be aware of etc? It’d be really helpful cos I’m still a new one to all this.
Thankyou!
Kelsey x

kewl beans… ummm cld be a bit tricky finding a good volunteer agency but places like Nepal (Pokhara) and morocco would be ace beans to volunteer!!! Agency’s are pretty much a rip off so try hard to find somewhere on the internet appealing independently! also couchsufing.com is ace :) good luck!

I recommend this one as a non rip off agency

AFECT’S THAILAND HILL TRIBE RAIN FOREST ADVENTURE - CHIANG RAI NORTHERN THAILAND

AFECT - THE ASSOCIATION FOR AKHA EDUCATION AND CULTURE IN THAILAND - is the oldest HILL TRIBE organization in Thailand and for 28 years we have been protecting HILL TRIBE culture. Because we are the only organization in Asia protecting HILL TRIBE Culture we are pleased to offer unique short courses in OUR TRIBAL SCHOOL ADVENTURE and Long term Volunteer placements - some of the best in Thailand. We work in association with UNESCO and UNDP.



The tour can be viewed at http://www.akhaasia.org and the NGO’s site is http://www.akhathai.org

If you want HIV/AIDS work there are a lot of projects in East Africa which are crying out for your help! Try http://www.subsaharanadventure.com/index.php I travelled with them and they were great!