{"id":35499,"date":"2025-07-08T18:37:33","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T16:37:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/?p=35499"},"modified":"2025-07-08T18:37:36","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T16:37:36","slug":"how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get the most from a\u00a0gap\u00a0year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A&nbsp;gap&nbsp;year&nbsp;can be more than a chance to blow off steam and have fun. It can be life-affirming, offering opportunities for personal growth, cultural exposure, and professional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cost is the first hurdle for many young South Africans planning to spend time overseas. Flights and the relative weakness of the rand against most major currencies make travel to popular&nbsp;gap-year&nbsp;destinations such as Europe, the UK, the USA, and Australia expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Gavyn Letley, from specialist loans provider DirectAxis, turning the dream of an overseas adventure into reality starts with setting a budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis may seem a mundane way to start the trip of a lifetime, but it will be worth every moment. It will reduce the stress of constantly worrying about money, and potentially cutting the trip short, allowing you to gain more from the experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>While it\u2019s difficult to budget for the unknown, he suggests starting by listing expected expenses. These include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Airfares;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Visa costs;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Travel insurance. A medical emergency, flight or other cancellations or theft could ruin your trip. Ensure you\u2019re adequately covered;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transport when you arrive;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accommodation;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Meals and;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A contingency for unexpected costs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When budgeting, consider the cost of living at your destination as it may be more expensive than in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you understand the costs you can start considering how to fund the trip. Common strategies are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Getting a part- or full-time job<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Working while travelling. A paid internship will offer valuable work experience and some spending money. Alternatively, jobs such as&nbsp;<em>au pairing<\/em>&nbsp;can provide income and cover accommodation and meal costs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Volunteering or participating in educational programmes. While these may not provide an income, they often offer other support such as meals and accommodation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If this all seems daunting or you\u2019re unsure about the people or organisations where you are applying, there are specialist agencies which can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The benefits of working with an agency are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It will guide you through visa applications and work permits.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its networks of employers make it easier to get seasonal work or jobs in sectors such as hospitality,&nbsp;<em>au pairing<\/em>&nbsp;and teaching. Reputable agencies vet employers and employment programmes, minimising the risk of job scams or poor working conditions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some agencies will arrange accommodation and offer 24\/7 emergency support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Many provide cultural orientation and tips to help you integrate seamlessly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Letley says before choosing an agency or paying any money, check its credentials, ideally with someone who has used it. Also, compare prices, as some charge high placement fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Agencies may also only offer jobs in particular, high-demand sectors. Researching job opportunities independently may provide more scope to work in your preferred industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Doing the homework beforehand will make your&nbsp;gap&nbsp;year&nbsp;less stressful, and more enjoyable so you\u2019ll get more from it. While you&#8217;re away, stay on top of your finances and look for opportunities to stretch your budget. Some include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open a travel-friendly bank account with minimal foreign transaction fees, especially if you plan to travel to multiple countries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use budgeting apps to keep track of expenses and avoid overspending.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for student and other discounts at attractions and on transport. Some attractions cost less if you pay and book ahead of time. If you\u2019re regularly using public transport, a weekly or monthly pass is cheaper than buying a single ticket.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cA&nbsp;gap&nbsp;year&nbsp;can be a worthwhile investment for young people, enabling them to assert their independence, expand their world view, build character, learn new skills or accumulate a breadth of experience that will benefit their careers,\u201d says Letley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A&nbsp;gap&nbsp;year&nbsp;can be more than a chance to blow off steam and have fun. It can be life-affirming, offering opportunities for personal growth, cultural exposure, and professional development. Cost is the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":35500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_eb_attr":"","_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"2025-03-07","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"3","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"1","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":[],"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"","background_color":"","block_editor":"1","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8418,1],"tags":[8709],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-35499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-news","tag-gap-year"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to get the most from a\u00a0gap\u00a0year | Weslander<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to get the most from a\u00a0gap\u00a0year\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A&nbsp;gap&nbsp;year&nbsp;can be more than a chance to blow off steam and have fun. It can be life-affirming, offering opportunities for personal growth, cultural exposure, and professional development. Cost is the [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Weslander\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/weslander\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-08T16:37:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-07-08T16:37:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-06-112652.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"950\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"645\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Gugulethu Mtumane\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Gugulethu Mtumane\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Gugulethu Mtumane\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/59cea6cd4d88775610e2569bec5a7f4e\"},\"headline\":\"How to get the most from a\u00a0gap\u00a0year\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-08T16:37:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-08T16:37:36+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":620,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/Screenshot-2025-03-06-112652.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"gap year\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Education\",\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2025\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\\\/\",\"name\":\"How to get the most from a\u00a0gap\u00a0year | Weslander\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/Screenshot-2025-03-06-112652.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-07-08T16:37:33+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-07-08T16:37:36+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/Screenshot-2025-03-06-112652.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/Screenshot-2025-03-06-112652.jpg\",\"width\":950,\"height\":645},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"How to get the most from a\u00a0gap\u00a0year\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/\",\"name\":\"Weslander\",\"description\":\"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Weslander\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/weslander-site-icon-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/weslander-site-icon-1.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Weslander\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/weslander\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/weslander_koerant\\\/\"],\"description\":\"Weslander has been the main source of reliable news for the West Coast (Weskus) for 53 years, earning the trust of generations of readers. With a strong community focus, the newspaper serves as a vital link between residents, local businesses, and public services. It\u2019s a go-to platform for hyper-local stories \u2014 the kind of news that often goes unnoticed by national outlets but plays a crucial role in everyday life. From school achievements and local heroes to municipal matters and regional developments, Weslander provides a voice to smaller communities, helping to connect people, raise awareness, and highlight the issues that matter most to them.\",\"email\":\"weslander@novusmedia.co.za\",\"telephone\":\"022 713 1251\",\"legalName\":\"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd\",\"foundingDate\":\"2025-01-01\",\"vatID\":\"4100318916\",\"taxID\":\"2000\\\/018234\\\/07\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"51\",\"maxValue\":\"200\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/59cea6cd4d88775610e2569bec5a7f4e\",\"name\":\"Gugulethu Mtumane\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-ZA\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/c6b199b583798e9777e11835ba688ee8b5a805cf54d6d230a14ee16370f77ffe?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/c6b199b583798e9777e11835ba688ee8b5a805cf54d6d230a14ee16370f77ffe?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/c6b199b583798e9777e11835ba688ee8b5a805cf54d6d230a14ee16370f77ffe?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Gugulethu Mtumane\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/weslander\\\/author\\\/gugu\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to get the most from a\u00a0gap\u00a0year | Weslander","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to get the most from a\u00a0gap\u00a0year","og_description":"A&nbsp;gap&nbsp;year&nbsp;can be more than a chance to blow off steam and have fun. It can be life-affirming, offering opportunities for personal growth, cultural exposure, and professional development. Cost is the [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/","og_site_name":"Weslander","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/weslander\/","article_published_time":"2025-07-08T16:37:33+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-07-08T16:37:36+00:00","og_image":[{"width":950,"height":645,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-06-112652.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Gugulethu Mtumane","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Gugulethu Mtumane","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/"},"author":{"name":"Gugulethu Mtumane","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/#\/schema\/person\/59cea6cd4d88775610e2569bec5a7f4e"},"headline":"How to get the most from a\u00a0gap\u00a0year","datePublished":"2025-07-08T16:37:33+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-08T16:37:36+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/"},"wordCount":620,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-06-112652.jpg","keywords":["gap year"],"articleSection":["Education","News"],"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2025","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/","name":"How to get the most from a\u00a0gap\u00a0year | Weslander","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-06-112652.jpg","datePublished":"2025-07-08T16:37:33+00:00","dateModified":"2025-07-08T16:37:36+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-ZA","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-06-112652.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-06-112652.jpg","width":950,"height":645},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/how-to-get-the-most-from-a-gap-year\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"How to get the most from a\u00a0gap\u00a0year"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/#website","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/","name":"Weslander","description":"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-ZA"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/#organization","name":"Weslander","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/weslander-site-icon-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/weslander-site-icon-1.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Weslander"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/weslander\/","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/weslander_koerant\/"],"description":"Weslander has been the main source of reliable news for the West Coast (Weskus) for 53 years, earning the trust of generations of readers. With a strong community focus, the newspaper serves as a vital link between residents, local businesses, and public services. It\u2019s a go-to platform for hyper-local stories \u2014 the kind of news that often goes unnoticed by national outlets but plays a crucial role in everyday life. From school achievements and local heroes to municipal matters and regional developments, Weslander provides a voice to smaller communities, helping to connect people, raise awareness, and highlight the issues that matter most to them.","email":"weslander@novusmedia.co.za","telephone":"022 713 1251","legalName":"Novus Media (Pty) Ltd","foundingDate":"2025-01-01","vatID":"4100318916","taxID":"2000\/018234\/07","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"51","maxValue":"200"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/#\/schema\/person\/59cea6cd4d88775610e2569bec5a7f4e","name":"Gugulethu Mtumane","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-ZA","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c6b199b583798e9777e11835ba688ee8b5a805cf54d6d230a14ee16370f77ffe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c6b199b583798e9777e11835ba688ee8b5a805cf54d6d230a14ee16370f77ffe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/c6b199b583798e9777e11835ba688ee8b5a805cf54d6d230a14ee16370f77ffe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Gugulethu Mtumane"},"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/author\/gugu\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-06-112652.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":265101,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/da-declares-war-on-anc-criminal-charges-filed-against-top-minister\/","url_meta":{"origin":35499,"position":0},"title":"DA declares \u2018war\u2019 on ANC: Criminal charges filed against top minister","author":"Lise Beyers","date":"1 July 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"CAPE TOWN - In a dramatic escalation of tensions within South Africa's government of national unity, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has laid criminal charges against Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, accusing her of deliberately misleading Parliament over controversial education board appointments. The charges, filed at Cape Town Central Police Station\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Nkabane.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":49257,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/parade-celebrates-the-talents-and-passions-of-the-youth-20231101\/","url_meta":{"origin":35499,"position":1},"title":"Parade celebrates the talents and passions of the youth","author":"Weslander","date":"1 December 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The Paternoster Project Hoopsig YeBoneers, a group of dedicated young individuals embarked on a vibrant street parade on Thursday 26 October.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/026f91f43e964befbfe1afac5c8bdf8d.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/026f91f43e964befbfe1afac5c8bdf8d.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/026f91f43e964befbfe1afac5c8bdf8d.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/026f91f43e964befbfe1afac5c8bdf8d.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50147,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/vredenburg-netballer-off-to-christchurch-new-zealand-20230927\/","url_meta":{"origin":35499,"position":2},"title":"Vredenburg netballer off to Christchurch, New Zealand","author":"Weslander","date":"2 October 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Amber Coraizin is making waves in netball. A resident of Vredenburg, she has made the West Coast proud on many fronts.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c8dd1641c281472d86330c477a6f5bd4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c8dd1641c281472d86330c477a6f5bd4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c8dd1641c281472d86330c477a6f5bd4.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/c8dd1641c281472d86330c477a6f5bd4.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":62872,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/prepare-your-car-for-a-long-trip-20151125-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":35499,"position":3},"title":"Prepare your car for a long trip","author":"Weslander","date":"30 November 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Vacations are supposed to be a time for fun and relaxation, but the difference between pleasure and misery often lies in whether or not you took the proper steps to get your car ready for that long trip.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":44849,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/help-needed-to-take-langebaan-children-on-inspirational-cape-town-trip-20241125\/","url_meta":{"origin":35499,"position":4},"title":"Help needed to take Langebaan children on inspirational Cape Town trip","author":"Weslander","date":"25 November 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Wanting to give children the opportunity to see and experience more outside their town is what Natasha Jantjies has set out to achieve.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/f0bd327be7fb4151ac1c5c94066ed104.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/f0bd327be7fb4151ac1c5c94066ed104.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/f0bd327be7fb4151ac1c5c94066ed104.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/f0bd327be7fb4151ac1c5c94066ed104.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":51823,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/young-elands-bay-surfers-to-jbay-20230621\/","url_meta":{"origin":35499,"position":5},"title":"Young Elands Bay surfers to JBay","author":"Weslander","date":"26 June 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Twenty-five young people will soon learn surfing and life skills thanks to the Elands Bay Surf Project along the scenic Garden Route on their first trip to Jeffreys Bay.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/06880e04adf54f18bfe127d000b62349.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/06880e04adf54f18bfe127d000b62349.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/06880e04adf54f18bfe127d000b62349.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/06880e04adf54f18bfe127d000b62349.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/06880e04adf54f18bfe127d000b62349.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/06880e04adf54f18bfe127d000b62349.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Weslander","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=35499"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35499\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/35500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=35499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=35499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=35499"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=35499"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/weslander\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=35499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}