Volunteer work in Morocco

Volunteer Work During a Gap Year – Why It Can Strengthen Your Resume and Your Quota 2 Application

More and more young people today are choosing to take a gap year between high school and college. For some, it’s about working and saving money, while others use the time to travel, see the world, and figure out what they want to study later on.

Another option that many people consider is volunteering. Volunteering during a gap year can provide experiences that extend far beyond the stay itself. It can enhance your resume, give you new perspectives, and be relevant for a Quota 2 application.

At the same time, volunteering is a way to combine new experiences with personal growth. Many people choose to volunteer abroad, where they can both encounter new cultures and gain insight into different ways of working and living.

But what exactly can volunteering offer you during your gap year—and why can it be beneficial for both your resume and your future studies?

Volunteering at a health center abroad provides many young people with valuable experience during their gap year.

Why choose volunteer work during your gap year?

A gap year offers the chance to try something new and grow outside the classroom. Volunteering is one way to gain new experiences while contributing to something meaningful.

When you volunteer, you often become part of a community and a daily routine where collaboration, responsibility, and relationships are key elements. This might involve working with children and young people, social projects, or health-related activities.

Many people find that volunteering during their gap year gives them a deeper understanding of people and society. It can also help clarify which academic or career paths they’d like to pursue in the future.

Volunteer work can boost your resume

Volunteer experience can be a valuable addition to your resume. Employers and educational institutions often value experiences that demonstrate commitment, responsibility, and the ability to work with others.

When you volunteer, you also demonstrate initiative and a willingness to learn new things. This might include experience working in teams, communicating with different people, or handling challenges in a new environment. In particular, experience working with people—such as children, young people, or individuals with special needs—can be relevant for many future studies and jobs.

Volunteer work and Quota 2

In many higher education programs, some applicants are admitted through Quota 2. In this process, institutions consider not only academic grades but also work experience, motivation, and personal skills.

Relevant experience can therefore help strengthen a Quota 2 application. Volunteer work, especially in social or healthcare fields, can provide insight into working with people and demonstrate an interest in the field. It can also provide concrete experiences you can write about in your application—for example, collaboration, responsibility , or encounters with different people and life situations. Here you can see when we have openings!

Volunteer work abroad

For many people, volunteering abroad is a unique experience. It allows you to combine work with the opportunity to experience a new culture and a different society. Working in another country often provides new perspectives on both daily life and your own life. You meet people with different experiences and learn to navigate new surroundings.

At the same time, volunteering abroad can provide a deeper understanding of global differences and social conditions. Many people find that it fosters both personal growth and a greater awareness of the world around them.

Volunteer work in the healthcare sector

If you are considering a career in healthcare—such as medicine, physical therapy, nursing, or psychology—volunteering in the healthcare field can be particularly relevant. It offers insight into working with people, treatment, and rehabilitation. You can see how different professional groups collaborate and how healthcare works in practice.

Even though volunteers do not have clinical responsibility, observing and participating in daily activities can provide valuable insight into the field and help you determine whether this is a career path you wish to pursue.

If you're thinking about doing volunteer work during your gap year and are also interested in healthcare-related work, there are various opportunities to spend time abroad.

At Praktikrejsen , young people taking a gap year Praktikrejsen gain insight into the work at a health center in Morocco, where they become part of the daily routine at the clinic while living together with other young people from Denmark.

You can read more about our stay here: