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Frequently Asked Questions
 Why should I GAP?
When is the best time to GAP?
Where can I GAP?
How much does the programme cost?
What if I don’t speak the language?
What is the service?
What is the training?
Why should I GAP?
It’s up to you. But from our research, here are the top three reasons people choose to gap: To serve God and serve others and to grow in personal discipleship. That explains why service and training forms such an important part of the Kairos Gap Year.
The next most important reason people choose to gap is to better understand God’s call on my life. Gap helps you explore Christian community life and mission in the context of a culture away from home. It clears space to allow God to speak into your life on questions of longer term personal mission and call.
Other good reasons people gap include meeting new people, travelling, learning a language, or often simply on recommendations from friends. Top
When is the best time to GAP?
The Standing in the GAP programme is targeted at men and women aged 20 – 25. It is possible to gap at a younger age, but in our experience there is much more benefit and much more demand for men and women after a few years of study or post-school life. Top
Where can I GAP?
GAP is a Kairos programme in continuous development. As such, some locations have attained GAP status sooner than others.
Currently in Europe it is possible to gap in Belfast, Dublin, London and Leuven. Each of these GAP Centres has its own vision for the service available, and you can find out more by filling in the application.
In North America GAP is offered in Minnesota, Michigan & Ohio. In Latin America it is possible to gap in our mission centres in San José, Costa Rica and Monterrey, Mexico.
Further afield… in the past we have sent individuals to Manila in the Philippines and Pune in India. These gap situations are still in development and in the next few years we hope to have more established programmes there. Top
How much does the programme cost?
It really depends on where you go and what you end up doing but a typical gap year in Europe or North America is an investment of around 9,000 Dollars or 7,000 Euros.
Over half of that usually goes on living costs and much of the rest goes to programme participation, training costs and travel. Naturally where the cost of living is much less, the gap year also costs less. Top
What if I don’t speak the language?
Usually the local gap director where you are going can arrange for you to take classes in the local language. It is simply incorporated into the training package. In the past we have seen examples of individuals successfully pick up English, German, Tagalog and Spanish as part of their gap experience! Top
What is the service?
The service you can be asked to do varies greatly. You could be serving as part of a university outreach team or as a youthworker, you could be involved in Christian radio, street evangelism, administration, editing, cooking and cleaning, administering courses, writing articles, sending out newsletters, design and marketing, giving teachings, running mission trips or weekends for teenagers. You can find out more about the service opportunities available by filling in an enquiry form, as they depend on location. … Top
What is the training?
An important aspect of the personal development is simply being in a foreign culture and context. It is often this kind of experience that helps gappers grow in self knowledge, awareness and it tends to be the kind of experience that sets gappers apart as valuable for future employers.
But in addition to learning a new culture, the intensive gap training programme covers such practical topics such as teamworking, time management, budgeting, communication and effective presenting as well as more theological subjects like bible study, worship, and missionary attitudes and practice.
Gappers typically have two intensive training times during the year, weekly input and are expected to follow self study projects for an hour a day. In total it amounts to around 400 hours which is comparable to a year of education. Top
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