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Jamaica Gap Year Programme

Community, environment and adventure

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Itinerary Options

What's included?
Let's go

Looking for more flexible dates?See our current dates

Let us know your details below and we'll be in touch with options?

Depart

Itinerary Options

What's included?
Let's go

Looking for more flexible dates?See our current dates

Let us know your details below and we'll be in touch with options?

Jamaica Travel and Contribution

Community, Culture and Environment

Currently on hold.

Spend your gap year in Jamaica - on a perfectly formed Caribbean Island, in the West Indies – home to the famous Blue Mountains, rolling plantations of bananas and coffee, glorious beaches, waterfalls, coral reefs, the blue lagoon, creole food and of course reggae music – the heartbeat of the people. The capital Kingston has a lively night life with bars, clubs, and restaurants, and has been declared a "Creative City of Music" by UNESCO.

This 4-week gap year programme in Jamaica aims for you to explore the contrasting elements of the island, deep dive into their fascinating history, and embrace Jamaican life whilst contributing to community and environment.

Welcome to Jamaica, this is what we have in store for you...


Jamaica Gap Year Programme

This 4-week gap year programme in Jamaica explores the contrasting elements of the island, deep dives into their fascinating history, and embraces Jamaican life whilst contributing to community and environment.

Book Now

Request more information

Jamaica's Program Itinerary

You will all be picked up from Kingston airport and taken to ‘Smokey Manor’ - your home from home for the next 4 weeks.

Smokey Manor is an old colonial house nestled on top of the picturesque hill of Smokey Vale, in the district of St. Andrew. Prepare yourself for breath taking views of the Blue Mountains to the East and Kingston to the South. You will love it here – green, lush with ferns, towering fruit trees, a cool breeze, and panoramic mountains. Heaven.

Your 4 week itinerary will include the following elements all interwoven together to create a fascinating and diverse mix of activities.

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Community Development Renovation

Jamaica has become synonymous with crystal clear waters and stunning beaches. However, there is so much more to it than that and like all shiny things there is always another side, and we want to show you just that.

Inland especially you will find lots of off-grid communities who struggle with daily practicalities, and this is where we want you to focus your attention.

The plan here is for you to contribute to a local community centre and give it a full make over – typical jobs: painting, cleaning, and tidying. Gestures like this have a profound effect on community life as they feel your energy and respect to them – instilling pride back into their community. While you will be doing this you will meet lots of incredible characters of all ages and clearly be working to the backdrop of Bob Marley.

You will also help with the weekly local soup kitchen.

Accommodation

Smokey Manor,dorm style accommodation.

Food

2 meals a day provided.
Packed lunches can be made on site or a snack bought when out and about.

Jamaica Gap Year Programme
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Environment and Conservation Reforestation and Plastic Pollution

Here you will focus on reforestation projects managed by the National Zoo, getting involved with replanting and caring for their nurseries. Plus beach clean ups with the local kids, teaching them the importance of recycling especially when it comes to plastic.

Accommodation

Smokey Manor, dorm style accommodation.

Food

2 meals a day provided.
Packed lunches can be made on site or a snack bought when out and about.

Jamaica Gap Year Programme
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Cultural Immersion Cooking and Culture

Interwoven into your itinerary you will have the chance to experience:

Jamaican Cooking Class
Join a Jamaican chef prepare some mouth-watering dishes - uncover local cooking secrets and learn the secret spices used by their ancestors.

Jamaican Dance Class
Ok, everyone must join in to learn the local moves, like "Lebih Lebih", "Genna Bounce", "Lowi mi nuh" and "Good things Dem".

Sundays: Church Service Tour
Must be experienced as the Jamaicans know how to sing and worship with a vibrancy that is hard to find anywhere else in the world. Their church services are alive with music and dancing. Utter joy.

Accommodation

Smokey Manor, dorm style accommodation.

Food

2 meals a day provided.
Packed lunches can be made on site or a snack bought when out and about.

Jamaica Gap Year Programme
Jamaica Gap Year Programme

Add on Independent Travel

Combine with Costa Rica and Guatemala

What we are finding is that our teams never want to come home post program and choose to add on a phase of independent travel with their new found friends - certainly making the most of their gap year. We can easily support this through our Leap VIP travel resource which every leaper has access to.

Jamaica is the perfect spring board for travelling on to Guatemala or Mexico with flights being reasonable and readily available. If you fancy heading slightly further afield you can head on down to South America to complete your gap year in Peru, Ecuador or Colombia to name a few. Please give us a shout and we can tell you more.

Jamaica Gap Year Programme
Jamaica Gap Year Programme
Jamaica Gap Year Programme
Jamaica Gap Year Programme
Jamaica Gap Year Programme

Jamaica's Details & Costs

Max team size of 12 per departure.

Book Now

Request more information

Options and costs

Whats included?

Included
  • Briefing on all aspects of the programme
  • Leap T-shirt
  • 24-hour emergency back-up, management and support by UK team and in-country team
  • Safety and induction course on arrival
  • Airport pick-up and transfer to and from the program (please see note below)
  • Transport to and from the projects
  • Project materials
  • Accommodation throughout
  • 2 meals a day
  • 4 x Jamaican Cooking Class
  • 4 x Jamaican Dance Class
  • Sundays: Church Service Tour

Please note: The Leap help co-ordinate flights.

Not Included
  • International and internal flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas
  • Soft drinks/beer etc.
  • Any excursions/meals/drinks away from program.
  • Lunches
  • Air conditioning $20 per week - only really needed between May - September.

Aventure

From hiking Dunn's River Falls to swimming in the crystal clear waters of Clarence Beach, there is so much to do

Culture

From learning the local dance moves, cooking like a Jamaican pro, to meeting the locals this is real cultural immersion

Beach Life

Enjoy the tropical beaches for some down time

Social Life

The programme can accommodate up to 12 volunteers, who come from all over the world, so it's busy and fun.

Monday to Friday

This is a whirl wind tour where you are going to be busy everyday but we promise you some down time to experience some backpacker favourites, such as:

Clarence Beach Tour

Dunn's River Falls Tour

Portland Highlights Tour

Jamaica Gap Year Programme

It's time to reveal Jamaica's hidden gems

Jamaica is open and ready for you. Enjoy our 4 week programme to get you seeing the highlights of Jamaica and volunteering to make a real difference.

Each day the itinerary will be different but expect to carry out projects 5 days per week.

Project hours: 8-12am and 2-5pm, but this may vary from time to time depending on the activity.

Weekends are free to explore and make the most of Jamaica's highlights which your host Maureen will help arrange for you.

There is so much to see and do… hurry-on-over.
Jamaica Gap Year Programme

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"Team were amazing"

Thanks so much for your kind email, I am sorry that I only have just seen it now! That evening was definitely a scary shock but it has now made me so much aware about going out at night.

The Leap team were also amazing and I cannot thank Chris and Meli enough for helping me both at the hospital and then the following morning when dealing with insurance. My mum is also very, very grateful that you guys have been there to help the entire time!


- Anonymous

"Thank you for making this possible despite COVID."

Thank you for the update. As expected George has maintained radio silence so good to hear that they have arrived ok. Also wanted to say how useful your video updates have been. I’m so envious of them launching on their travel adventures. Seems like only yesterday that I was heading off with a backpack. No phones, only a weekly blue airmail letter home. Thanks to all at The Leap for making this possible for them despite COVID.


- Romney Lewis

"​Amazing, emotional and I would do it all again "

Communication was very good before and during the trip, it was nice to know that the leap would reply quickly plus I felt very safe, the 24/7 security relaxed and settled me in. Stella, Matias and Jimmy were amazing, they made my trip!

The programmes and schools we visited were life-changing and made me appreciate what I have. The fact that we actually made a difference by raising money for an orphanage to build a well is so exciting and rewarding! And the relationships I made with the children and the other leapers I will never forget.

- Bethany

Jamaica Gap Year Programme

"They have the gap year formula spot on"

Speaking only for our experience with Costa Rica, The Leap know and understand the country so well. The team communicated brilliantly-they were always pro active and accessible, nothing felt like too much trouble and they never made you feel like your question or concern was a silly one.

They have the gap year formula spot on. All the reassurance that parents need whilst safely delivering the freedom and adventure that the volunteers want-and all through a Pandemic (!)

My daughter had the absolute time of her life with them and I’m sure has made friends for life, I wouldn’t hesitate in giving them the very highest recommendation possible.

- Frances (mum)

"Best food!"

The best food I have ever eaten in my life

- Jack

"We’re having an incredible time in Costa Rica "

I just want to quickly thank you very much for the amazing Leap trip. I honestly had the most unbelievable time and feel it is thanks to you for organising it, especially so last minute! I’ve been recommending it to all of my friends as I would do anything to do it all again. You were so kind and patient with both myself and Emma and we are truly grateful for all the help you gave us. We’re having an incredible time in Costa Rica at the moment and never want to leave!

- Clemmie

"I can't recommend this enough"

I can’t recommend this enough, I had the most amazing time and made the best memories. Lizzie and Carmen were the best leaders and were so much fun.

- Imogen White

Jamaica Gap Year Programme

"You felt prepared"

The daily schedule was always written out at the start of the day, so you felt prepared for what was happening when.

- Mimi

"Helped my confidence so much"

Its helped so much with my confidence and I feel like I know myself better as a person. I’m leaving the trip in such a better place than when I arrived and I’m so grateful for that :)

- Isla

"So helpful with everything..."

Dear Milly

Just wanted to say thank you for the way in which you and your team have looked after our kids.

I was very nervous about letting Sam do this all on his own, but you have walked him though every step and the team has been so helpful with every thing from Visa’s to sun cream.

Thank you for the photos and updates which is very reassuring when they are so far away.

I cannot recommend you and your team highly enough and wish you many more years of shepherding these young people in overseas travel. I have been recommending you to any lower 6thparents whose children are just getting to this stage.

Good luck and thank you again

Julie

- Julie

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