THE FACTS ABOUT RALEIGH INTERNATIONAL

WHO This well-known organisation sends out some 600 volunteers on three-month projects every year. Groups are made up of around 12 people from overseas, the host country and deprived backgrounds - as well as gap-year students WHERE Mongolia, Namibia, Ghana, Chile, Cost Rica and Nicaragua WHAT Three projects are undertaken per trip: a community project (such as building a straw-bale clinic in Mongolia); an environmental project (such as surveying reefs in Belize); and an adventure project (such as sea kayaking) HOW A rigorous assessment weekend in Oxford or Sheffield is followed by a one-week challenge workshop and a briefing day in London. The price is £3,200 (including flights, but not the assessment weekend, which costs £20-£30) CONTACT 27 Parsons Green Lane, London SW6 (020 7371 8585; www.raleighinternational.org)