What inspired you to co-found Bridging Gaps?
Connecting with and assisting students from around the world and enabling them to gain experience in their chosen career field, is such an exciting thing to be part of. The experience that they gain and relationships that they build impacts the rest of their life. Also, I love working so closely with so many inspiring local organisations here in Cape Town.
Julian enjoying his time traveling around the UK
Why do you do what you do?
I feel very fortunate to be able to offer a service which can open doors for students and graduates that can really impact their future career. It can be so hard in today’s world to find your feet once you leave university or school, and it is very rewarding being part of a programme that directly assists people in this sometimes challenging stage of their lives. I also absolutely love showing people the real side of Cape Town - the hidden gems, beautiful scenery, vibrant culture and amazing local people.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love having the opportunity to meet new people, to share new experiences, and to help them learn and grow. Seeing the impact that travel has on people and how it can change and develop you as a person is one of the best parts of this job! I also love all the contact that I get to have with amazing local organisations and inspiring local communities. There are so many amazing initiatives in Cape Town and I love that we are able to support them and meet the inspiring people behind them.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I would tell my pre-travel self to always have an open mind, be friendly and never be afraid to step outside my comfort zone. Never shy away from trying something new, don't be afraid to face your fears and always make time to build relationships with new people. Investing in new relationships and sharing experiences with people is the best part of travelling.
What a wonderful social event at Galbe's restaurant in Cape Town
What makes Bridging Gaps special?
Here at Bridging Gaps we want to help students and graduates to achieve their potential in multiple areas of their lives. The Bridging Gaps team is passionate about helping people from around the world accomplish their personal and professional goals, whilst experience the essence of life in Cape Town. We believe that participating in an international internship or volunteer placement can be a transformative and life-changing experience. However, it can also be an incredibly challenging experience and we believe that providing completely personal, 24/7, all-inclusive and local support is essential. In order to settle into life in a new country, meet new people, thrive in your placement and make the most of new experiences, it is crucial to have the right support. I believe that our Bridging Gaps team provides that support to each one of our interns and volunteers.
What hopes do you have for the future for Bridging Gaps?
We are hoping to take Bridging Gaps overseas to offer internships in another country. This will create a wider variety of work experience and volunteering opportunities for our interns as well give Bridging Gaps the ability to assist more local organisations.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
One of the main things we hope that our participants take away from our programmes is a sense of accomplishment that they have met incredible personal and professional goals. We hope that they feel 100-percent confident that coming on our programme was a worthwhile investment. We hope that they leave Cape Town having built valuable relationships, ticked off items from their bucket list, created unforgettable memories and really experienced the essence of life here.
Julian happy to be in the office doing what he enjoys most!
How do you help support participants?
The pre-trip, on the ground and continued career and academic support that we offer our interns and volunteers is the aspect of our programmes that we place the most value on. Before leaving to come to Cape Town we assist with all travel arrangements insurance, accommodation, budgeting, visas, workplace and cultural training and, of course, finding the most suitable placement based on our participant’s individual goals. We also send a lot of resources which provide information on life in Cape Town - transport, money, weather, political situation, local people, safety and more. This ensures that our interns and volunteers are as prepared as possible when they arrive and settle in quickly. We can also support all participants in gaining academic credit through their placement.
We also provide 24/7 on the ground support which includes; meeting each person at the airport, health and safety briefings, tours of the city and their local area, local items (phone, adapters, sim cards etc) introductions to other interns, transport assistance, social events, extensive placement support, accompanying them to appointments, further cultural training and generally someone to hang out with and show them the best parts of Cape Town!
We then provide continued academic, career and personal support once our interns and volunteers leave Cape Town.
This support is all optional as we do offer customised packages so that more independent travellers who are looking for limited guidance, can opt for a cheaper package with fewer services.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Travelling pushes you out of your comfort zone. It teaches you to overcome challenges and face fears, navigate different environments and meet new people.
Travelling builds confidence and independence — as you submerge yourself into a completely new environment you have to adapt to your new surroundings, learn about new cultures and embrace new experiences, all without the support of your friends and family back home.
Travelling helps develop cultural awareness and broadens your horizons. It teaches you to appreciate why people do things differently and learn from this. It teaches you how to communicate and build relationships with people from very different backgrounds.
Best of all, travelling generates joy, happiness and a massive appreciation for life!
Julian and colleagues supporting the incredible organization "The Underdog Project"
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Travelling to new places impacts your life in ways you never imagined. If you have the opportunity, grab it with both hands and make the most of every second because it is a privilege to experience new cultures and meet new people.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Enriching your life through travel and new experiences in a meaningful way. Meaningful travel involves learning new and exciting things about the world, cultures and people. It is also about improving the lives of those you meet and preserving the environments you explore.
It’s travelling with a cause, helping local businesses, supporting different initiatives, contributing to the local economy, immersing yourself in different cultures and doing what you can to contribute in a meaningful way.
