Executive Summary
For many students, the period in build-up and after matric is filled with questions about the future. Should I study further? Should I start working? Should I take time to pause and reflect?
Taking a gap year can be an incredible opportunity for personal growth, discovery, and skill development. According to the Gap Year Association, a gap year is “a semester or year of experiential learning, typically taken after high school and prior to career or post-secondary education, in order to deepen one’s practical, professional, and personal awareness.”
At Kairos Academy SA, our core values of Excellence, Integrity, and Community guide us to encourage students to pursue purposeful growth. A gap year should not be seen as “time off” but rather as an intentional investment in your future. Whether you choose to build skills, work, travel, volunteer, grow in your faith, or do a combination of these, your gap year can set you up for long-term success.
How to Plan and Secure Your University Spot
Taking a gap year is becoming increasingly popular among students worldwide. More universities now value gap years because they give students the chance to gain maturity, build confidence, and gain clarity about their future career and academic goals.
If you are in matric and considering a gap year but plan to continue your studies afterward, careful planning is essential. For example, the University of Cape Town (UCT) advises students to complete all standard application requirements—such as placement tests (NBT and SAT), transcripts, diplomas, and meeting application deadlines.
If you later decide to take a gap year after applying, you can request a university deferral, ensuring your spot is secured for the year following your gap year. With thoughtful planning, a gap year can be a valuable step toward both personal growth and academic success.
Designing a Purposeful Gap Year
1. Discover Who You Are
If you are uncertain about what to study or which career path to follow, use this time for self-discovery.
Explore your strengths, interests, and values through career assessments, journaling, workshops, group work, or work experience.
Estimated cost: Free to ±R1,500 depending on the tools you use.
2. Build Valuable Skills
Your gap year is an excellent opportunity to upskill. You can learn digital, technical, creative, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills through local and international programmes.
| Skill Area | Local Options | International Options | Cost Estimate |
| Digital Skills | e.g. Google Africa Skills, LinkedIn Learning, Future Fwd | Coursera, Harvard EdX | Free – R3,000 |
| Coding & Tech | e.g. Code.org, CodeX, WeThinkCode, HyperionDev | Le Wagon Bootcamps, MIT OCW | Free – R70,000 |
| Creative Skills | e.g. Vega, Learn Photography SA | Skillshare, Domestika | R1,500 – R40,000 |
| Business Skills | Sophia Learning Business Subjects with applications, Own business, Raizcorp, Allan Gray Orbis Foundation | FutureLearn, Y Combinator | Free – R25,000 |
3. Gain Work Experience
A gap year gives you a chance to test-drive industries and build your CV.
- Locally, you could join programmes like YES Youth, apply for internships, or take part-time jobs in tutoring, retail, or administration.
- Internationally, consider au pairing in Europe or the USA, working at summer camps like Camp America, or applying for working holiday visas.
4. Explore Faith-Based Opportunities
If spiritual growth is important to you, faith-based programmes provide powerful experiences:
Sometimes the best way forward is to first stand still and listen.
- YWAM (Youth With A Mission) – Discipleship training + global outreach
- Hands at Work – Community outreach across Africa
- Impact Africa – Evangelism and education
- Operation Mobilisation (OM) – Mission work in over 110 countries
Some programmes allow fundraising to help cover costs.
5. Travel and Make a Difference
Travel can broaden your worldview and build cultural awareness.
- Local opportunities include volunteering in wildlife conservation, marine protection, education, and community development.
- International opportunities are available through platforms like Workaway, Projects Abroad, and GVI, where you can exchange your time and skills for cultural immersion.
6. Plan Your Gap Year Intentionally
A meaningful gap year does not happen by chance — it requires planning and purpose.
- Set clear goals: Do you want to learn, work, travel, serve, or explore? Or a combination?
- Create a realistic budget and research funding options where needed.
- Apply early for international programmes to secure placements.
- Keep a gap year journal or portfolio to track your growth, document experiences, and strengthen future applications.
Pause with purpose. Prepare for greatness
7. South African Gap Year Programs Worth Exploring
Explore this selection of South African programs that seems to reflect the Kairos values of Excellence, Integrity, and Community. Note that this is not an extensive list of opportunities, but will give you a starting point based on YOUR goals -whether through adventure, faith-building, leadership, or purposeful skill development. Choose based on what resonates most with your goals, duration preference, and budget.
| Organisation / Programme | Duration | Focus / Placement | Estimated Cost |
| Warriors Academy | ~28 weeks (4 × 7-week “Quests”) | Adventure, personal growth, soft skills, deep mentorship | Not specified, but highly rated for value and impact Warriors |
| Victory Gap Year (J-Bay) | ~1 year | Identity formation, adventure, community outreach | Rated 4.74/5 based on 19 reviews Go Overseas |
| Year of Your Life (YOYL) | 1 year | Christian discipleship, outreach, personal growth, career guidance | R52 500 (tuition only), up to R100 500 with accommodation Year of Your Life |
| Metamorpho | 1 year | Spiritual growth, purpose discovery, “city changer” training | R41 000 (2024), excluding accommodation Metamorpho |
| Leap into the Future You (Univ. of Pretoria) | Structured course | Personal development, future-readiness certificate | R30 000 inclusive of VAT gapyearcourse.co.za |
| PNX Gap Year (Cape Town) | 1 year | Skill-building, career exploration, adventure, mentoring | R96 957 PNX GAP Year |
| iALA (Leadership Adventure) | ~1 year | Adventure-based leadership and character development | R20 000 deposit required IALA GAP Year |
| Lifegap Adventure | ~2.5 months | Christian leadership, life skills, volunteering | Not specified LifeGAP Adventure |
| Bushwise Conservation | 6–12 months | Wildlife field guide training with lodge placement potential | Grants available up to R100 000 Bushwise Conservation |
| EcoTraining Gap Year | Up to 1 year | Wilderness conservation experience | Not specified EcoGtraining GAP Year |
| IMPACT Gap Program | 15 weeks | Christian discipleship, mission, life-skills training | Not specified IMPACT GAP Program |
| GoMaD Gap Year | ~10 months (Feb–Nov) | Discipleship, leadership, mission and entrepreneurship | Not specified GoMaD GAP Year |
| Target Life South Africa | Not specified | Youth life skills and Christian development | Not specified (requires enquiry) Target Life Christian Gap Year Pretoria & Cape Town |
Conclusion
A gap year is not a pause. It is a launchpad into your next chapter. At Kairos Academy SA, we encourage students to pursue every opportunity with Excellence, act with Integrity, and remain connected to Community as they navigate this journey.
Whether you decide to study immediately or take a purposeful gap year, the most important thing is to choose a path that helps you grow, serves your future, and aligns with your values.
For Anri…. from Mom
Kairos Academy SA 