Travel diary competition

The competition

Submit an article discussing one of the topics provided. The best 3 articles in each category will be chosen and printed on iGapyear.com, with the winner receiving an iPod. When you start your gap year and submit your first travel diary article, your travel diary prize money will begin.

Prizes in each of the categories

1st prize: iPod plus £50 per month for 6 months
2nd prize: £50 per month for 4 months
3rd prize: £50 per month for 2 months

Travel diary

The content of your monthly travel diary is your choice, but should be relevant to your gap year experience & activities. On receipt of your travel diary approx 500 words in length, you will receive your monthly prize money.

Categories

There will be 3 competition categories. Choose your category depending on how you intend to spend your gap year.
Category 1 - Season worker: Working a season with a summer or winter holiday tour operator, such as CCUSA or Club Med.
Category 2 - Backpacker: Plans to travel overseas and find work as you go
Category 3 - Organised gapper: Intending to organise your gap year course or placement activities through a company (eg. Frontier, Greenforce)

Writing topics for your competition entry

You can choose any of the following topics for your article and should write a maximum of 2,000 words.
Topic 1: "The wages in the seasonal industry are notorious for being low and yet seasonal work remains a popular gap year activity. What benefits do you think you would gain from working for a seasonal holiday company? (for example, this could be building your CV, career or confidence)"
Topic 2: "Travelling on your gap year can be a fun, confidence building experience, but you should be sensible with your route & aware of precautions you should take. Choose a popular gap year country and discuss potential dangers you could face and how to make sure you remain safe."
Topic 3: "Some volunteering companies have been accused of running projects which merely satisfy the demands of volunteers rather than the needs of locals and do nothing to help developing countries. To ensure you were participating in a worthy cause, what questions would you ask of your gap year organising company and why?"
Topic 4: "We firmly believe that a structured gap year will change your life for the better. Discuss why you want to take a gap year. What are the main benefits that you feel you will gain from your gap year? Do you have any worries about any negative impact a gap year may have on your future? What advice have you received about your gap year from your school, your parents and possible employers?"

How to enter

Submit your entry, stating your competition category, plus your name, address and a photo of yourself.
By email: info@houdinimedia.net
By post: Houdini Media Ltd, PO BOX 29132, Dunfermline, KY11 4YU

Please note: Entrants under 18 years of age must obtain authorisation from a parent or guardian before entering this competition and must provide an e-mail address for their parent or guardian as a condition for entry.
Your entry into this competition is deemed as acceptance of the competition terms & conditions.