"gap'' year traveling in the Up With People `Worldsmart' programme.

This has proven to be a wiser choice than I could have imagined as I anxiously waved goodbye to my parents in Denver on my first day. The separation anxiety was greater for my parents than it was for me.

Amazingly within ten days of meeting the 140 students who come from 19 different countries, my Cast B 1999-2000 had formed into a family, which would become my support system for the next year. In the real world a group of people this large living together every day should technically not work.

However this is the magic of the Up With People programme.

Fortunately, for me, I am privileged to travel with the most energetic and friendly people that I have ever met. So far, we visited the US, Germany, Austria, and the Scandinavian countries. In each new place I gain further understanding of the extent of cultural differences throughout the world, and in addition, than these differences make countries what they are. With unions and treaties bringing the world closer together it is also important that we remember to preserve the cultural identity of all countries.

One of the most outstanding memories I have is a project in a school for physically and mentally handicapped children. This proved to be very emotionally challenging for many of us. The smiles on the children's faces as we performed for them was so touching that tears were brought to my eyes.

We often are recruited to help in projects that require hard labour. A year ago I would not have been able to imagine myself digging and shovelling in a field with the rain soaking my clothes and making it impossible to see.

However, now, these are some of the types of projects that I most enjoy doing as you can actually see the results.

We have the opportunity to learn many different skills that will be invaluable in our future careers, such as leadership, teamwork and communication. Apart from performance techniques we also have the chance to assist staff members.

Currently I am working hand in hand with the dance captain through an internship programme. This has allowed me to learn more about the performing arts aspects. I assist in planning dance workshops, the coordination of physical activities, and in improving all visual aspects of the Up With People show. Throughout the days of hard work and rehearsals we still find time to laugh, chat, and learn about each other.

On January 11 we reconvene in Helsinki, Finland, and continue our tour of the Scandinavian countries, Germany and the Netherlands until March. The last leg of the tour will be spent in British Columbia, Canada, which I am greatly looking forward to. Now a "second semester'' cast, the pressure is upon us to set the high standard of quality for the two new casts beginning in January.

This task, I am sure we will have no trouble in fulfilling. The tempo of travel will also be sped up, three days and two or even three shows will be performed in each city. During this second semester I want to learn about myself and clarify the direction I want my life to take. The one wish I have is for the next six months to be as challenging and rewarding as the first.

There has been much discussion about the future of the world in this new millennium. There are those who feel that the situation will only worsen, and the struggle for peace will continue. I however, believe that there is still hope for the next generation and that I am a part of it. The Up With People show `Roads' proves this to be true every time we perform it (about every four days). The songs we perform such as `Reach Out', `Rise', and `We Will Stand' demonstrates the power and determination of youth today. To see the smiles on the audiences' faces and to shake their hands lets me realise the extent of the effect we have on the communities we visit. Throughout the tour, I will perform the show nearly 100 times for more than 100,000 people.

Instead of staying in hotels and youth hostels, we are invited into people's homes and are able to stay with around 90 host families throughout the year.

Our tour takes us into smaller towns and villages that might not otherwise have exposure to such a diverse group of people. Therefore, not only do we get to learn about the traditions of the communities that we enter, but also we are able to share our knowledge and experiences of the places we come from.

An important aspect of the programme is volunteer work, and the number of man-hours of volunteer work that we have been able to do stretches into tens of thousands. Each time we visit a new community, we are not observers but participants. We spend time working in schools, singing to elderly nursing home residents and rebuilding playgrounds for example. Therefore we learn to better understand the needs of each community, and "play an active role in responding to those needs''.

The end of hunger and wars may not come next week or even next year, but I know in my heart that groups like `Up With People' can and are making a difference in communities around the world.

I wish to thank my sponsors who have enabled me to travel with Up With People.

By Sara Schroter First stop: Sara, stooping at far right, celebrates with other Up With People members in Denver where they sepnt six weeks.

Mi casa en su casa: Sara, second from far right, is pictured on tour with her host family in New Mexico.