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Global Leadership Adventures offers globally-minded high school students journeys that have often been called life-changing. Programs are offered in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean that build awareness of other cultures & educate students on important issues. Find out more!..(more)
Volunteer in Costa Rica on a project that is most needed at the time of your arrival. This could be beach cleanup, beautification projects, or other initiatives that improve the community. Relax after a hard day’s work at our beautiful Home Base. You’ll also have the chance to enjoy water sports, fun in the sun and other activities with your new friends from all over the world. Find out more!..(more)
On this program you will promote animal rights and gain pre-veterinary experience working alongside certified veterinarians and animal rescue experts. Not only will you do compassionate, hands-on work with lovable, furry friends at a dog rescue center, you’ll also learn about exotic wildlife species in a country known for its dedication to conservation. In your time off service, experience all the outdoor adventure and natural beauty Costa Rica has to offer. Find out more!..(more)
This program provides an opportunity to explore public health as a fundamental human right while contributing to vital health campaigns in a culturally vibrant region. Work alongside local healthcare professionals to assist remote highland communities through traveling clinics. In addition to gaining practical experience, students will have the chance to discover Cusco, go rafting in the Andes, and visit the iconic citadel of Machu Picchu...(more)
Live in Cartago, land of volcanoes, beautiful nature and friendly Costa Ricans, and learn to speak the language from locals. These experiences enhance your language immersion, making sure you get plenty of practice and return home a more confident Spanish speaker. Finally, if you opt to stay for our Homestay Extension, you will live with a local family in a Costa Rican community for an extra week of language skill building as well as cross-cultural immersion. Find out more!..(more)
Experience one of the most pristine natural environments in the world, where conservationist are working to protect this unique ecosystem. Volunteer alongside them to help preserve this UNESCO-designated heritage site. Besides volunteering, you’ll have the opportunity to see lava fields, snorkel with sea lions and see the world-famous Galapagos tortoises. Find out more!..(more)
Reexamine your ideas about health and community care. Discover the distinctions between public health and medicine, explore the seven essential components of human security, and grasp how healthcare influences development and community well-being. You'll gain practical experience by shadowing medical professionals in mobile clinics and hospitals and working on crucial infrastructure projects. ..(more)
Global Leadership Adventures hosts a variety of programs in Greece. Situated at the southern tip of the Balkans along the Mediterranean coast, Greece is known for its majestic mountains and proximity to the sea. It is often celebrated as the cradle of Western Civilization and has produced some of the greatest minds in history. By joining a Global Leadership Adventures program in Greece, you'll immerse yourself in its landscapes, culture, people, and history. ..(more)
You may have heard of Global Leadership Adventures service-learning adventures...but how about our internships abroad? These short-term internships are designed for high school students ages 14-18 who want to take their learning experience to the next level. Work in partnership with GLA and a global nonprofit partner or social enterprise. Spend three weeks in one of seven countries, in the field learning about a subject area of interest--while earning college credit!..(more)
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My name is Leia and I am currently a senior in high school. Over the summer break me and my family decided to enroll in a volunteer organization abroad with Global Leadership Adventures. I enrolled in the three week summer program called Ghana: the Children of Africa. The volunteer mission of the trip is to learn how to build bricks to organize a new school for the education field in Ghana. As students we also went to local primary schools to teach children academic subjects such as Math, English, and science. We were each assigned a partner to teach the primary students at the two different schools.
During the three weeks we wake up to eat breakfast at 7:00 and then we leave to visit the school for brick making at 8:00. We were split into two separate mentor groups to perform the brick making and organize meetings. It was a fun and playful competition about who could make the more and higher quality bricks. We gathered the materials such as shovels, buckets, and cement. We mixed the dirt and cement with water and put it into the brick container. Then we lay the container on the ground to form the brick. After the brick making, we traveled to the schools. I love the children because they were very warm, welcoming, and friendly. My partner and I came up with lesson plans to read English stories to them, multiplication and division problems, and living vs nonliving in science. I loved playing rock paper scissors, duck duck goose, and drawing with them.
I had a wonderful experience with the local staff, international staff/mentors, and most importantly meeting new students from around the world to appreciate Ghanaian culture. I loved the cultural activities such as learning the drums, participating in Ghanaian dance moves, cooking red red and fried plantain with the chefs, getting my hair braided, high school cultural exchange and visiting a local church. I loved having dance parties at night with my peers. I deeply enjoyed the high school cultural exchange because we played games and sports and it was fun to interact with students my age. I still speak to some girls I met in Ghana. It was amazing to engage with the cultural traditions and celebrate. One of the reasons I chose the Ghana program is because my parents and family are from Jamaica. Jamaica and Ghana have a very close history and way of life such as food and social customs.
I love Global Leadership Adventures because of the values they teach to the students about how to become a leader. Global Leadership Adventures is very passionate about how a leader doesn't always have to be born but can always be made. Every day on the trip there were one or two leaders of the day and we would wear necklaces, direct the cultural activities, make announcements, write a journal entry of the day and more. It is crucial to build up the confidence and find the leader inside of you. It was fun to engage in the mentor groups and talk about how we were doing and participating in social activities. I also loved the full group meetings because of the bond we shared and learning about different strategies to be a leader.
Prior to this trip I did not see myself as a leader but the experience, support, and independence I have gained has increased my confidence and self- value. I highly recommend Global Leadership Adventures to any student because the program was life-changing and an experience I'll never forget.