Description

Thinking Beyond Borders empowers and inspires students through education to address critical global issues. Our gap year programs provide learning and personal growth opportunities unlike any other. Encounter the development needs and efforts to create change in three diverse communities of Ecuador. You'll live with home stay families and work with development experts addressing critical development issues, including:

Education in the Coastal Low Lands
Public Health in the Andes Mountains
Natural Resources and the Environment in the Cloud Forests.

You'll be immersed in intensive Spanish language study through classroom learning and living in host communities. See natural beauty and rich cultural history through group and independent travel. Culmination in the USA brings the learning and growth together through meetings with policy makers at the World Bank, IMF, and US Congress. The program concludes with opportunities to reflect upon and share your learning. Each program group includes 16 students and 3 Program Leaders.

Highlights

You'll gain new perspectives by living and working with people in developing communities facing real issues. Program Leaders with Master's degrees in International Development and education will support your learning with seminars and 1-on-1 mentoring. The combination of fieldwork, homestays, and academic study will challenge your view of the world and yourself. Our programs will help you find:

Direction - Gain focus for college by working alongside experts in various fields and discovering new ways to impact our world.
Passion - Renew your love of learning and sense of purpose in an environment where everything has meaning.
Awareness - Live with families in a variety of cultures to understand their joys, challenges, and values.
Learning - Take ownership of your education in programs that integrate experiential learning, a university level curriculum, and personal exploration.
Community - Form a fellowship of highly motivated peers who are determined to shape the world in which they live.

Qualifications

Thinking Beyond Borders (TBB) offers intensive Gap Year programs. They are both academic and service focused. Students will live, work, and learn in a variety of unique and challenging environments. Applicants must have a high degree of academic and personal motivation and the ability to adjust to different social and cultural norms. They should also possess the maturity to engage in conversation with representatives from institutions like the UN, World Bank and IMF, as well as to make presentations to educational and community organizations.

Our application process is thorough and specific to ensure Thinking Beyond Borders programs are right for you. Due to the limited capacity of the programs, it is also a very selective process.

Students must earn a High School Diploma before participating in a Thinking Beyond Borders program. No more than one full academic year may pass between the time of High School graduation and enrollment in Thinking Beyond Borders and students must be between 17 and 20 years of age.

Minimum Education

High School

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

USD 16,000

Cost Includes:

• Travel while in host country
• Housing
• Food
• Emergency evacuation services
• Excursions
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Registration fees
• Written materials abroad

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Community Health
• Conservation
• Eco-tourism
• Education
• Health Care
• Teaching

This Program is open to

American, European, Canadian, Australian, South African, Kiwi, Worldwide and Asian Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Home-stays
• Guest House

Participants Travel

in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 16

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Transcript
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Essay

Typically The Application Process Time is

4 weeks

Post Services Include

• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home
• Alumni Network

Thinking Beyond Borders's Mission Statement

Thinking Beyond Borders empowers and inspires students through education to address critical global issues. Our gap year programs are rich environments for learning and personal growth. With TBB, students find purpose, intellectual passions, and a supportive community of committed friends and educators who are determined to improve our world.

Year Founded

2007