What inspired you to work for Global Citizen Year?
When I participated in my Global Citizen Year experience, I saw first-hand the ways in which Global Citizen Year staff impacted the lives of the young people who participated in our programs. From the moment we applied to the day we left the countries we were living in, I was truly grateful for all the support I got.
After university, I knew I needed to work in a place where I felt like I would have a supportive team, I would have many opportunities to learn and I could create a positive impact on the world. I interned at Global Citizen Year during my last few months in university, and loved the work culture and the people I was working with. I applied to continue this journey with them full time, and thankfully, I got the opportunity!
My friends and I in a group photo with our fantastic Spanish teacher in Cuenca.
Why do you do what you do?
I'm passionate about transformative learning, especially when that type of learning is experiential or happens outside of the classroom. It is an honor to give the opportunity to young people from around the world who are seeking opportunities to go outside of their comfort zone, immerse themselves in a new cultural context, and learn how they can positively transform themselves and their communities.
What is your favorite part of your job?
I love my colleagues. It's inspiring to work with people who live our values of curiosity, empathy, and conviction. Besides working with a great team, I appreciate getting to know students before their experience begins, hearing their stories, and actually seeing them transform through their experience in our programs.
This is me while in Puyo during my independent travel adventure in Ecuador.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I'm grateful to have participated in multiple international education experiences. I tap into these networks to be able to recruit young people who are interested in social change and are globally minded. In terms of my own background, growing up on a very diverse Caribbean island, I'm always excited to use my intercultural knowledge in the way I approach my role and have conversations with an international group of students and partners.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I'd tell my pre-travel self to not let my worries get in the way of growth. Travel has allowed me to see the power of going outside of my comfort zone, and I wished I had the courage to do that more often and more deeply. I would tell myself to not be afraid to look silly, and not to bother too much with what other people think. This is how you make the most out of your travel experiences and truly grow.
What makes Global Citizen Year special?
I love that the programming we offer is open to 17-21 year olds around the world. Many programs are only open to students from a specific geographic area, and I love that students in our programs get the ability to be exposed to global perspectives by living with students from all over the world and living in a completely new country.
Why should someone choose Global Citizen Year over competitors?
There is always some level of change that happens to someone when they travel. However, something I love about our program is that we work with world class curriculum designers to maximize the ability for our participant's to experience personal transformation. Similarly, we maximize the ability of our participants to make an impact on the world around them. Our primary learning outcomes are to know yourself better and know the world around you better.
I believe that the support, guidance and care our participants receive to achieve these learning outcomes are unparalleled. This program is not about traveling or being entertained. This program is a carefully curated and rigorous experience that ensures you develop into a version of yourself that is more self aware and globally aware.
What hopes do you have for the future for Global Citizen Year?
I hope more young people can join our programs in the future and we can continue to grow this incredible alumni network of humans around the world who want to make a meaningful change in their communities and beyond. The more young people who get access to opportunities like these early on in their career journey, the more we can ensure that we can shift towards a more thoughtful and caring society.
Enjoying the hike around the Quilotoa Loop with my Global Citizen Year friends.
What is Global Citizen Year's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our mission is to unlock young people’s potential to drive meaningful change. We have done this for the last 12 years through our programming. By immersing young people into completely cultural contexts that are completely new to them, and using the power of that space outside of the comfort zone to propel them into meaningful lives enriched by the insights and tools they need to create lasting social change.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
In studying the impact of our programs, we've noticed that some of the significant improvements we saw in our students were related to human skills. For example, a clearer sense of self, having more of a global perspective, happiness, improved mental health, and further readiness for college. Some of the hard skills they gained included: giving & receiving feedback, collaboration and teamwork, creative thinking, critical thinking, and project management.
Besides the impact statistics, Global Citizen Year’s alumni are some of the most compassionate, courageous and curious folks I've met. I think that comes from being taught to believe in ourselves and our capabilities. We learn that we can do hard things, and we learn to trust that the stretch zone is where growth happens, even if it's uncomfortable.
How do you help support participants?
From the point in which a young person considers joining our programs, to the point in which they join our alumni community, we are consistently reaching out to them with opportunities to support them and guide them. Our admissions team ensures they go through the application and clearance process smoothly, our programs team ensures they get the guidance and support they need online and in the country to achieve their learning outcomes. Also, our alumni team offers continuous personal and professional development opportunities through our virtual events.
If you could participate on one of Global Citizen Year's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I would go on the Take Action Lab program! I would love to go to Cape Town to apprentice with social justice advocates working in human rights organizations. If I did, I would want to be an apprentice in a women's empowerment organization or a youth development organization. I also just love the idea of living with young people from around the world again, and exploring a new country.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
To get new perspectives on their life's biggest questions. Travel pushes you to intimately learn about different worldviews, different ways of being and gain an expanded understanding of what the world needs. If you are longing to meet a better version of yourself, one who is more curious, open, compassionate and courageous, then travel is a great way to do that.
My host sisters and I in our rural town of Santa Ana just outside of Cuenca.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means travel that is intentional. Travel can be entirely fun and entertaining, but it can also transform you if you go into it with the right mindset. The space in which you allow yourself to be transformed by the places and people you meet is where meaningful travel begins.
I tend to approach travel with a question, an intention or an openness. This allows for me to receive what I was meant to receive throughout my time abroad, as opposed to blocking myself off from opportunities for growth and joy.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
I continue to hope that international education becomes more accessible to folks in the Global South. I'm personally very privileged to have had the international education opportunities I was given, and I'm grateful to the programs I participated in (including Global Citizen Year), for their commitment to make programs accessible to young people regardless of financial background. I hope to see more young people from economically developing nations, like myself, be able to participate in these incredible opportunities.