What inspired you to work for your organization?
I was inspired to work for Greenheart International because of its values toward international travel. Cultural exchange should not only impact the person traveling but also positively impact the people and places visited. Greenheart always challenges every participant to become a “world citizen,” and I think that heightens the cultural exchange experience.
Exploring the rugged beauty and rich history of Northern Ireland’s coastal castles.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
I would tell my pre-travel self to embrace every opportunity, even when it’s new and uncomfortable. Go and try the interesting food, take that day trip, or go to that local market; even if the experience is new and uncomfortable, there is always something to learn. It's what will help you grow as a person!
Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?
As a mission-based non-profit, participating in our programs not only is an opportunity for yourself to grow, but you are also giving opportunities for others to grow as well, with our scholarships, Global Impact Grants, leadership conferences and more. Your growth also does not stop at the end of your program, but there are opportunities to continue to make an impact with the Greenheart Club and more.
Chasing new paths and higher perspectives in the heart of the Swiss Alps.
What is your organization's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our mission is “Travel for Change” and I work towards that by helping teenagers become world citizens. I believe that cultural exchange is fundamental towards creating a generation that wants to impact the world for people that come from all walks of life, not just what they know and have grown up with.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
I hope participants walk away with a new worldview that is bigger than just their town, city, state, and country. I hope that they use that worldview to make an impact on those close to them and in their local communities. Knowing cultural exchange can make a change at home is something that I hope they take away with them.
Quiet moments by the coast, with the Mourne Mountains rising beyond the shore.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
It’s important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures because it helps create a worldview that is bigger than yourself and includes people and cultures that are different than your own. This allows you to think critically about the why’s that are behind your own culture’s traditions and values. Every time I’ve traveled somewhere new, there has always been a piece that I take and apply to my own life.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel to me is experiencing the day-to-day life of that culture. This comes with traditions and rhythms that are not my own and allows me to get a different perspective towards my own life and how I also impact others in doing so. Recognizing the differences and embracing them is meaningful to me.
