Learning Afar

Global Explorers and the Afar Foundation are working together to bring travel opportunities to groups of low income students in New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area. The Global Explorers Learning Afar program is made possible by generous scholarship support from The Afar Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate of Afar Media. The mission of the Afar Foundation is to promote cross-cultural exchange by sponsoring international travel and study for students who cannot otherwise afford to experience another part of the world. Greg Sullivan, Afar Media’s founder, has made the foundation the primary beneficiary of his estate. “At Afar Media we believe that travel can change lives for the better,” Sullivan says. “Not only does travel expand your understanding of the world, it also can increase your understanding of your place in the world.” The Learning Afar program begins long before students actually travel with a comprehensive preparatory curriculum and a pre-travel journalism skills retreat. Teachers take students through a structured curriculum that focuses on leadership, service, cultural tolerance, and conservation biology. After learning journalism skills from Afar Magazine representatives, students will be encouraged to document their travels through writing, photography, and videography. Learn more about Afar at www.afar.com.

Two schools were chosen to receive scholarship support to participate in Global Explorers' Sustainable Tropics: Costa Rica program in 2010, the program's pilot year. After an application process in the fall, one school from Oakland, CA and one school from Yonkers, NY were chosen to be the program's first scholarship recipients. One teacher from each school will lead the group through their preparatory work and fundraising, and travel with students to Costa Rica in the summer of 2010. The Afar Foundation plans to expand its partnership with Global Explorers and consider similar programs after the completion of this year's pilot program. Details on next year's Learning Afar programs will be announced soon. Read below to learn more about this year's partner schools.

Yonkers High School

Yonkers High School is a nationally-recognized magnet school of the Yonkers Public School District with a diverse student population and a tremendous record of accomplishments and success. YHS is an International Baccalaureate (I.B.) school dedicated to developing in students a deeper understanding of world affairs and a richer connection to the shared humanity that binds all people together. With a population of students from varying economic backgrounds, YHS is a model for successfully integrating disadvantaged youth and developing students to grow, succeed and utilize their potential. The school was recently named #41 in the US News and World Report list of the best schools in the United States.

Five students from YHS were selected to receive full program fee scholarships from the Afar Foundation. These lucky scholarship recipients will be joined by eight more students. As a team, the students are dedicated to working together to raise enough money for all 13 students to travel together. The Yonkers group is led by Chris Vicari, an 11th grade English teacher with an impressive array of awards and achievements to match his passion for being the best educator he can be. Among other awards, Chris has been named the Disney Teacher of the Year and the Sam's Club Teacher of the Year.

Click here to donate to the Yonkers High School Learning Afar group.

Oakland High School

From the OHS Learning Afar application, “Too often our students do not have time or resources to view the world outside the perspective of the inner city. They do not see the connections with other countries and the impacts of our lives on distant lands. We strongly believe that the opportunity to travel to a different culture and ecosystem will help our students use what they have learned at Oakland High School to become confident, engaged citizens and stewards of our planet.”

Ten students from OHS were selected to receive half program fee scholarships and plan to raise the remainder of their travel costs through fundraising efforts in partnership with Afar Media. These ten students are led by Katie Noonan, a Biology and Environmental Science teacher at OHS. Katie is the is founder and CO-Director of the Environmental Science Academy and has traveled to Costa Rica as a Woodrow Wilson Teacher Fellow in 2001 and to Antarctica in 2007 with the University of Texas Program International Polar Year-Research Experience in Antarctica for Minorities program. She has been a Department of Energy teacher intern in oceanography and received a U.S. E.P.A. Environmental Achievement Award in 2009.

Click here to donate to the Oakland High School Learning Afar group.