Why Travel?
Few things can have a greater impact on a student's life than an international immersion experience. We believe that travel should be a transformative, educational and inspirational event for students.
The Global Explorers experience is about much more than just travel. Our programs give students a sense of who they are, what they believe and what they hope to become. We foster the independence, interpersonal skills, and attitudes that empower students to become leaders in their communities. When they are getting their feet wet and muddy in the Arctic while studying the effects of global warming, our students understand that the lessons they are learning in school have practical and meaningful implications. When our students are cooking Chagga cuisine while practicing Swahili with their new Tanzanian friends, they experience, appreciate and embrace the cultural diversity of our world. When they tackle questions about poverty and public health after a visit to an Amazonian health clinic, our students are challenged to think big and to act.
The true power of our program happens when students return home from their GEx experience. Our students translate what they have learned into meaningful contributions to their communities through service leadership projects that they design themselves. A Global Explorers educational experience inspires action and endures for a lifetime.
Research from Duke University shows that our programs increase students':
- cultural awareness, acceptance and tolerance
- self-awareness
- interpersonal abilities
- leadership skills
- awareness of global interdependence
- understanding of the importance of community service
- sense that they can make a positive difference in the world
