Global Citizen Year • www.globalcitizenyear.org • Asia, Africa, Latin America • 7mos. • $500-$26,300
Global Citizen Year (GCY) “is a non-profit organization building a movement of young Americans who engage in a transformative “bridge year” between high school and college. Through an innovative cross-sector model that partners with high schools and colleges in the US and NGOs around the world, (they) create opportunities for emerging leaders to work as apprentices in Asia, Africa and Latin America. By providing intensive training and support, GCY ensures that Fellows develop an ethic of service, the ability to communicate across languages and cultures, and a deep commitment to becoming agents for social change…. Incubated at Harvard Business School with a team of graduate students from Harvard and MIT, today the Global Citizen Year team has grown to include leading experts in social enterprise, global development, international education and exchange, and higher education.”
According to their website, “following one month of in-country orientation, (volunteers) will spend six months living with a family and working as an apprentice with an organization in anything from health to agriculture. A major part of your responsibility as a GCY Fellow will be to share your experience with your community back home and with wider audiences online through blogging, photography, and videos.”
GCY works with families to determine the appropriate contribution based on a sliding scale that ranges between the $500 deposit and a maximum limit of $26,300. Over 80% of students receive financial aid and there are a number of full scholarships available each year. Students are responsible for personal expenses, vaccines, immunizations, medications, passport fees and any costs associated with early withdrawal.