young leaders, global impact
Through experiential activities, workshops, community service in Seattle (optional), and a cultural immersion to Guatemala, GV prepares Seattle-area high school students to define and address environmental and social justice issues in their communities while developing as leaders and becoming more aware of their global citizenship.
We will be offering three cohorts this spring and summer.
Spring Program: April 9 – 22, 2023 (+/- 2 days).
Early Summer Program: July 3 – 16, 2023 (+/- 2 days).
Late Summer Program: July 27 – August 9, 2023 (+/- 2 days).
*Please note that these dates are subject to change based on flight availability and pricing.
*Only students fully vaccinated for COVID-19 will be able to travel in 2023
Early Bird Deadline ($100 Off) – October 10, 2022
Application Deadline – October 24, 2022
Early Bird Deadline ($100 Off )
Application Deadline
Acceptance Notification
*Orientation*
Fundraising Workshop # 1 (optional)
Fundraising Workshop # 2 (optional)
Fundraising Workshop # 3 (optional)
Volunteer Day (mandatory for your cohort)
Volunteer Day (opt. 2)
Volunteer Day (opt. 3)
Volunteer Day (opt. 4)
*Pre-departure Meeting*
Pre-immersion Workshop
**Immersion**
Storytelling & Re-entry Potluck
October 10, 2022
October 24, 2022
October 28, 2022
November 2, 2022, 6:30-8:30pm
November 21, 2022
upon request
upon request
March 25, 2023, 10am-1pm
TBD
TBD
TBD
March 23, 2023
Day 1 and 2 of immersion
April 9 – 22, 2023 (+/- 2 days)
TBD
*Parents and participants and required to attend this meeting.
**These dates are subject to change +/- 2 days as a result of fluctuations in air ticket prices and/or school closures (snow days). We will communicate changes in the immersion dates as soon as available.
ORIENTATION
Parents and students are required to attend a program orientation. At this orientation, former program participants and staff provide an overview of the Cultural Immersion Program, review important dates and forms, and answer any questions you may have about the program.
FUNDRAISING
Global Visionaries works closely with youth and families to provide structured fundraising opportunities. These opportunities include: Guatemalan Coffee, Guatemalan Cookbook, and GV Reusable Mug sales, along with Wreath & Garland sales in the winter and Letter Writing campaigns year-round. GV staff will support you to raise 30% or more of your program fees.
THREE DAY WORKSHOP
The workshop introduces participants to systematic oppression, environmental conservation, global citizenry, and Guatemalan culture and history. See the “Important Program Dates” tab above for exact workshop and travel dates.
LOCAL SERVICE WORK
Participants are able to earn 12+ volunteer hours through optional local service work before the cultural immersion experience in Guatemala. We offer multiple dates for service work throughout the year in partnership with our local partner organizations, such as Seattle Tilth & EarthCorps.
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE WORK
Building on the foundation created by the local service performed in Seattle, participants will earn 32 service hours during the Guatemala immersion. They will work with their Guatemalan peers on one or two of the following projects (depending on availability at the time of the version):
Coffee Farming
Reforestation Projects
Long Term Care Hospital Support School
School & Community Center Construction Work
SPANISH LESSONS
Spanish school is a great way to learn more about Guatemalan culture while improving communication. Each participant will have their own teacher who teaches at their level. Spanish school is 3 hours after lunch every day for the first 5 days. Overall, participants gain over 150 hours of language immersion through homestays, work teams, and cultural excursions with Guatemalan youth.
HOMESTAYS
While in Guatemala, each participant and one or two of their group-mates will stay with a local Guatemalan family in their home. Homestay families cook and provide traditional Guatemalan food for the students. The homestay brings participants closer to the Guatemalan culture and is often one of the most impactful immersion experiences for youth.
FUN & ADVENTURE
Participants will also have the chance to see Mayan ruins, take a trip to Antigua, Guatemala, and loosen up with Salsa dance lessons.
We are now accepting application for the 2022-2023 Cultural Immersion Programs!
Acceptance for applications for the 2022-23 Cultural Immersions Programs will be on October 28, 2022. If you are unable to complete your application by this date, please email us programs@global-visionaries.org
Cultural Immersion Program Application Steps:
- Complete the application by the application deadline
- Complete the student applicant interview by the application deadline.
- Submit your deposit by the application deadline. These deposits will go toward your program fees if accepted to the program and will be returned to you within 30 business days if you are not accepted to the program.
- If requesting financial aid, please submit your most current IRS tax forms (1040 or other). You will have the option to upload a digital copy of your financial information in the application.
- Recommended not required: Attend a Virtual Information Night to learn more about the program
Deposit Amount:
- $50 for those requesting financial aid
- $250 for those not requesting financial aid
To pay via Debit/Credit Card or eCheck click here
You can also mail application materials (Tax Forms, Deposits, etc.) to the corresponding address:
“Global Visionaries Program Application (Applicant’s Name Here)”
2524 16th Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98144
Allow one week to process application forms and supplementary materials
Please schedule an interview at your school with one of the teachers listed below as soon as possible. Waiting until the last minute will put your chance of getting an interview at risk. After your interview, the teacher will return an interview form to us.
Ballard High School:
Eileen Yardley, Spanish Teacher, emyardley@seattleschools.org
Chief Sealth High School:
Matt Baudhuin, Social Studies Teacher mlbaudhuin@seattleschools.org
Cleveland High School: TBD
Franklin High School:
Olivia Geffner, Social Studies Department Chair, oageffner@seattleschools.org
Stefanie Skiljan, Spanish Teacher, slskiljan@seattleschools.org
Danielle Blume, ELA Teacher, dablume@seattleschools.org
Garfield High School:
Elizabeth Perez, Spanish Teacher, epperez@seattleschools.org
Ingraham High School:
Noah Zeichner, nczeichner@seattleschools.org
Sarah Kerr, skkerr@seattleschools.org
Lincoln High School:
Katharine Hathaway, Spanish Teacher, kshathaway@seattleschools.org
Abel Arias, Spanish Teacher, abarias@seattleschools.org
Mercer Island High School:
Chris Twombley, chris.twombley@mercerislandschools.org
Nathan Hale High School:
Marni Balint, mabalint@seattleschools.org
Rainier Beach High School:
Morgan Flake, mlflake@seattleschools.org
Roosevelt High School:
Erika Ahlstrom, erahlstrom@seattleschools.org
Jeanne McGuire, Spanish Teacher, mmcguire@seattleschools.org
Shorewood High School:
Amanda Stoker, amanda.stoker@shorelineschools.org
West Seattle High School:
TBD
If you do not attend one of the schools listed below, there is not a teacher’s name listed in your school, or the teacher is unable to complete your interview, please click here to schedule your interview with a GV staff member.
The information below will help you estimate your total program cost.
Program cost is based on a sliding scale in order to increase equity and accessibility of our program. Our scale is base on program cohort, household income, and family size.
While we cannot guarantee a specific amount of financial aid, we are committed to working with every family to make our program accessible and affordable. Please contact our program staff, programs@global-visionaries.org to discuss your situation, even if you feel that you do not qualify for financial aid.
If parents are separated or divorced, and you are applying for financial aid, please provide financial information for the person who claims the child on their tax forms.
Cultural Immersion Program Cost
Program Fees: $3,450 + Estimated Airfare: $1050
Total Program Cost: $4,500
The table below estimates financial aid amount and program cost based on household income.
Family Income
$0-$15,000
$15,001-$20,000
$20,001-$30,000
$30,001-$40,000
$40,001-$50,000
$50,001-$60,000
$60,001-$70,000
$70,001-$80,000
$80,001-$90,000
$90,001-$100,000
$100,001-$110,000
$110,001-$150,000
$150,001-$200,000
$200,000 – $ 250,000+
Estimated Scholarship
Package
$4,175-$3,985
$3,985-$3,785
$3,785-$3,585
$3,485-$3,085
$3,085-$2,575
$2,575-$2,125
$2,125-$1,605
$1,605-$1,085
$1,085-$755
$755-$555
$555-$350
$350-$200
$200-$125
$125-$0
Estimated Program cost (includes Airfare)
$325-$515
$515-$715
$715-$915
$1,015-$1,415
$1,415-$1,925
$1,925-$2,375
$2,375-$2,895
$2,895-$3,415
$3,415-$3,745
$3,745-$3,945
$3,945-$4,150
$4,150-$4,300
$4,300-$4,375
$4,375-$4,500
Fundraising
Global Visionaries works closely with youth and families to provide structured fundraising opportunities. These opportunities include: Guatemalan Coffee, Guatemalan Cookbook, and GV Reusable Mug sales, along with Wreath & Garland sales in the winter and Letter Writing campaigns year-round. GV staff will support you to raise 30% or more of your program fees.
Global Visionaries believes in student-led fundraising because: 1) fundraising empowers youth to take ownership of their experience, and 2) fundraising lifts the financial burden off of parents.
Please join us at a Fundraising Workshop to learn more about what options are available to you. See the “Important Program Dates” tab for details.
Learn more about our Guatemalan Immersion, Pro-Justice Leadership & Cultural Immersion Programs! Students and parents/guardians are welcome!
Upcoming Online Information Nights:
9/28 (Zoom), 7:00-8:30pm
10/04 (Zoom), 7:00-8:30pm
10/19 (Zoom), 7:00-8:30pm
RSVP for Online Information Night HERE
Upcoming In Person Information Nights:
10/06 at El Centro de la Raza, 7:00-9:00pm
10/11 at Ingraham High School, 7:00-9:00pm
Did you miss the Informational Sessions? Watch a recorded session here.
BUNDLE!
Pro-Justice Leadership & Cultural Immersion Programs
All participants who complete the Cultural Immersion Program are eligible to apply for the Advanced Leadership Program.
For more information about the Advanced Program, click here.