Cultural Immersion Program

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, anti-racism, environmental justice, 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 Black Farmers Collective & 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 2023-2024 Cultural Immersion Programs!

The deadline for applications for the 2023-24 Cultural Immersions Programs is October 30, 2023. 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

(Only for students that attend her class)

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: TBD

Mercer Island High School:

Chris Twombley,  chris.twombley@mercerislandschools.org

Nathan Hale High School: TDB

Roosevelt High School:

Erika Ahlstrom,  erahlstrom@seattleschools.org

Jeanne McGuire, Spanish Teacher,  mmcguire@seattleschools.org

Morgan Flake,  mlflake@seattleschools.org

Shorewood High School:

Amanda Stoker,  amanda.stoker@shorelineschools.org

West Seattle High School: TDB

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: $3,765 + Estimated Airfare: $1,200

Total Program Cost: $4,965

The table below estimates financial aid amount and program cost based on household income.

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:

10/04 (Zoom), 7:00-8:30pm

10/12 (Zoom), 7:00-8:30pm

10/17 (Zoom), 7:00-8:30pm

RSVP for Online Information Night  HERE

Upcoming In Person Information Nights:

TBD

Did you miss the Informational Sessions? Watch a recorded session   here.

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.