young leaders, global impact
Through experiential activities, workshops, community service, 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 Cohort: April 13 – 26 , 2025 (+/- 2 days).
Early Summer Cohort: June 29 – July 12, 2025 (+/- 2 days).
Late Summer Cohort: July 15 – July 28, 2025 (+/- 2 days).
*Please note that these dates are subject to change based on flight availability and pricing.
Limited space available for
Early Summer and Late Summer Cohorts
Apply by May 15th, 2025
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.
Expand your learning before you go!
Spanish Language and Learning Expansion Package
Learn more about our Cultural Immersion and Language & Leadership Expansion Programs! All students and families are welcome.
We are not offering any more live Information Nights for the 2024-25 programs year, but you can watch a recorded session below. Feel free to reach out to any of the staff with any additional questions as well.
We are still accepting application for the 2024-2025 Cultural Immersion Programs!
The final deadline for applications for the 2024-25 Cultural Immersions Programs is May 26, 2025. If you are unable to complete your application by this date, please email us at programs@global-visionaries.org
Cultural Immersion Program Application Steps:
- Complete the online application
- Schedule and complete the student applicant interview
- Submit your deposit. The deposit will go toward your program fees if you are accepted OR 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, but not required: Watch a virtual Info Night to learn more about the program
Deposit Amount:
- $75 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
How do I apply for financial aid?
Make sure you select the option to request financial aid in the online application for our program. You will then input your household size, household income, and any other information you would like to share with us.
How do I find out if I’ve been awarded financial aid/scholarship?
On acceptance day, you will receive an email that has all of your cohort details, orientation information, and will include your program cost and financial aid award. If you have any questions about your award or need to discuss additional funding options, please note that when confirming your acceptance.
Who do I contact if I have questions about my program cost/financial aid?
To discuss any questions regarding your program cost or financial aid you can reach out finance@global-visionaries.org or programs@global-visionaries.org. We will get back to you within 48 hours of your email.
Fundraising
Global Visionaries works closely with youth and families to provide structured fundraising opportunities.
These opportunities include:
Item sales for Guatemalan Coffee, Guatemalan Cookbooks, and with Wreath & Garland sales in the winter.
Letter Writing campaigns year-round
Optional collective fundraising events with your cohort or peers
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 families. 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.
External Grants & Scholarships
Program participants have been very successful the past few years receiving external funding for their immersion costs (often in addition to financial aid awarded from Global Visionaries). There are several foundations and school specific funds we can connect you with that help cover additional costs for the immersion. We will inform students of the opportunities we are aware of, for which they might be eligible for. Although we cannot guarantee any external funding, we usually begin reaching out to partners around November/December and have more information on what additional support that may be available come January or February. We will provide you with support in finding and securing additional financial aid.
Between 2022-2024, students have successfully received over $30,000 in financial awards from external opportunities!
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 based on household income and family size. Please make sure to note your family size and any other extenuating circumstances in your application. We want to consider every factor when determining financial aid to best support your family
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.
Included in your program fees:
- All Food, Lodging, and Transportation costs in Guatemala
- Airfare
- Program excursions in Guatemala
- Individual Travel/Medical Trip Insurance during Immersion
- 1-3 Local Service Days in Seattle
- Orientation, Pre-Departure meeting/training, Re-entry Storytelling Workshop
- 2 pre-immersion Community Building Workshops
- Structured fundraising support and 1-2 Fundraising Workshops
- Full-time program staff support throughout the program year and on your immersion
Some items that are not included in your program fees:
- Passport/Visa Fees
- Food during airport travel days (you bring food with you on the flight there and are responsible for purchasing food in the airport on the way back)
- College Credit Fees for SCCC
- Tip for Homestay Family & Spanish Teacher
- Any gifts you want to bring for your homestay family
Cultural Immersion Program Cost 2024-25
Program Fees: $4,745 + Estimated Airfare: $1,150
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
Estimated Scholarship
Package
$5,600 – $5,188
$5,188 – $5,011
$5,011 – $4,598
$4,598 – $4,127
$4,127 – $3,655
$3,655 – $3,183
$3,183 – $2,653
$2,653 – $2,122
$2,122 – $1,592
$1,592 – $1,179
$1,179 – $914
$914 – $324
$324 – $0
Estimated Program cost
(includes Airfare)
$295 – $707
$707 – $884
$884 – $1,297
$1,297 – $1,769
$1,769 – $2,240
$2,240 – $2,712
$2,712 – $3,242
$3,242 – $3,773
$3,773 – $4,303
$4,303 – $4,716
$4,716 – $4,981
$4,981 – $5,571
$5,571 – $5,895
The information below will help you estimate your total program cost for the Cultural Immersion + Language & Learning Expansion
*****Please read through the “Cost of the Cultural Immersion Program” tab above for detailed information on what costs do and do not include****
Cultural Immersion AND Language & Learning Expansion Cost 2024-25
Program Fees: $5,295 + Estimated Airfare: $1,150
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
Estimated Scholarship
Package
$5,865 – $5,607
$5,607 – $5,414
$5,414 – $4,963
$4,963 – $4,512
$4,512 – $3,964
$3,964 – $3,448
$3,448 – $2,900
$2,900 – $2,320
$2,320 – $1,740
$1,740 – $1,289
$1,289 – $999
$999 – $354
$322 –
Estimated Program cost (includes Airfare)
$580 – $838
$838 – $1,031
$1,031 – $1,482
$1,482 – $1,934
$1,934 – $2,481
$2,481 – $2,997
$2,997 – $3,545
$3,545 – $4,125
$4,125 – $4,705
$4,705 – $5,156
$5,156 – $5,446
$5,446 – $6,091
$6,123 – $6,445
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:
Kara Butsch Nolte, Spanish Teacher, kjbutsch@seattleschools.org
Eileen Yardley, Spanish Teacher, emyardley@seattleschools.org
(Only for students that attend their classes)
Franklin High School:
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
Nathan Hale High School:
Rebecca Padilla, rmpadilla@seattleschools.org
Diana Di Tolla, ddditolla@seattleschools.org
Roosevelt High School:
Erika Ahlstrom, erahlstrom@seattleschools.org
Jeanne McGuire, Spanish Teacher, jmmcguire@seattleschools.org
Morgan Flake, mlflake@seattleschools.org
Shorewood High School:
Amanda Stoker, amanda.stoker@shorelineschools.org
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.
Early Bird Application Deadline ($150 Off )
Application Deadline
Acceptance Notification
*Orientation*
Fundraising Workshop # 1 (optional)
Fundraising Workshop # 2 (optional)
Pre-Immersion Community Building Workshop #1
Pre-Immersion Community Building Workshop #2
*Pre-Departure Meeting*
Volunteer Day opt 1
Volunteer Day opt 2
**Immersion**
Storytelling & Re-entry Potluck
October 14, 2024
October 27, 2024
October 28, 2024
October 30, 2024, 6:00 – 8:00pm
November 19, 2024, 6:00 – 7:30pm
Upon request
March 1, 2025
March 15, 2025
March 20, 2025
TBD
TBD
April 13 – 26, 2025 (+/- 2 days)
May 31, 2024, 3:30 – 7:30pm
*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 dates as soon as available.
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.