Global Citizen Year

Program Reviews

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Kyle
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Once in a Lifetime Operation

This was an amazing once in a lifetime experience. It was extremely difficult at times, as I had issues with my host family, but those difficulties were extremely well supported by staff in country. And they only provided me with space to grow! I was able to live and navigate in a foreign country, learned to speak a new language, and got to work with an amazing mentor, and teach an amazing group of students

What would you improve about this program?
I would recommend a increased screening of host families, and better host family fitting process. But as the number the program is run more I can believe they will improve this process.
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Jordyn
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Immersion/Support

Global Citizen Year is truly excellent at supporting fellows to the best of their ability. There's no uncertainty about where you are and who you are with. In this way, I always felt very safe and sure that if anything happened, they would be able to help me. The team leaders that I worked with were inspiring, hilarious, and incredibly caring. Sometimes the support was smothering, and the strict no alcohol rule was often frustrating. Sometimes non-emergency support was not very timely when fellows needed it. Often times, work placements were quite boring and did not know what to do with fellows. I had a fantastic homestay experience, but the same cannot be said for other fellows. Homestays can be very difficult, and GCY had a hard time finding new ones for fellows in a timely manner sometimes. All the same, every effort to help fellows engage in communities was made, and our bi-monthly "reconnects" were wonderful in their cultural and social immersion. If I could, I would absolutely do it again.

What would you improve about this program?
Volunteer placements were definitely hit and miss, and better ones could probably be found. The no alcohol policy and it's extreme consequences, again, were frustrating.
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Chantal
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Taking Ownership of My Journey

Words can never truly express what India was and is to me, nor can they ever do ultimate justice to all the amazing encounters, journeys, and memories from my life there. For me, going to India was never a question; living in another country was an obvious part of my future. But acknowledging the need for a selfish year was perhaps the ultimate challenge to embrace. I recognised the need for a year to step outside the societal expectations and limitiations to discover unknown elements and boundaries of my identity and being, reality and mentality. Recognising that I knew too little about 'Chantal' to even be there for myself, I decided to travel to India with Global Citizen Year. Not for this romanticised idea of spiritual journey in this unknown country, but because I was intrigued by the beautifully diverse intricacies of its reality, very much like my own psychology. My life in India was much more than 'being a part of a programme'. It was a true test of character, of values that I never had to justify before, a manifestation of the lifestyle I committed myself to when becoming a part of the United World College. It was a commitment to myself, valuing my existence and development, and a commitment to the world as a future resource. I hope and intend to return to India and congratulate my students in their own language, and celebrate their individual accomplishments. Being a super-proud didi. I hope to give back for all the things they gave and taught me.
I am only filled with immense gratitude for India for showing me all its colours, and for Global Citizen Year for making all the memories and learnings a reality.

What would you improve about this program?
The programme in India was by default limited due to it being the launching year. Global Citizen Year should and is continuously working on improving itself, however I encourage them to take it slow and focusing on establishing itself properly in India, whilst also working on the programme with internationals and the Mental Health Protocol, before expanding the number of Fellows even further.
Read my full story
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Alana
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Mess of Beauty

Every time I sit down to write about my experience in India I find myself at a loss for words. It's funny because many times during my Global Citizen Year, I found myself at a loss for words. India is full of anomalies that left me with my jaw hanging on the ground. It was beautiful - ornate architecture, the serenity, the people. It was a mess - disparity, the chaos, the people. There is a saying in India; "What's said about India is true. But the opposite is equally as true," and I found that to be a recurring theme during my time there. Living in this world of extremes was difficult and even uncomfortable at times but needless to say, that is where personal growth comes from. To grow we must step out of our comfort zones and into our stretch zones and if you're someone who thinks they are ready to push themselves in ways they have not been pushed before, then I would like to quote an incredible writer. "Say YES!" -Tatiana Calonje. Not only was India kind enough to show me her mess of beauty, but she was able to show me the mess of beauty within myself.

What would you improve about this program?
My time in India could have been bettered if the Global Citizen Year more clearly communicated their mission and purpose to all members involved.
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Tatiana
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Beginning of a Momentum

My Global Citizen Year in India was the most responsible decision I could have ever made at the age of 19. The experience walks alongside me daily, gently reminding me of lessons and perspectives which ultimately have not only bettered me as person you may be meeting for the first time but also now as a student viewing the years of classwork before me entirely different than I did before. Global Citizen Year allowed me to grow and learn in ways I couldn't have had from any classroom, book, summit, event or reflection. The connections I made with my community were constantly expanding as my fluency in Hindi progressed and I began to truly care about the people who I lived with, worked with and interacted. My presence at my apprenticeship felt valued and I was able to build on a skill that at the end of the day had little to do with how well my voice carried in a loud room or how well I could hold the attention of over 40 preteens. It had all to do with my willingness to be versatile, patient and committed but above all to believe that we were all going to achieve something at the end of the day even if it was just cutting pictures out of a newspaper. It was 8 months in which I was constantly stimulated, uniquely challenged, inspired, interested, concerned, cared for and pushed in ways only Global Citizen Year could have granted. What may be seen as a risky and unreasoned decision to some became the beginning of a momentum and bond that carries into my pursuit of higher education and holds strong thousands of miles away.

Say YES!

What would you improve about this program?
My year could have benefited from ensuring that all the stakeholders in-country conveyed the Global Citizen Year values and learning outcomes.
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Janet
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Growth, insight, and ability

Everyday I think back on my Global Citizen Year experience. I find that my thoughts, words, and actions are results of year and a program which guided me to grow in ways I never knew possible.
I spent my year living in Senegal in the Kedougou region. I had a wonderful host family who were excited to show me their world. In my education apprenticeship I established an art program at the elementary school and assisted in English classes at the middle school. I progressed in my study of the French language and learned a new language, Pular (a language I didn't even know existed until joining the program, wild thought, right?).
What is vital to understand about Global Citizen Year is that when you return home you will perhaps be able to produce a succinct list of what you did, as I have above, but what you will crave to share is who you have become, the realizations about the world, the thoughts you've had and the choices you've made.
Global Citizen Year does a fantastic job in providing the structure to support and guide you to accomplish exterior and personal goals. I entered the year hoping to get some work done, start programs, learn languages. Global Citizen Year was happy to help me take action, but simply paused and asked for my thoughts as well.
I learned to actively build relationships with my host community, host family, and within the cohort I traveled with.
Global Citizen Year does not have an agenda of values or skills it wants to give you, Global Citizen Year provides the structures and means to define and achieve your own personal value, skills, and goals.

While considering the program, do not overlook the undeniable beauty of the four countries: Senegal, Brazil, India, and Ecuador. Although I am partial to Senegal, as my own host country, the stories fellows brought back from all the other countries increased my desire to visit those countries as well.
The ability to live as a member of a family in a foreign country, to learn about culture and language from the very people to whom that language and culture is as natural as breathing is invaluable.
It is a once in a lifetime opportunity that will open the door to many more once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

Santiago
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

What my "Bridge Year" opened my eyes to!

Becoming conscious that the background I come from is extremely different than what I thought it was through meeting the other Fellow's in the program and living with people of a different culture in the year was truly eye-opening. If you are from a low-income background, come from a Minority-Majority community and went through the public school system as myself, then this program is a must-do as it provides the chance (alongside a scholarship based on your income level) to change your worldview! Along the way you will be taught how to think critically, be independent and learn how to be humble. You will also be challenged, you will cry and you'll come back home a different person. However, if you are serious about making a change in the world you will realize that all these adversities are necessary in order to understand our rapidly changing/globalizing society. Not to mention you'll make some life-long friends along the way :)

I completely recommend this program, 10/10, and would do it again!

John
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Learning How to Grow

I took my bridge year with Global Citizen Year in Ecuador, and I always have great nostalgia whenever I reflect back on it. I won't ever forget about all of the love and care I received from the staff in Global Citizen Year from my host families, my apprenticeship supervisors and teachers at the schools I worked along side with, and the family whose farm I worked on. Not to mention all the traveling adventures and bonding through suffering that I experienced with the fellow fellows in my region. This year will always have a special place in my heart; and this might sound sappy, but my year in Ecuador is an experience that reminds me that there is so much more to look forward to whenever life gets hard in college. My logic isn't really logical, but my bridge year gives me hope that there is so much more to look forward to in life. Taking a year off with this program also taught to me to prioritize the development of my own character; Global Citizen Year emphasizes self-transformation, reflection, and interpersonal relating and understanding within their curriculum, and growing personally with regard to all of these aspects was my main goal for the year. Had I gone into college without taking this bridge year I definitely would have been the type that thinks his grades are his only saving grace (not that grades aren't important to me, they very much still are). I could see myself having missed out on so much of life had I not first experienced it without school and career being a distraction from my personal development.

Global Citizen Year can be hit or miss depending on the homestay and apprenticeship placement that fellows receive, but there is definitely a lot of room to make the year your own wherever you're placed. I admit that my homestay and apprenticeship placements were atypically wonderful placements (many fellows in my region were disappointed in their seemingly non-existent apprenticeships during my year), so perhaps my attitude would have been very different had my placement been different. Although I expected to develop professionally through my apprenticeship, that wasn't the case; rather I came out having my worldview challenged and I believe I was very much more prepared to face the challenge of a changing worldview as I entered college. Although I learned a lot about the food justice movement and its values, I didn't make impact on the community or the movement or any of the initiatives because I was unskilled. The nature of the program taught me above anything to be able to make the most of the circumstances I'm placed in and not focus on what I'm lacking but make the most of what I do have, especially with regard to the relationships that I'm given; Global Citizen Year instilled in me the value that anyone, no matter how different, can relate and find common ground, and sometimes I really gotta fight myself to make that happen. Global Citizen Year has changed their brand image from being volunteerism-focused from when I joined their program, to a self transformation/self-discovery program, and I'm impressed by how aggressively they evaluate, reevaluate, and refine their programming to meet the needs of the fellows they take in year after year.

While Global Citizen Year provides many resources for their fellows to develop professionally (through the training seminars, the academic component of their curriculum, the many alumni opportunities they offer), I especially recommend this program to people who crave growth in their integrity and their emotional capacity. Of course, anyone can easily get away without growing in these respects, but Global Citizen Year surely facilitates that growth process.

What would you improve about this program?
I would recommend to Global Citizen Year that there should be more support for fellows the summer after they return from their countries. It's a common experience among fellows that they don't know what to do with themselves after they get back, and I personally regret having not thought about how I wanted to use that following summer to prepare for school. Receiving advice, guidance, and wisdom from the staff and alumni from the program would have been a very beneficial resource during that summer. More college preparatory guidance and career advice and resources would have been nice. Although I definitely came into college a more mature person, Global Citizen Year didn't help me think realistically about my career interests because I had so little knowledge about what the job market is like.
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Libby
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Couldn't be better - बहुत अच्छा का प्रोग्राम (very good program)

I returned from India with Global Citizen Year in April of 2016, and I cannot recommend this program more. The staff is amazing, and they really make sure that you learn as much as possible and grow astronomically. There is a unique combination of independence and support, with immersion that I haven't seen in any other program. However, this does come with a considerable amount of growing pains, and I do not want to understate the difficulty of living in this country for 8 months. India is an assault on the senses, and it can be hard to get one's bearings in this country.
If you go in with an open mind and no expectations than this program will ensure that you succeed.

What would you improve about this program?
Better selection of host families. My host family spoke English fluently as one of their primary languages, so I did not learn Hindi as well as I would've liked. But as I understand, they are making access to Hindi-speaking host families a priority.
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Aissatou
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Just Do It!

Everyone says it, but this program really is life-changing. This program taught me how to:
- Think critically in a way that textbooks never did
- Find and create happiness
- Be independent, but know when to ask for help
- Live outside my comfort zone
- Value human connections

Being a part of the Global Citizen Year Cohort was definitely the highlight of my experience. I made some incredible friends during in-country training seminars, and even with fellows going to other countries during pre-departure orientation and re-entry training. The program does a great job with selecting fellows from every single background imaginable. Every cohort is racially, culturally, religiously and economically diverse. Some people had never left the country before and others were seasoned travelers, some people were already fluent in the language of the country they were going to and most of had just learned to say hello. Coming from boarding school and having lived abroad before, I thought that I would be immune to any homesickness and loneliness. But, I was totally wrong. This is where fellow-to-fellow support became very important for me, and I would not have had such a wonderful experience if it was not for my amazing/wonderful peers. Even now, 3 years later, I still turn to my fellow fellows for life advice and we continue to come together through official and unofficial alumni events. The alumni network is ever-growing, but regardless of which year or what country you went to, there is always an automatic connection with other alums.

What would you improve about this program?
*I participated in the program during 2012-2013.

During my year there were a few hiccups that affected my experience, mainly not having a stable apprenticeship until about 2 months into my homestay, and feeling as if there was a lack of emotional support/understanding from in-country staff. Overall, my time in Senegal was not filled with happiness and rainbows every day...but to be honest, getting through the hard times made it absolutely worth it in the end.

Talking with more recent fellows and staff, it's clear that Global Citizen Year has made and continues to make significant improvements to the program in order to improve fellow experiences before, during and after their time abroad.