Meet Our 2024 Global Travel Scholars
About The Global Travel Scholars Program
The World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh’s Global Travel Scholars program provides a full scholarship to selected high school sophomores and juniors with financial need to participate in a summer program abroad through World Learning’s The Experiment in International Living.
In this program, learning lasts beyond the three weeks you’ll spend abroad. Before the summer, you’ll participate in workshops on topics like cultural humility and self care. And after, you’ll improve public speaking and leadership skills through a final storytelling event and a group project!
Travel abroad programs last three to five weeks and involve a combination of host family stays, language training, community service, and outdoor adventures. Since 2004, we have sent over 150 students to more than 20 countries including Argentina, Australia, Belize, Botswana, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Mongolia, Morocco, Peru, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Tanzania, and Thailand.
This is a needs-based scholarship for high school students who have never traveled abroad before and would not be able to do so without a scholarship. The scholarship covers all program fees (activities, lodging, food, etc.), domestic and international flights, health and accident insurance, and passport and visa fees.
Learn more in this recorded virtual info session!
You can access PowerPoint slides from the presentation here.
A Transformative Experience
In this program, learning lasts beyond the three weeks you’ll spend abroad. In the months leading up to your trip, you’ll participate in workshops on topics like cultural humility and self care. As you connect with your cohort of Scholars, you’ll prepare to be representatives of the Council and the United States while abroad.
When you return, we’ll help you share the transformative experiences you had while abroad! You’ll improve public speaking and leadership skills and share your experience through a storytelling event and a group project.
Developing a network of globally-minded peers, you’ll leave this program better prepared to lead in an increasingly globally connected world.
Am I Eligible?
In order to be eligible for the Global Travel Scholars program, students must:
- – Be a current sophomore or junior in high school (16+ as of Feb 1, 2024)
- – Live in the Pittsburgh area or be an active member of a Global Minds Chapter
- – Have not traveled outside of the United States or Canada, except in the case of immigrants or refugees to the United States who have lived abroad
- – Would not be able to travel without a full scholarship
Questions? Contact Director of Youth Programming Kathleen Newell at kathleen@worldpittsburgh.org.
Applications for the 2024 Global Travel Scholars Program are CLOSED. They will open again in Fall 2024.
“The Global Travel Scholarship program gets you ready for the real world in ways that one, you will be nervous about and two, you won’t be ready for, but that’s what makes it exciting.”
– Anicet Mundumdu, Global Travel Scholar to South Africa
Hear from our 2023 Scholars!
Our Global Travel Scholars took the stage at the 2023 International Literature Festival, hosted by City of Asylum on October 3!
Our annual Welcome Home Celebration was added to the LitFest lineup along with other speakers and artists. Each Scholar told a true, 5-minute story from their time abroad.
The theme of the night: Lost & Found in Translation.
We were also joined by Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, who awarded our Scholars certificates and spoke about the importance of expanding our worldview and perspective so we can help create a more welcoming city.
Watch the recorded program below!