Travel to Africa, Asia, Europe or Latin America
GLA combines meaningful community service projects with cultural immersion and adventure to give high school students the chance to build real-world leadership skills and have an unforgettable, life-changing experience.
- Programs run 10-21 days in length during the summer with many dates available
- Choose the best program type for your teen, including Medicine & Public Health or Sports Leadership, among others
Teens who enroll on a GLA program will:
- Travel to a new country and build their confidence as an experienced traveler
- Make a lasting impact in a developing community through meaningful global health projects
- Work to improve health conditions in the community while learning about local healthcare issues
- Embrace the traditions of another culture and learn about traditional healing practices
- Have an adventure, from snorkeling over coral reefs in Bali to swimming in natural caves in the Dominican Republic
- Make friends with like-minded teens who share their passions for travel and volunteering
If you fill out the form on this page, we'll email you a full-color catalog with photos and details on all of our programs. And if you'd like, we can also send one by mail for free. It's that easy!
If you fill out the form on this page, we'll mail you a full-color catalog with photos and details on all of our programs. It's that easy!Global Leadership Adventures was co-founded by Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Andrew Motiwalla, and many Peace Corps alumni have developed and staffed our international programs. Since the the Peace Corps is not open to high school students, GLA was inspired by the same qualities to give high school students the opportunity to make a difference abroad and experience the world in a new way in the years before starting college.
As a student volunteer with GLA, your teen will get to shape the kind of experience they want to have. If your child is interested in becoming a doctor or nurse someday, they might consider one of our Medicine & Public Health programs in South Africa, Bali or the Dominican Republic. If they have a passion for working with kids or animals, we have programs in Costa Rica, Peru and beyond that will cultivate a unique perspective on these topics.
Based on a survey of alumni 3 years post program, 97% of GLA alumni agree: "When I look back on my GLA experience, I consider it to have been life-changing." From the many GLA students who have gone on to study at top universities such as Harvard and Stanford, start their own nonprofits or return to visit the same countries they experienced while on-program back in high school, we know your teen is only a flight away from the start of a new journey that will change their life for many years to come.
A GLA adventure to fuel your passions, or find a new one.
Children & Education • Language Immersion • Ocean & Environment Conservation • Animal & Wildlife Conservation • Sports Leadership • Medicine & Public Health • Social Entrepreneurship • Photography & Journalism • Children & Community Development • Building from Start to Finish
Tuition is all-inclusive
Tuition varies by program length, destination country and activities included on-program ($2,099 to $6,299)
*Tuition includes all in-country expenses including: Educational materials, lodging, 3 meals per day, all in-country transportation, airport pick-up, professional full-time staff and experts from the US/Europe, travel medical insurance, cultural activities, lectures, weekend excursions, and pre-departure materials and support.
Where Will You Travel As A GLA Volunteer?
Africa • Ghana • South Africa • Tanzania • Asia & The Pacific • Bali • China • Fiji • India • Thailand • Central America & The Caribbean • Costa Rica • Belize • Cuba • Dominican Republic • Guatemala • Guadeloupe • Haiti • Europe • Spain • South America • Brazil • Galapagos • Peru
Our 21-day Flagship programs provide the ideal amount of time to satisfy every dimension of the GLA Experience.