Global competency creates opportunities –
but its absence holds students – and our global community – back.
"Simple exchanges can break down walls between us, for when people come together… their common humanity is revealed."
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
OUR MODEL
Poverty is not only about a lack of basic resources.
It is also linked to the impoverishment of relationships outside of one’s immediate community.
All youth need access to global networks to activate their own global journeys through work and life. Schools need to prepare students for a world where global collaboration and cooperation is the norm. Young people are the key to combating the ignorance that breeds fear and intolerance..
Reach the World transforms the energy of travelers into a learning resource for K-12 classrooms. Our programs combine a digital platform, messaging and video conferencing to connect youth with travelers in one-to-one global, digital exchanges. Through our nationwide network of educators, travelers and volunteers, we are building a more thoughtful and welcoming society by sharing the benefits of travel with the youth of today, who will be the decision-makers of tomorrow.
OUR
IMPACT
Reach the World is inspiring youth to become curious, confident global citizens.
Each year, Reach the World connects hundreds of travelers with hundreds of classrooms in one-on-one global digital exchanges.
Since 2009, Reach the World has served more than 17,000 youth, 900 travelers and 500 volunteers. Together, our community has created more than 16,000 primary-source travel stories, chronicling daily life around the globe.
OUR 2016 - 2017 JOURNEY
250
CLASSROOMS TO BE SERVED THIS YEAR
250
TRAVELERS TO ENLIST, TRAIN AND DEPLOY THIS YEAR
300
VOLUNTEER MENTORS TO ENGAGE THIS YEAR
18K
TRAVEL STORIES TO BE SHARED ONLINE THIS YEAR
6
STAFF ON THE TEAM THIS YEAR
Reach the World seeks outcomes in the following areas:
Reach the World’s youth show advancements in self-efficacy, geographic literacy, interest in learning a foreign language, ability to connect schoolwork to future career pathways and empathy for foreign countries and cultures.
FOR
YOUTH
IN 2015 - 2016
93%
of our middle school students express interest in attending college one day, like their traveler
81%
of students express interest in studying or working abroad one day, like their traveler
75%
of our elementary school students achieve statistically significant improvement in core geographic literacy
29%
increase in value placed on learning a new language by our elementary school students
FOR
TRAVELERS
95% of travelers reported having a positive experience with the program
Reach the World’s travelers reflect deeply, continuously and purposefully during their journeys; engage in meaningful service; develop project management, networking and composition skills; and connect their journeys to future career pathways.
92%
reported that their RTW participation helped
them connect with and learn from the local community in their abroad location
89%
reported that their RTW participation complemented their college major and
supported their career aspirations
95%
reported that their RTW participation helped
them reflect upon and process their abroad experience
86%
reported that they meaningfully contributed
to their matched classroom through their RTW participation
TRAVELERS SAW IMPROVEMENTS IN
TIME MANAGEMENT
INTERCULTURAL AWARENESS
WRITING
COMMUNICATING COMPLEX IDEAS
TEACHING
INTERVIEWING
TESTIMONIALS
Reach the World travelers serve their communities:
“Thanks to Reach the World I now feel that one day I will travel around the world.”
RTW STUDENT
Reach the World travelers reflect:
“[Reach the World] became a form of personal reflection that allowed me to critically analyze my new surroundings.”
RTW TRAVELER
Reach the World travelers have an enriching abroad experience:
“From my own experience, coupled with the experiences of my classroom's Reach the World travelers, I can pass on to my students a new, different perspective of the world around them."
RTW EDUCATOR
Reach the World travelers have an enriching abroad experience:
“The change in perspective – looking at the world through the eyes of someone experiencing life in a very different way and for the very first time – makes for interesting and thought-provoking reading.”
RTW VOLUNTEER EDITOR
Reach the World’s volunteers leverage professional skills and develop new ones; have positive personal experiences; and support their travelers as editors, hosts and mentors.
FOR
VOLUNTEERS
92%
reported that they positively contributed to their travelers’ journeys
69%
reported that they made a positive difference in their travelers’ lives
53%
reported that they developed new professional skills
92%