World Bridges’ core program engages young adults of color from low-income backgrounds in eight months of leadership, civic engagement, and cross-cultural training in the SF Bay Area, and provides first-time travelers from the Bay Area with an opportunity to take part in a volunteer project or internship outside of the US (2-12 weeks abroad). World Bridges also supports LEX participants with travel preparedness and fundraising trainings, a travel scholarship, and mentorship. Our program is centered on principles of participatory, experiential education with a vision of social justice. Program participation requires attendance at 2-3 meetings/events per month and 8 internship hours per month — all in the SF Bay Area. Participants must be living in the Bay Area during the program year, as well as the following year. We cover 80% of the program costs, including most – if not all – of the international airfare, travel insurance, and the international volunteer project-related costs.
To be eligible for the program, you must:
• Be a US citizen or US Permanent Resident
• Be a young person of color, age 18-26
• Be a Bay Area resident through 2010
• Be able to attend every program meeting and complete an internship
• Be able to demonstrate financial need
• Have not traveled abroad on your own before
• Have experience learning about or addressing social justice issues
• Have a strong desire to learn about different cultures & communities at home & abroad
• Be very self-motivated & reliable
• Demonstrate prior active community involvement and/or peer leadership
• Be willing and able to share their experience with other organizations & individuals