WHAT WE DO

The mission of the World Leadership School is to unite young people around the world’s most pressing problems and empower them to become leaders.

We believe that global problems such as climate change and poverty demand new and powerful forms of leadership. We believe great leadership can be taught. We also believe that extraordinary experiences can inspire young people to become driven and visionary leaders.

We work with schools and universities to create service land leadership programs with communities in Peru, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Belize and the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe.

Our partner communities are making progress against global problems thanks to strong local leadership. Our 10-28 day trips allow students to experience these inspiring communities and learn about global issues by working to solve them.

Our goal is that each student begins the process of developing his or her own leadership style and vision. Students learn leadership by studying themselves and the local leaders around them.

Along the way, students embark on outdoor adventures such as trekking or rafting, immerse themselves in a foreign culture, and experience themselves and their world in a whole new way.

World Leadership School programs are tailored to the requirements of each school but include the following core elements:

Global Issues – Each program focuses on a single global issue such as climate change, public health or the consequences of globalization. Discussion sessions help students overcome the “barrier of complexity” in order to develop confidence and understand an issue.

Service Learning – Students do volunteer work related to the global issue. This work provides hands-on learning and allows students to progress from understanding to action.

Leadership Training – World Leadership School’s leadership training emphasizes study of self and others. We start with self-assessment tools that help students better understand their communication style and emotional intelligence. We work alongside local leaders, understand how they lead, and discuss elements of good leadership. We continue with one-on-one coaching and goal setting. Our goal is to start students on the path to answer the following questions: “What is my leadership style? What is my leadership vision? What do I stand for?”

Language Immersion – Living and working in a French- or Spanish-speaking community is a powerful way to learn a language. Language classes are not part of every trip but can be integrated into a trip curriculum upon request.