Our Impact

From Our CEO

Since 2010, our mission has been to help exceptional young people find their purpose, their people and their power to create positive change in the world.

We’re reimagining the formative transition into adulthood by ensuring the next generation is prepared to build a more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable future.

In our first ten years, our immersive Fellowship served over 1000 extraordinary young people to become active and engaged global citizens.

At the onset of the pandemic, we paused our Fellowship and pivoted to launch The Academy — an accessible, virtual offering that served nearly 1500 young people during an unprecedented era.

Today, we are proud to introduce a new immersion experience abroad, the Take Action Lab. Designed by a global team with young people’s voices at the forefront, this innovative new program brings together the very best of the Fellowship and Academy.

Starting in 2023, Take Action Lab students will gain lifelong skills during an immersive semester in South Africa. With a diverse cohort of like-minded peers from around the world, students will apprentice at human rights organizations and learn how to tackle global issues from the ground up.

Throughout this journey, we remain immensely grateful to our team, our allies and supporters, and to our students. Together we’re launching a critical mass of young people ready to change the world, for good.

With gratitude and determination,

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BY THE NUMBERS

2010

Founded

1500

New Leaders

68

Countries

$25M

Scholarships

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51%

of Global Citizen Year students are from low income backgrounds

compared to

16%

of gap year participants nationally

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46%

of Global Citizen Year students are students of color

compared to

16%

of gap year participants nationally

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80%

of all Global Citizen Year students receive need-based financial aid

and

30%

of all Global Citizen Year students receive full financial aid

A Transformative Experience

Learn how
Global Citizen
Year alumni...

23% 85%

Emotionally prepared for college

21% 76%

Have clear goals for college

BEFORE
AFTER

Maximize College

Alumni have the insights and agency to make the most of college

91%

say their Global Citizen Year has been instrumental in shaping their college experience

90%

say their Global Citizen Year increased their self-confidence

78%

say their Global Citizen Year helped them develop the agency to make the most of college

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Global Citizen Year changed the way I see my education. It isn't a pipeline. It's a complicated network of roads, highways, and choices all of which could take me down different courses. My Global Citizen Year is my GPS."

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J.I. Cruz, Senegal '15, American University '19

91%

of Fellows placed in Brazil, Ecuador or Senegal return proficient in a second language

Apply Cross-cultural Skills

Alumni use curiosity and empathy to work effectively across lines of difference

97%

are able to see the world from someone else’s perspective

97%

are able to work cooperatively with diverse groups

97%

have tolerance for others with different beliefs

My Global Citizen Year is the defining, pivotal point of my life, and has impacted every choice I've made since. I am a different human being on a cellular level. The way I interact with the world is different. I used to be closed off to everything because of uncertainty and fear. Now I aim higher and dream bigger.””

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Allie McKinney, Senegal '14, University of North Carolina '18

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Become Engaged Citizens

Alumni demonstrate the courage to stand up for their beliefs

91%

believe it is ‘very important’ or ‘essential’ to challenge inequity in all its forms

97%

have challeged others on issues of discrimination during the past year

99%

recognize the biases that affect their own thinking

Today, I have the confidence that I need to learn and grow in any situation. Because of Global Citizen Year, I’m more open to taking risks, embracing failures, and chasing uncertainty.”

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Mouna Algahaithi, Senegal 2014, University of Wisconsin Madison 2019
Education Specialist, PBS

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Lead with Purpose

Alumni are aligning their work with their convictions

84%

believe their Global Citizen Year made them more aware of their strengths and weaknesses as a leader

77%

believe their Global Citizen Year helped them develop a clearer sense of purpose

72%

believe their Global Citizen Year influenced the career path they chose to pursue

In Ecuador I discovered an interest at the intersection of energy and sustainability, and this has informed everything I’ve done since. My Global Citizen Year gave me the space to discern what I’m passionate about, and the courage to pursue it.”

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Jordan Lee, Ecuador 2013, Yale University 2017
Research Analyst, McKinsey & Company

A Lifetime of Impact

Alumni are leading lives that change the world

Our alumni are thriving in colleges and careers in over 60 countries. They’re being honored with prestigious awards and recognition and are working for influential organizations and companies. Global Citizen Year alumni are already having an outsized impact on society; and they’re just getting started!

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Download our Alumni Outcomes Report

Marking a decade of impact, our Alumni Outcomes Report shows how our programs are equipping students with a sense of purpose, a global perspective, and the agency to take ownership of their education.

Download Now

THE FUTURE IS UP TO YOU


Join our amazing community of donors to launch the leaders the world needs now.
Global Citizen Year is a 501c3, non-profit, and all contributions are fully tax-deductible.

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