Our programs are inherently designed to take us outside the world we consider normal so we can learn about different ways of doing and being. Learning how many different ways there are to live in the world is an opportunity to reflect on our own assumptions, change our minds about things, and broaden our view of the world.
In addition to learning from the people and places where you travel, you will also learn from rich experiences and differences within your student group. All of us hold many identities (age, gender, race, nationality, geography, class, religion, etc). On our programs, you will reflect on your many identities and how they fit within your peer group and within a new cultural context. This process can lead to powerful awareness of ourselves, and how we can be allies for all people. Below is a guide for how specific identities may influence someone’s travel experience.
Travel presents a unique opportunity to explore who we are in a new context. It leads to discovering how we are all truly unique, and similar. Valuing the fullness of ourselves and others leads to true empathy and care. Below is a resource to expand your awareness around how specific identities are often viewed and received by various cultures around the world, and how we can all become allies for each other, especially across perceived differences.
On your travel program, you will learn skills for allyship—the lifelong work of building relationships of trust, solidarity, and accountability with marginalized individuals or groups. You will practice allyship by learning the local language, observing culturally appropriate behavior, putting money into the local economy, and approaching your experience from a learning mindset. Many of the communities we visit carry histories of oppression and/or exploitation. As foreign visitors, we may hold power due to aspects of our identity (wealth, nationality, etc.). We work to become allies with host communities by centering their voices and stories, continuing to listen and learn, and reflecting on our own identities, privilege, and unconscious bias.
