What

A “bridge year,” sometimes referred to as a “gap year,” is a year between two phases of formal academic education, commonly the period between high school graduation and the beginning of college.  Global Citizen Year chooses to use the term “bridge year,” because we believe that a year of structured experiential learning will enable you son or daughter to more effectively bridge his or her high school and college experiences.

Why?

The benefits of a bridge year abound.  Students who have taken a year “off”, enter college more mature, with new life experiences and perspectives that will make them better prepared to make the most of their college experience. At the same time, students are poised to contribute to their college community in new ways.  They enter school with renewed energy for academics and a clearer vision for how to focus during their time in college.

We’d recommend reading Gwyeth Smith’s article that ran recently in the Washington Post, in which he advocates for the majority of high school students to take a bridge year before college.  CLICK HERE

While there are many opportunities for a bridge year, we believe that Global Citizen Year stands out for several reasons:

Unique Program Cycle

• TRAINING. The entire GCY experience is designed to support Fellows’ learning and growth. Fellows receive intensive and comprehensive training before they travel, once they arrive in-country, and throughout the course of their apprenticeships and homestays.
• LONG-TERM APPRENTICESHIPS. Fellows work in partnership with communities in long-term apprenticeships. By living and working in a community for an extended period, they have the unique opportunity to learn a language, form lasting relationships and understand the issues that shape their hosts’ lives and experiences.
• SUPPORT. Throughout each apprenticeship, Fellows receive support on the ground from their Team Leader and their cohort of Fellows. Carefully selected homestay families and project partners will also act as guides and resources. Fellows receive weekly visits from their Team Leader, and their team of Fellows will come together once a month to process learning and share experiences with each other.
• CAPSTONE PROJECT. When Fellows return to the US after their international apprenticeship, GCY  helps them share their experience with their home community. We connect them to resources to implement a capstone project to bring their experience home, ensuring that they are not the only one benefiting from their Global Citizen Year.

NETWORK

Once Fellows return home, they will become a part of the larger Global Citizen Year community by joining a dynamic alumni network.  This community will provide Fellows with support and resources throughout college and beyond.

ACCESS

GCY believes it is important to ensure access to all students, regardless of financial background.  To this end, we actively raise money from a variety of sources to help cover costs for students who might not otherwise be able to participate. In the 2009/10 program, 100% of our Fellows received some level of financial aid from GCY

Training & Risk Management

Through the training process, Fellows learn how to monitor their physical and mental well being while in their communities abroad. They learn how to recognize and treat illnesses and feelings that are common when working and living abroad, as well as those that are more serious and require medical attention. Additionally, they practice how to make sound decisions when faced with potentially dangerous situations.

Team Leaders and US staff continuously monitor local developments through state-department updates, alerting Fellows, and providing direct support in the event of any situation which poses a risk – health, weather, political, etc.

Local Supervision

Fellows live with carefully selected local families who provide the first line of local supervision and support.

Additionally, Fellows are visited weekly by their Team Leader, who is responsible for monitoring their’ mental and physical health and safety. Team Leaders help Fellows resolve issues as they arise, and log each visit to track situations that may develop over time.

Emergency Contacts & SOS

Each Fellow is issued an emergency card which includes information on how to reach SOS (our emergency health and evacuation service), GCY staff contacts (local and US), local and regional clinic contacts, and embassy contacts.

Fellows all carry local cell phones and are also provided with an emergency calling card.

24 Hour Emergency Hotline

Global Citizen Year’s Emergency Hotline is a 24-hour on-call system designed to respond quickly in case of emergencies relating to health, natural disaster, or political unrest. All Fellows and Parents receive detailed information on how and when to use the Emergency Hotline.

In the 2010-11 year, the GCY program cost is $26,300.  This total is all-inclusive and covers the entire 9-month program including:

• Program-related travel (domestic, international and in-country-from designated locations)
• Training (domestic and in-country)
• Educational components
• Enrichment activities
• Accommodations
• Meals
• Contributions to host communities and community projects
• Supplementary medical and evacuation insurance
• Visa and entry fees

GCY strongly believes that the ability to pay should not be a barrier to a student’s ability to participate. Applicants wishing to apply for funding assistance must have completed a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). We will use a sliding scale, based on your FAFSA Student Aid Report, to determine each Fellow’s program fee. Financial assistance decisions will be made prior to the deadline for Fellows to commit to the program.

In the 2009-10 program year, 100% of Fellows received some level of financial assistance from GCY.

Yes, financial  assistance is available.

GCY strongly believes that the ability to pay should not hinder a student’s ability to participate. Applicants wishing to apply for funding assistance must have completed a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). We will use a sliding scale, based on your FAFSA Student Aid Report, to determine each Fellow’s program fee. Financial assistance decisions will be made prior to the deadline for Fellows to commit to the program.

In the 2009-10 program year, 100% of Fellows received some level of financial assistance from GCY.