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Where There Be Dragons In the days before the world had been fully charted, mapmakers would draw dragons to represent the lands that were still unknown. Bold explorers who ventured beyond the map’s edge were said to go “where there be dragons.” There are still people who live for this type of adventure. Who live in search of the meaning and mysticism that accompany adventures into the unknown. If you are one of them, come join us. We run programs for people like you. Founded in 1993, Where There Be Dragons is now recognized as the leader in cross-cultural education. We specialize in guiding summer and semester programs for high school and college students in 17 countries in the developing world. Each Dragons course is carefully crafted to cultivate global citizenship, leadership, and self-awareness within our students. If we succeed, we believe that Dragons students will return home better prepared to be leaders in thought, leaders in action, and most of all, leaders at heart.
Youth For Understanding (YFU) Youth For Understanding (YFU) cultural exchange opens minds and hearts, enables learning that transforms lives, and ultimately helps to make us better citizens of one world. Founded in 1951 to offer the world a new beginning, healing the devastation of World War II, we have grown into a network of 60-plus partner countries and 12,000 support volunteers worldwide. YFU offers a wide range of opportunities lasting Choose from a year, semester, summer or specialty program that allows you to immerse yourself in another culture, learn a new language and live with a host family who will open their home and hearts to you. Gap Year Programs (18-26) Young adults live with a host family, attend a college and/or participate in volunteer or internship programs. It’s the perfect adventure for a young adult ready to make a difference in today’s world. From application to return, YFU stays with you every step of the way, creating a safe, supportive environment in which to explore and gain a deeper understanding of different cultures, and creating hope for the future. YFU study abroad programs aren’t for everyone. They are for those eager to explore the path less taken, who are open to discovery and the realization that there is more than one way to live a life. For those ready to ask provocative questions of themselves, and who are ready to learn from the inside out. The YFU experience teaches young adults about the world. Young people may seek out cultural exchange for adventure and to escape the confines of the known, but they end up getting something else entirely out of the experience. Personal growth is a key benefit of YFU’s program, as students gain: Self-reliance, resourcefulness, and confidence; without parents, siblings, teachers, and coaches to fall back on, you have to rely more on yourself. from three weeks to 10 months. Youth Programs (ages 15-18)
WHERE THERE BE DRAGONS
How do we travel? At Dragons, we are travelers, not tourists. We travel in small groups, with 3 expert instructors and 12 students, maintaining a 4:1 student-to- instructor ratio. Traveling in a small group allows each course to follow a flexible itinerary and prioritize low-impact cultural engagement. This means that we don’t take any shortcuts. When we travel, we pile into ox carts, paddle dugout canoes, and sleep on overnight trains. When we arrive in a new community, we live with homestay families and taste new foods, study a foreign language, and take bucket showers. We push ourselves to fully embrace a new way of life. And in doing so, we gain perspective on our lives at home, as well as firsthand insight into the myriad of issues that communities face in the developing world. What makes Dragons different? Dragons’ biggest asset is our instructors. Dragons instructors are professional educators. They come to us with a background in education, international development, or with country-specific expertise. With over 200,000 days of combined field experience, our instructors leverage their skillset and in-country contacts to design physically challenging, culturally relevant experiences. Each course is built around 9 program components to ensure a consistent core curriculum, and then tailored to meet the teams’ specific strengths. By putting our instructors at the center of the course design process, we encourage creativity, innovation, and empowered leadership in the field. Every Dragons course follows a different map. Every Dragons student explores uncharted territory. Come join us for your next adventure. www.whereetherebedragons.com
Better decision making, problem solving, and conflict resolution skills. Resilience and independence of thought; program participants are less likely to unquestioningly accept something that someone else tells them. Tolerance of risk and adaptability in dealing with the unexpected. Enriched and competitive college applications and resumés. In addition to study abroad opportunities we have opportunities for families to host international students, adults to participate in study tours and volunteer. To learn more about YFU Study Abroad Programs visit: www.yfuusa.org/studyabroad
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