Plan on attending one of the Information Nights:
Tuesday, February 12, 7:00 pm
Tuesday, March 11, 7:00 pm

Information Night Location:
SafeCo Jackson Street Center 306 23rd Ave S., Suite 200 (near corner of Jackson and 23rd Ave.) Seattle, WA 98144

At Global Visionaries, our exchange students are not all in high school!

The need for cultural exchange does not end when you turn 18 or on post-college backpacking trips. At Global Visionaries, we offer a special cultural immersion trip designed for Life Long Learners.

It includes:

• One-one-one language instruction
• International work projects
• Home Stay
• Educational excursions
• And more...

Trip Dates
July 2 - 13, 2008 (12 days)

GV's Mission:
To educate and empower youth and adults to become active global citizens who promote social and environmental justice through community service at home and abroad.

"The GV Life Long Learner program was an amazing experience. This trip enabled me to build deep relationships and has rekindled my passion for meeting, learning and cooperating with people from around the world...it will be remembered for a lifetime."

 -Dave Couture, Teacher, Orcas School and GV Life Long Learner Participant, 2007

Home Stay
Become a member of a Guatemalan family; experience the culture and customs first hand. All of our families are carefully pre-screened. The warmth, generosity, and humor you share with your families are unforgettable.

Language Study
Learn Spanish through seven 3-hour one-on-one language and cultural classes. Antigua, Guatemala is renowned worldwide for its excellent Spanish language schools--over 40 of them in Antigua! Whether you are at beginner or native speaker level, your language skills improve quickly.

Service Project
Our GV LLL team will select from the following projects: co-build a school; work with our coffee cooperative partners; work in our reforestation project and nursery; and/or work in Obras sociales del Hermano Pedro Hospital. The LLL team collaborates and works side by side with Guatemalans of all ages. Stay in touch via internet after you return.

Adventure
(Optional excursions not included in price.) Explore the Ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal in the tropical rainforest--also habitat for many exotic species of animals. Visit Chichicastenango, home of the oldest running outdoor Mayan market in the world, and Lake Atitlan surrounding by magestic volcanos and Mayan villages.

The Life Long Learner (LLL) team meets 3 times prior to trip to learn Guatemalan culture, social norms and to learn fundraising techniques to provide scholarships for low-income students (see back side). Post trip, a re-entry party reunites the group to reminisce and more importantly, to continue exploring the invaluable cross-cultural and social justice-based lessons from the immersion experience.

College Credit available:
10 Language and 3 Leadership college credits through Seattle Central Community College. (Additional cost)

Optional:
Choose a local Global Visionaries (GV) Service Work Team to fit your schedule and interest. Each team is fun and hands-on. Work along side our program youth while you protect the environment or co-educate elementary students about micro lending.

After becoming safe from political unrest in the late eighties, Guatemala quickly became a sought-after destination for adventure travelers from around the world. Its combination of rich culture and vivid landscape finds a place in anyone's heart. Culturally, the country is 53% indigenous, providing for the largest cultural diversity in Central America. Besides Spanish, 21 different languages are spoken widely. Indigenous traditions are evident all around you, such as the colorful traje t’pico (traditional dress) of the Guatemalan women, and the large, chaotic, and exciting open air markets. Physically, Guatemala provides a spectacular variety of tropical jungle, snow-capped active volcanoes, and lively coastline.

The purpose of this trip is twofold. First, it is a personal journey: to engage in a meaningful way with Guatemalans through work, community building, friendship and exploration--in a singularly profound way--the Global Visionaries way--where one ceases to be a tourist from the moment one lands in the Guatemalan culture. Fees are $1,000 plus round trip airfare to Guatemala [apprx. $800] and are all inclusive except snacks and misc. personal items.

The second purpose is to become a partner in co-financing the community development projects on which you will be working. To that end, each adult traveler is asked to fundraise an average of $4,000. *(The amount of any given team member can fundraise varies depending on a variety of factors.) We understand that each member of our team will have a lesser or greater capacity to fundraise. This amount provides scholarships for two low-income students. $1,000 non-refundable deposit due Mar. 16 to hold space however deposits are accepted until maximum of 15 passengers is reached. All funds due by June 30, 2008. Global Visionaries provides handbook and hands-on training for successful fundraising.

Chris Fontana and Global Visionaries have led over 500 students and adults to Guatemala and Costa Rica since 1997. Chris has traveled extensively throughout the world. He was co-recipient of the Colorado Partners in Education Award for organizing two Youth Environmental Summits, coordinating travel of 600 students from over 32 countries and 40 States. He has an M.A. in WSD (Ecological Education) and is the 2007 Antioch Seattle Alumni of the Year. He taught Spanish and global leadership for 15 years and has resided in Spain, Chile, and Mexico. He has been Executive Director of Global Visionaries since 1999.

For more information, call 206.322-9448 or email learners@global-visionaries.org

To secure a spot: Send a check for $1,000 to "Global Visionaries" - LLL Trip 1130 34th Ave. Seattle, WA 98122