Today was GREAT!!! We started the day at 8:45 with a delicious pinto, and then played some fun games such as “Sister, Sister,” and “Mafia.” Then we learned about Costa Rican culture and dance, and had lunch. Then we took a trip to Santa Ana, the local town, and ate lots of food, gained a…
Read more
We have started the Year 3 Institute in Costa Rica! Students arrived today at United World College in Santa Ana, which is a suburb of San Jose. After dinner and introductions, students started planning the sessions that they will lead in the days to come. Although a bit tired from travel, everyone was excited to…
Read more
In 2016 GYLI will partner with L.A. Maritime Institute to add a Year 1 tall-ship session in L.A., California July 17-21, 2016 As GYLI continues to grow and expand, we are excited to launch our first west coast program in Southern California. We have established excellent partnerships and this program will help advance GYLI’s mission of…
Read more
In addition to our summer programs, GYLI is fortunate to work with a number of schools and organizations on 1 and 2 day retreats, workshops and leadership programs. We love this chance to extend our work from the summer and interact with students and teachers closer to home. If you are interested in a workshop for…
Read more
“Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn…as to demand thinking.” ― John Dewey This summer was another successful year of transformative programs for GYLI with over 300 students participating in hands on learning experiences throughout the U.S. and in Costa Rica. One of this summer’s participants shared the following reflection on her…
Read more
“The more you know about another person’s story, the less possible it is to see that person as your enemy.” ― Parker J. Palmer GYLI partnered with the Nicholas Sparks foundation to gather high school students in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area of different cultural backgrounds for a day of cultural exploration and storytelling. The day…
Read more
July 24, 2015: Today began with our final breakfast at EARTH University, followed by a quick visit to the bookstore for some students. Then we returned to UWC in Costa Rica’s central valley. We got to travel again through the beautiful Braulio Carrillo National Park. The road takes over many rivers and through beautiful mountain…
Read more
July 23, 2015: Today is highlight reel day for GYLI. We began our day early with a pick up from the Farms in the La Argentina community to go to the Pequare River for White Water Rafting. This is always a highlight for the students and teachers. It is such a fun and beautiful way to…
Read more
July 22, 2015: While the students are at homestays living and breathing an intercultural experience, the GYLI Coordinators and Faculty Participants are learning the theories behind the importance of the experience and sharpening our skills on Social Emotional Learning (SEL). Often discussed as “soft skills,” research suggests that socially literate teens and young adults produce more…
Read more