CIEE Community Impact Initiative
High School Study Abroad
Through the CIEE Community Impact Initiative, high school students grow as individuals by serving others through programs that address local needs, with a focus on issues of food security, public health, and youth development.
Food Security
On the CIEE Good Neighbor Kitchen program, high school students learn regional cooking traditions from local chefs while exploring how food can bring people and communities together. Throughout the program, students prepare and serve meals alongside community partners, connect with local families, and experience daily life through excursions, cultural activities, and homestays or eco-campus living.
Youth Development & Education
On the CIEE Good Neighbor Play Lab program, high school students work directly with local children through six “Play Studios” focused on creativity, storytelling, movement, exploration, and community-building. Throughout the program, which was developed in partnership with Neighborhood Villages, students build practical leadership and facilitation skills, while learning how culture, community, and play shape childhood development.
Additionally, CIEE’s Youth Development-focused programs connect students with local partnerships and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), empowering students to serve and support the youth in their host communities.
- Leadership & Service in Children’s Education in Legon, Ghana: Join local educational enrichment initiatives for at-risk children and youth aged 4 to 15.
- Leadership & Service in Youth Development in Mérida, Mexico: Gain valuable experience at a local NGO to support local children and their families.
- Leadership & Service in Youth Development in Mohammedia, Morocco: Partner an experienced non-profit to work with local youth.
- Leadership & Service in Youth Development in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic: Encourage the growth and development of campers at a summer camp for children and teens.
Community Development & Public Health
CIEE’s Leadership & Service in Public Health programs provide hands-on health experience through partnerships with local experts, community organizations, and NGOs.
- Leadership & Service in Public Health in Gaborone, Botswana: Work with a local community-based organization to identify and address the community’s health needs.
- Leadership & Service in Public Health in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic: Join field-based public health education initiatives alongside a local NGO to promote healthy habits among children and teens.
More Service Opportunities
CIEE also offers service opportunities through our Ecology & Sustainability and Wildlife Conservation programs. Students gain hands-on experience while meeting local advocates and experts dedicated to preservation. Explore programs like:
- Marine Ecology & Sustainability in Lisbon, Portugal: Work with local NGOs to raise public awareness of coastal dune preservation and explore aquatic ecosystems, learning from local biologists and sustainability researchers.
- Wildlife Conservation in Sydney, Australia: Observe Australian wildlife across marine, coastal, and bushland ecosystems to understand the unique conservation challenges of coastal cities.
- Ecology & Sustainability in Monteverde, Costa Rica: Study in one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world, learning from local conservationists in a country paving the way for climate change mitigation.
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