High School Summer Abroad Leadership & Service Programs
Become a Changemaker with a Summer Abroad!
Imagine creating positive change through community service in Mohammedia, developing public health skills in Gaborone, or supporting community initiatives in Mérida. Our Leadership & Service programs empower you to develop your leadership and advocacy skills while exploring social issues in a global context. Through community engagement projects and partnerships with local NGOs (non-governmental organizations), you will examine leadership in public health, youth development, community building, or education. Build your confidence as a changemaker with hands-on experience proposing solutions and completing impactful projects.
By the end of your program, you’ll return home with a broader global perspective, prepared to become a leader in your community and beyond.
A Summer for Fun, Friends, and Your Future
Fun
Dive into hands-on community service projects in a new city, getting inspiration from a new culture through daily activities and excursions.
Friends
Connect with students who share your passion for service! Share ideas as you work side by side, building friendships that last beyond the summer.
Future
Gain real-world experience that empowers you to take action in your own community. Develop leadership and problem-solving skills that help you succeed in college and beyond!
Service Learning on High School Summer Abroad Programs
CIEE Leadership & Service students connect with culturally rooted, in-country centers and vetted NGO partners, creating opportunities for authentic and impactful collaboration.
| What It Is Not | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Participating in a pre-selected service activity chosen by CIEE, such as painting a school | Engaging with local NGOs and experts to understand the community’s strengths and needs |
| Students and CIEE staff determining project goals without the community’s input | Observing how partner NGOs approach service within their community’s cultural context |
| Beginning service activities before exploring the community’s cultural and social context | Collaborating with partner organizations on projects that reflect the community’s current needs |
| Approaching service projects with preconceived “superior” solutions rather than learning from local perspectives | Embracing a mindset of humility and partnership, valuing local expertise and perspectives |
Experience Leadership & Service Around the World
Explore our Leadership & Service programs in 6 exciting destinations around the world. Study subjects like Public Health in Gaborone, Botswana, Leadership & Youth Development in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, or Community Building in Cape Town, South Africa. Our immersive programs build your confidence and leadership skills, equipping you with a competitive edge for college applications and future career opportunities.
All programs include:
- Classes you won’t want to miss: Engage in 3 hours of service learning each day, developing your leadership skills through hands-on learning, collaboration, and service.
- Community engagement: Work alongside local organizations and NGOs to better understand the challenges facing your host community and consider potential solutions.
- Leadership development: Build the skills to lead with purpose, collaborate with others, and turn ideas into meaningful action through hands-on activities addressing real-world challenges.
- Cultural immersion: Experience your host culture firsthand through daily cultural activities like dance classes, visits to local museums, and day trips exploring nearby cities.
Stats
service hours in 2026
total travelers
of alumni say CIEE programs helped them connect with different perspectives
Explore Our High School Summer Abroad Leadership & Service Programs
- Legon, Ghana
- Social Change
Care for children in need through school or after-school programs.
- Homestay
- Service-learning: 50 hours
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Leadership
Spend the Mandela Month of Service working on projects that bring Nelson Mandela’s legacy to life.
- Group Housing
- Service-learning: 50 hours
- Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
- Social Change
Assess the health needs of children and teens from semi-urban communities and participate in public health education initiatives.
- Homestay
- Service-learning: 50 hours
- Gaborone, Botswana
- Social Change
Assess the health needs of local communities in Botswana, an African nation making great strides in public healthcare.
- Homestay
- Service-learning: 50 hours
- Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
- Social Change
Assist and support a summer camp project for children and teens that study at Acción Callejera.
- Homestay
- Service-learning: 50 hours
- Mohammedia, Morocco
- Leadership
Mentor local youth, raise social awareness, and engage in creative activities with a friendly cross-cultural community.
- Homestay
- Service-learning: 50 hours
- Merida, Mexico
- Leadership
- Social Change
Mentor children and see what makes an NGO tick.
- Homestay
- Service-learning: 50 hours
Standards-based Study Abroad Curriculum
CIEE Leadership & Service programs follow the IPARD framework—Investigation, Planning, Action, Reflection, Demonstration—and align with the California DOE Civic Learning Task Force report to provide a truly unique hands-on learning experience abroad.
Learn more about our educator resources in our High School Educator Hub or download our Leadership & Service programs flyer.
blogs
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How a High School Summer of Service Abroad Can Shape Your Future
As 2025 comes to a close, we’re reflecting on some of the most meaningful experiences our students had this year. One standout program was the Leadership and Service program in... keep reading
Should My Teen Study Abroad? What High School Students Gain From Educational Travel
If you’ve traveled internationally, you know the thrill of stepping into a completely different way of living—new foods, new customs, new daily rhythms, and people who see the world through... keep reading
