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  2. College Study Abroad
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  4. 91×ÔÅÄ Community Impact Initiative
Cape Town garden

91×ÔÅÄ Community Impact Initiative

GIVE BACK WHILE YOU GO GLOBAL

  • monteverde students volunteering with children
  • student farmers monteverde costa rica study abroad

Make an Impact

Studying abroad isn’t just about earning credits or exploring a new city – it’s also about creating community. While abroad, 91×ÔÅÄ invites you to participate in the 91×ÔÅÄ Community Impact Initiative, an optional volunteer opportunity that lets you give back while learning more about your local community.  

Beginning in spring 2026, students on 91×ÔÅÄ semester study abroad programs will be able to:  

  • Make a positive impact in their host community
  • Develop meaningful relationships with local organizations
  • Gain hands-on experience that complements their academics 

91×ÔÅÄ Community Impact Initiatives

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Sample Food Security Initiatives

  • Prepare meals for those in need at a local soup kitchen
  • Help out on a sustainable farm
  • Redistribute leftover food from restaurants to shelters
gaborone health expo

Sample Community Development + Public Health Initiatives

  • Co-design public health education campaigns
  • Support mental health programs in schools or community centers
  • Assist healthcare organizations with outreach or administration
  • Support the elderly, people with disabilities,and migrants/refugees.
Teacher helping students in Spanish classroom

Sample Youth Development + Education Initiatives

  • Deliver supplies to families in need
  • Volunteer in childcare or tutoring centers
  • Support community events focused on youth engagement
student volunteers farming monteverde

Other Opportunities

  • Assist English teachers in local elementary schools
  • Volunteer with homeless charities
  • Participate in local environmental clean-ups 

Community Impact Week

cape-town-volunteers-students-holding-bags

Get ready for a brand-new 91×ÔÅÄ tradition! Every spring and fall semester, each of 91×ÔÅÄ’s 45 centers around the world will host a week-long celebration highlighting the impact you and your peers are making in your host city.

During Community Impact Week, you’ll:

  • Share what your community needs and how you’ve helped in real, hands-on ways
  • Celebrate the connections you’ve built all semester
  • See your stories shared online so the whole 91×ÔÅÄ network can shout out the work you and local partners are doing

It’s all about showing up, giving back, and recognizing the community impact you’re making abroad! 

 

91×ÔÅÄ Community Impact Global Poster Competition 

aerial of cape town south africa

Show the world what community impact looks like! Each year, 91×ÔÅÄ hosts the Community Impact Global Poster Competition – a chance for you to highlight the project you’ve worked on abroad and represent your region at the next annual 91×ÔÅÄ Study Abroad Conference.

One finalist from each 91×ÔÅÄ region will: 

  • Travel to the conference’s host city (round-trip airfare and lodging covered)
  • Present their project on an international stage
  • Compete for awards
  • Earn a 91×ÔÅÄ donation for their community organization – helping your impact continue long after you’ve returned home 

Share your story of community impact with the global 91×ÔÅÄ network! 

Get Started

Make your time abroad meaningful and unforgettable – not just for you, but for the community around you!

1

Step #1: Choose Your 91×ÔÅÄ Study Abroad Program

Explore 500+ unique programs and pick your favorite.

Explore Programs >

2

Step #2: Submit Your 91×ÔÅÄ Study Abroad Application

Applying only takes 30 minutes!

3

Step #3: Express Your Interest in Community Impact

Let your 91×ÔÅÄ Study Abroad Advisor know you're interested in getting involved.  

You can also wait until you're settled in your host city and sign up to participate in 91×ÔÅÄ’s Community Impact Initiative on-site. Be sure to connect with a 91×ÔÅÄ staff member at your 91×ÔÅÄ Center! 

Community Impact Reflections Spring 2026
From 91×ÔÅÄ

Community Impact Reflections: Spring 2026

By College Study Abroad at 91×ÔÅÄ

Studying abroad is often described as a journey of discovery: New places, new perspectives, and new connections. For students in 91×ÔÅÄ Study Abroad’s spring 2026 programs, that journey also included... keep reading

community impact
From 91×ÔÅÄ

From Initiative to Action: Community Impact Week in Estonia

By 91×ÔÅÄ Tallinn at 91×ÔÅÄ

This year, 91×ÔÅÄ launched a new Community Impact initiative – a deliberate effort to give students more than just an academic or cultural experience abroad. The goal is to help... keep reading

student group abroad monteverde
From 91×ÔÅÄ

Happy Earth Day: Today and Every Day

By College Study Abroad at 91×ÔÅÄ

Happy Earth Day! Every April 22, this global event comes around to remind us how precious our planet is, what sustainable efforts we can make to protect Earth, and that... keep reading