This year, Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) is celebrating its 20th anniversary of running service-learning leadership programs for teens. The company began with the idea to bring the spirit and mission of the Peace Corps to young leaders, creating immersive service-learning experiences that inspire a global perspective and empower meaningful impact. Since then, GLA has become a trusted leader in service learning, with relationships that span decades with communities and local partners who have become like family.

While GLA was founded in 2004, its roots date back to 2003 when Fred Swaniker, a Stanford graduate and TED Fellow from Ghana, co-founded the African Leadership Academy in Johannesburg, a non-profit high school designed to inspire Africa’s future leaders to create meaningful change. And ALA thrived, which demonstrated the power of opportunity and leadership development to empower young people. Thus, Global Leadership Adventures was born. In 2006, Andrew Motiwalla joined the team, bringing his Peace Corps experience and passion to grow the organization’s reach and mission.

With this in mind, GLA has introduced several new internship programs for 2025. Last summer, we piloted three internships for teens, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants. With a focus on career exploration, meaningful community service and hands-on learning through a formal internship structure, we hope that these new offerings will play a part in educating and inspiring the next generation of leaders.

• Bali – Career Exploration in Community Development (with focus on business & sustainability)
• Ghana – Career Exploration in Youth Education (with focus on STEM & robotics)
• South Africa – Career Exploration in Wildlife Conservation (with focus on veterinary sciences & earth studies

From Executive Director Jessica Miller: “It’s been an honor to share these transformative journeys with your families, inspiring a new generation of curious, empathetic global citizens. Over the years, many of our own children have set out on these adventures, deepening our pride in the safe, meaningful programs we design, and the impact they create. Together, we’ve built something incredible, and I’m excited for what we’ll continue to achieve in the years ahead.”

To learn more, download GLA’s 20th Anniversary Guide or visit their website at experiencegla.com.