
Breana Ross
Breana Ross, a native of Clinton, Maryland, transformed her study abroad experience in Cape Town into a lifelong commitment to storytelling and service. While abroad volunteering with SHAWCO Education, she taught reading and math to second and third graders in the Nyanga and Manenberg townships, embracing a mutual learning approach that emphasized cultural exchange and shared growth. Her reflections on identity, inequality, and resilience were shared through blogs and contributions to the University of Cape Town’s newspaper, amplifying voices across continents. In recognition of her impactful work, Breana was honored as the 2018 IES Abroad Global Citizen of the Year. She has since continued her mission as a reporter for WBAL-TV 11 in Baltimore, using journalism to spotlight underrepresented stories and inspire change.
“Studying abroad is a chance to broaden our perspective of the world, give others a window into parts of the world they’ve never seen, and engage in a mutual learning experience where we learn about the culture and experiences of people in the country where we’re studying and they learn about ours. Blogging about my time in Cape Town helped me understand the value of storytelling to give people a window into someone else’s world. It’s something that has shaped me as a journalist.Breana Ross
My time studying abroad in Cape Town through IES Abroad is still one of my fondest memories. I believe it’s one of the things that has fundamentally shaped who I am, how I see the world, and how I treat people even today.”