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IES Abroad Students Are Finding Their Place in the World.
Study abroad isn’t a vacation from life. It’s an invitation to claim your global citizenship. To learn by exploring. To connect with a community. To give back through purposeful action.
How are you a global citizen? Show us how you’re making an impact in the world through studying or interning abroad – be it through academic, philanthropic, or personal efforts.
The Global Citizen of the Year awardees have the chance to share their stories with an audience of thinkers, leaders, and change agents within the IES Abroad global network of more than 145,000 alumni, university contacts, staff, and friends.
There are a million avenues of change.
What’s yours?
We're thrilled to announce that Yazmin Baptiste (IES Abroad Rabat & IES Abroad Rome | Lafayette College) has been named our 2019 Global Citizen of the Year for her dedicated support to refugee and immigrant communities in Rabat, as well as through her volunteering and independent research in Rome. Dive into Yazmin's story—including her motivations, her hesitations, and her upcoming plans—in our recent interview.
What is Global Citizenship?
Global citizenship is recognizing your connection to the world community at large. It reaches beyond boundaries and borders. As a global citizen, you learn by listening and exploring, you connect with other people as your neighbors, and you give back through purposeful action.
Being a global citizen looks different for everyone. Your interests and opportunities impact how you listen and explore. The varied people around you affect how you connect with neighbors. And, of course, purposeful action doesn’t take one singular form. Explore our list of six ways to discover your global citizenship while abroad.
Strengthen Your Résumé
Being chosen as the Global Citizen of the Year out of 10,000 IES Abroad students who study abroad with IES Abroad each year is quite an impressive feat!
Win the Prize
One student will be named the Global Citizen of the Year and win the $1,000 Grand Prize. In addition, IES Abroad will make a $500 charitable donation in the winner’s name. Additional Finalists, as determined by IES Abroad in its sole discretion, will each be recognized with a cash prize. The winning student(s) or alumni will be responsible for all applicable taxes, fees and other charges.
Attend the IES Abroad Annual Conference
The Global Citizen of the Year will be invited to share their story with study abroad professionals from around the world at the IES Abroad Annual Conference in Chicago.
BREANA ROSS
2018 Global Citizen of the Year
IES Abroad Cape Town | University of Miami
Drawn to our University of Cape Town Program for its service component, Breana expanded her passion for storytelling to a global scale. She continues to build bridges across cultures through poetry, storytelling, and education.
Vegan, Zero Waste, and Teaching Abroad: Thoughts on Global Citizenship from Kathleen Blehl
When Kathleen Blehl first arrived in Milan she didn't know how much her life would change. We caught up with Kathleen, a 2017 Global Citizen of the Year Finalist, to hear how her study abroad experience still impacts her life today as an English teacher in Ukraine.
A Passion for Education: Thoughts on Global Citizenship with Yesenia Ayala
Yesenia Ayala has a heart for students. Yesenia's commitment to supporting the education of others and learning about the world herself along the way made her more than deserving of our 2017 Global Citizen of the Year award. We caught up with Yesenia a couple years later to hear how her work in a Chilean classroom evolved into policy work on Capitol Hill in D.C.
Global Citizen of the Year Breana Ross Gives TEDx Talk
To further promote the value of service, 2018 Global Citizen of the Year Breana Ross gave a TEDx talk at University of Miami on Wednesday, April 24th, titled “The Impact Money Can’t Buy”.
6 Ways to Discover Your Global Citizenship While Studying Abroad
Study abroad is “me time” to the max – from choosing your study abroad program, to crossing activities and travel destinations off your bucket list. You get to set the course for how your study abroad narrative will pan out. However, studying abroad allows you to redefine your concept of "me time" as you engage with the global community.
Education & Health Care to Transform Lives: Thoughts on Global Citizenship from Sydni Williams
Global Citizen of the Year, Sydni Williams knew her work in Madrid was by no means the end of her global citizenship. A year later, we’ve caught up with Sydni to hear how her passion for education has grown and aligned with her career aspirations in the medical field.
Marching to the Beat of Social Justice: Thoughts on Global Citizenship from John Luke Hawkins
We chatted with John Luke Hawkins (IES Abroad Cape Town, Fall 2016 | Hope College) to hear more about how studying abroad spurred, what he described, as a “180 degree turn” in his life.
Music that Moves People: Thoughts on Global Citizenship from Ileana Exeras
We followed up with the Global Citizen of the Year awardee, Ileana Exaras, a year later to hear how she continues to share music reflective of her global citizenship.
