Social Voyagers was founded in the belief that service is an irreplaceable learning and growth experience for all youth. We believe these experiences should be accessible and inclusive, regardless of a student's ability to pay.
Social Voyagers is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Menlo Park, California. Social Voyagers empowers students with the tools and skills to better understand the changing world through experience. By supporting a service-learning curriculum, social-equity projects, and physical travel to various communities (domestic and international), Social Voyagers connects students with experiences that prepare them to lead in the future.
Mission
Empowering students to build a love and knowledge of service and connect with like-minded peers to build future sustainable programs in their own communities and in the world.
Student Growth
To grow as a global citizen, students benefit from leaving their communities, experiencing the world with a group of their peers. This occurs when they challenge themselves and become open to the world, to new ideas, and to questioning their assumptions.
A foundation of our program is to learn the power of an individual's role in the group process. If group members are focused on their actions to benefit the group as a whole, the connections made to future possibilities and learning are immeasurable. We teach skills to ensure that students understand the power of their role in the group process.
This valuable realization of one's ability to influence a group in a positive direction will translate to future growth in adulthood. Learning through doing and guided reflection is deeper and more meaningful than classroom learning. After all, "We do not learn from experience; we learn from reflecting on experience" (Dewey).
Many students who have participated in our programs have been inspired to create and join new service-based initiatives that benefit their own schools and local communities.
What We Do
Year Long Leadership Training
Leadership Seminars
Group Process Training
Student Executive Board
Local Service Projects
Inner City Garden Projects
Support Students with Disabilities
Student Language Exchanges
Multi-Generational Partnerships
Food Banks
International Service
and Education
Travel and serve in local communities in Peru and Costa Rica
Student Testimonials
Jaya
Leadership is not an easy thing. It is not easy to voice one’s opinions just because it is the right thing to do. I do not think it is second nature for most people to take control of a situation and solve the problem at hand just because it needs to be done. The reason for this lack of initiative is not, in fact, a lack of initiative, but a fear of such initiative.
Emma
I was dedicated to the service last year and felt confident with my work refurbishing an elementary school in Costa Rica. I now have many ideas of what I want to bring back from the trip in order to share with the new group of Social Voyagers students
Sophia
Service is a huge part of what this organization is built on and I would love to be able to find projects that reflect what we do down in Costa Rica. This would allow for students to find their passion and projects that are relevant and helpful to our own communities.
Claire
During the trip I stepped out of my comfort zone and was touched by how respectfully we were treated despite America’s reputation in Central America. I already have many ideas of programs I would like to bring back to my school many of which stem from my passion for art.
Brian
After my trip, I am inspired to make a change in the world and would like to do that with Social Voyagers. I have a lot ideas about service. For example, I would like to teach swimming lessons to underprivileged children in the community. I would also like to work with a medical organization that goes to countries that have recently suffered from a disaster and collect medical equipment for them.
