“We have a plan to travel the world together,” my 8th grade daughter announced at dinner one night, telling of plans that she and a good friend made to travel as they study abroad in college. I love that Emily’s adventurous spirit and confidence will help her continue to experience the rich offerings of the world as she continues to travel the globe. While I don’t know what stamps she might collect in her passport, I do know that there are resources and travel scholarships that will allow her to continue her world travels in an affordable way.
About Hosteling International USA’s Explore the World Travel Scholarships
Whether you’re an experienced traveler or getting your very first stamp in your passport, Hosteling International USA (HI USA) is offering Explore the World travel scholarships to 18-30 year olds with limited financial means. This year they’re offering $2,000 travel scholarships across 13 metropolitan areas in the United States to help fund an educational or service learning journey abroad for those with limited means.
To be considered for the Explore the World Travel Scholarship, candidates must:
- Be 18 – 30 years of age at the time of application
- Be a US citizen or permanent resident (possess Green Card)
- Demonstrate financial need by meeting at least one of the following criteria:
- Current Pell Grant recipient
- Former Pell Grant recipient
- 2017 income level that does not exceed 300% of the 2017 Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- Reside or attend school in one of the select metropolitan areas where HI USA has a community presence.
- Have a strong desire and motivation to experience other people and cultures through international travel
- Plan to take a trip to a destination outside of the 50 United States between May 15, 2018 and August 31, 2019 that incorporates education, volunteerism or service learning.
- Employees and relatives of HI USA and its licensed facilities are ineligible to receive an Explore the World Travel Scholarship.
Students who meet the criteria will need to:
- Complete an Explore the World Application for your location. Be sure to read HI USA’s helpful post for applicants: 7 Tips for a Successful Explore the World Application!
- Provide 2 personal references
- Submit their Explore the World Scholarship application by March 2, 2018
To learn about the other travel scholarships offered by HI USA, including funding opportunities to travel to new cities within the United States through their Explore American Travel Scholarship, visit their travel scholarships page.
Sending your child to another country to study abroad may feel terrifying from a parent perspective but there’s no better way to become a global citizen than experiencing different countries and cultures around the world. My advice is to start traveling, even locally. I’ve written about the value of local and international travel as ways to build your child’s confidence and thinking as a global citizen so they will be ready to study abroad when they’re older:
- The Transformative Effects of Travel on Our Family (and why I hope my kids will #StudyAbroadBecause)
- Why Taking My Daughter to Haiti Was an Investment in Her Future as a Global Citizen
- White House Travel Blogger Summit on Study Abroad & Global Citizenship Urges Today’s Students to #StudyAbroadBecause
Looking for inspiration for family trips? Read my family travel posts:
- Boeing Tour: Road Trip from Seattle to See Planes Being Built
- Virtual Field Trip to Turkey to #WidenYourWorld
- 14 Tips for a Walt Disney World Trip with Tweens and Teens
- 8 Things Kids Can Learn During Your U.S. Virgin Islands Vacation
- 9 Reasons to Visit Hersheypark
- 8 Things Kids Can Learn from a Brewery Tour
No compensation was received for this post. Images courtesy of Hosteling International USA.
