Youth and Young Women’s Leadership
Designed to Empower
Leaders share common traits. Empathy, adaptability, courage and strong communication skills—these are the foundation to a leader’s success.
ACIS’ Leadership Projects were created to help young women and young men develop these skills and become the next generation of leaders. ACIS has partnered with educators and leadership professionals to create our programs and ensure they deliver an exceptional experience.
More than Just a Tour
To ensure our leadership projects create a lasting impact, we provide pre- and post-work for both students and teachers. Students will be expected to research themes that will be covered on tour, prepare for their meetings and bring along questions they wish to explore. After the tour, participants will be asked to reflect on their experience and use what they have learned going forward.
Overseas Essentials
Each ACIS Leadership Project includes three components:
Connecting with Leaders
Students will spend a day in the life of a local leader and engage in a thoughtful examination of his or her skills and attributes. For our Young Women’s Leadership Projects, these leaders will be exclusively women.
Cultural Immersion
Students will immerse themselves in the local culture. On some tours, they will visit area artists to see how their lives reflect in their art, and in others, they will help the community with a service project.
International Student Exchange
Participants will meet with area students for a chance to compare their daily lives and develop a greater understanding of how we are different, but also share so many similarities.
“ACIS has tapped into their network of resources to ensure the Leadership Program is a superior experience; I am especially excited about the hands-on workshops and the opportunities to meet women innovators around the world.”
Current Projects
Young Women's Leadership in Italy
9 Days | Overnights: Rome (3), Tuscany (2), Milan (2)
Leadership Activities
- 5 Leadership Workshops with individuals such as the head of an immigration relief organization, a female politician, a Tuscan town mayor and a member of the 30% Club at Milan University
- Global Exchange with a local young women’s group
- Service Project and Leadership Workshop at a Donne in Campo farm
Young Women’s Leadership in London
9 Days | Overnights: London (7)
Leadership Activities
- 4 Leadership Workshops with individuals such as a female MP, a leading scientist, and a women’s suffrage expert, as well as at a Premier League football club
- 2 Global Exchanges with local students and athletes
- Community service project and Leadership Workshop at a women’s charity organization
Youth Leadership in the Dominican Republic
8 Days | Overnights: Santiago (1), Cabarete (3), Santo Domingo (3)
Leadership Activities
- 6 Leadership Workshops with organizations such as Cabarete Sostenible, InspireDR, Jiu Jitsu de la Costa Academy, the Dogs and Cats of the Dominican Republic animal rescue (DCDR), the Dominican Assembly for the Environment and Movimiento de Mujeres Dominico-Haitianas (MUDHA), and the President of the Dominican National Assembly for the Environment
- Global Exchange with the Río Grande Abajo Community
Young Women’s Leadership in the Dominican Republic
8 Days | Overnights: Santiago (1), Cabarete (3), Santo Domingo (3)
Leadership Activities
- 7 Leadership Workshops with organizations such as the Dogs and Cats of the Dominican Republic animal rescue (DCDR), Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring Project (DREAM), Deportes Para La Vida, Fundación Ecológica Maguá, Rescate Ambar, Movimiento de Mujeres Dominico-Haitianas (MUDHA), and Kate Wallace of Tody Tours
- 2 Global Exchanges with area young women’s groups
Youth Leadership in Costa Rica
8 Days | Overnights: San José (2), Monteverde (2), Guanacaste Coast (3)
Leadership Activities
- 5 Leadership Workshops with organizations such as the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation, a sustainable fishery, a bird conservation council, a beekeeping and reforestation organization, and an ocean sustainability and laser photogrammetry program
- 3 Global Exchanges with local students and families
Youth Leadership Pura Vida
7 Days | Overnights: San José (2), San Carlos (2), Guanacaste Coast (2)
Leadership Activities
- 3 Leadership Workshops with organizations such as the Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation, a community reforestation and eco-education effort, and a sustainable beekeeping organization
- 3 Global Exchanges with local youth soccer players, students and families, and the indigenous Maleku families at their Reserve
