Read about an exciting summer program that was previously launched by the Academy’s founders

Global Leadership Adventures (GLA), originally named Summer Academy at Cape Town, an intense summer program for high school students, ran two sessions each between mid-June and mid-August 2005 and 2006. In its first year, in a period of just 10 months, the Academy team took an idea on paper and established a fully-functioning academic institution with a gorgeous campus, a high-calibre teaching staff, a robust African studies curriculum, and 70 students from 12 different countries. In the second year, 100 students from 20 different countries joined GLA. Student leaders came together from as far afield as Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, UK, USA, Hong Kong, and Bahrain for an unforgettable experience that included academic learning, community service, and field trips. Students were also fortunate to learn from an impressive array of guest speakers. For many, the highlight of the trip was meeting Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a Nobel laureate and icon of the anti-Apartheid struggle in South Africa.

The Summer Academy's beautiful sea-side campus

Setting up GLA gave the team invaluable experience that will serve them well as they proceed to launch the African Leadership Academy. The team now has experience finding a beautiful campus, recruiting a world-class teaching staff, finding talented students from multiple countries, developing a curriculum, and moving an idea to a fully functioning academic institution in a relatively short period of time.

Our diverse student body - over 60% of the GLA students came on scholarship

A testimonial from a parent about GLA

"Kristina enjoyed every aspect of the program. The students were a warm, friendly, very diverse group and everyone seemed to have bonded well. The classes were very informative and Kristina found that learning about the history, politics and geography of a place before visiting it made the actual visit much more meaningful. She particularly enjoyed the guest speakers and feels those talks were the high point of the program. She got good insight into what it meant to live under apartheid from both perspectives and left Cape Town with a deeper understanding of the South African people. Kristina is a thinker and these speakers gave her a lot to think about. The beauty of Cape Town took her breath away. Kristina had a meaningful, fun-filled and unforgettable summer experience."

- Diana Rochester (Mother of Kristina Rochester, St. Paul's School)

Description of the program from Summer Academy students:

"The past three weeks have been the best experience I've ever had in my entire life. I've learned so many things I did not know about myself and the Academy has helped me to develop in a very positive and enriching way."

- Mark Qolombeni (Simon's Town High School)

"This program has inspired me to be a leader, to bring about positive change, to love and respect a country on the opposite side of the world."

- Kristin Eberhart (Phillips Exeter Academy)

"The classes here are excellent. I am still baffled about how I could have learned so much in under four weeks."

- Zachary Smith (University of Chicago Laboratory Schools)

"I've learned to appreciate the unique thought patterns each person has and to try and gain more knowledge from each and every single individual at GLA. We've broken stereotypes, changed perspectives, enhanced ourselves and become more tolerant ... What I'll miss most is the mentally stimulating conversations and the intelligence of everyone here."

- Masana Mulaudzi (Potchefsroom High School for Girls)

For more information about GLA, visit http://www.globalleadershipadventures.com or email info@globalleadershipadventures.com.

From the onset, GLA was a huge success. It immediately became an effective model for bringing high school students worldwide together to study abroad in a meaningful way and impact lives through community service projects. In an effort to share this powerful experience with even more high school students and expand its global reach, the organization was renamed Global Leadership Adventures.

Today, Global Leadership Adventures is led by a highly experienced team committed to offering life-changing programs for high school students. GLA is currently expanding our programming to new countries every year and growing their network of young leaders with greater global perspective.