About GLA
ABOUT US
GLA presents a fresh, new approach to service-learning and discovery abroad for intellectually-curious and socially-oriented teenagers.
OUR MISSION & VALUES
Our mission is to inspire the next generation to realize their potential to transform the world and their unique role in it.
Global Leadership Adventures embraces nine core values, inspired by our roots with the African Leadership Academy, which underscore the foundation of our mission. ALA played a pivotal role in shaping the vision that ultimately gave rise to Global Leadership Adventures and its programs around the world. These shared values continue to guide and inspire everything we do, empowering young leaders to create positive change in their communities and beyond.
Integrity
Our Integrity is unspoken. It is the unfailing framework from which we build every program, human relationship, and bridge into a community.
Personal Growth
We are invested in the Personal Growth and development of all our students and staff. We foster an environment for students to safely explore, experience, and self-discover.
Respect
Respect is inherent in all of our interactions among students, staff and all of the members whose communities we serve. Respect means accepting and celebrating of differences. Respect means considering all points of view, always.
Optimism
Optimism is at our core. We believe that anything is possible and that every person is capable of driving and adopting positive change in the world.
Cooperation
Cooperation is key to our accomplishments. We are a community of travelers, helping to serve other communities. We work together, learn from one another, and build valuable friendships in the process.
Innovation
Innovation is what makes us stand out in international education. Open to new ideas and always striving to work better and smarter to serve our communities, students, and parents.
Diversity
We respect all people and believe that difference should be celebrated. We embrace diverse perspectives, recognizing that inclusion strengthens our community and fosters innovation.
Humility
We are thankful for opportunities and are aware of our limitations. We seek to learn from others, acknowledging that growth comes from openness and self-reflection.
Compassion
Compassion is what drives our service, and that compassion extends to students, parents, and host communities. Our care for people extends to everything we do.
OUR VALUES IN ACTION
Everything at Global Leadership Adventures begins with people.
Young leaders arriving from different places, carrying their own stories, hopes and questions about their role in the world. Families placing their trust in our care and the communities welcoming us into their lives. What we build together starts with how we care for one another.
We believe that when students feel welcomed and safe, they grow in ways that are meaningful and lasting. When they experience genuine respect, they learn to offer the same in return. And when our staff is supported with opportunity and care, they too can model these values consistently and authentically.
In every place we work, we bring the same mindset. We partner with communities and spend time in environments that hold meaning and history. We recognize our role is to learn, contribute thoughtfully and participate with care. We show respect by following the guidance of local partners, being mindful of our impact in shared spaces and treating both wildlife and domestic animals with care.
These values are the foundation for creating environments where meaningful growth thrives, and they reflect our commitment to be the change, starting with how we treat one another and the world.
– Jessica Rose Miller, Executive Director
HOW WE LIVE THESE VALUES
GLA welcomes teens and young leaders from every background.
Our programs bring together people with different identities and beliefs. This includes students across all races and ethnicities, gender identities and expressions, religions and belief systems, sexual orientations, socioeconomic backgrounds, lived experiences and countries of origin.
Inclusion at GLA is not a single policy. It is built into how we design programs, train our staff, build group culture and support each student. From arrival to departure, staff are prepared to foster environments where students feel physically safe, emotionally supported and culturally respected. They are trained to navigate group dynamics, support students through identity, cultural and neurodiversity-related needs, and facilitate dialogue that allows every voice to be included.
Staff encourage students to approach one another with curiosity and openness, so the group becomes a place where all can feel accepted. We honor each student’s individuality, and we expect the group to do the same as the program unfolds.
Before the program begins, students agree to our Code of Conduct, which emphasizes civility, respect and personal accountability. Once on site, students and staff co-create Community Agreements that set shared expectations for kindness, responsibility and communication. These agreements are revisited throughout the experience and help shape a safe, supportive group culture for all.
HOW WE ENGAGE WITH HOST COMMUNITIES
GLA programs take place in communities that welcome us as guests.
We enter these spaces with respect, care and humility, and we build our relationships through listening and collaboration. We learn from local partners, honor cultural practices and recognize community leadership. We also recognize the ecological and cultural significance of the environments we visit and take care to minimize our impact on both natural and shared spaces.
What this means in practice:
- We listen before acting
- We follow community leadership and guidance
- We honor local cultures and customs
- We participate with a spirit of learning and exchange
- We care for local environments and ecosystems
- We treat wildlife and domestic animals with respect
- We limit our footprint in natural spaces
- We reflect on the impact of our presence
- We stay open to new perspectives and recognize growth as a continual process
OUR VALUES BEYOND THE PROGRAM
What we build together continues to shape us.
What students take with them often becomes clear over time, as they discover new ways of seeing the world, a deeper understanding of themselves and a sense of connection that reaches across cultures and lived experiences. Many return home inspired to lead with empathy and contribute meaningfully to their communities. These outcomes are driven by the values at the core of every experience we offer.
This is GLA’s commitment to every student, family, staff member and host community: to celebrate differences, create belonging and act with compassion and integrity in all we do. We believe this foundation continues to shape how our Alumni engage with the world long after their program ends.
We hope our programs inspire students to carry a growth mindset into everything they do, and we hold ourselves to that same practice. Our work and values are always evolving, shaped by reflection, feedback and a responsibility to the people and places we engage with. We approach this growth with humility, knowing that building meaningful programs and relationships requires listening, learning and a willingness to improve.