Our Program

Here at Chaalo, we believe the more one travels, the better understanding one has of the world, its people, its cultures, and what it means to be an American. This is something that is truly needed now more than ever. The more people who have a global learning experience, the more compassionate our world will become.

Chaalo, which means “let’s go,” envisions a more interconnected and peaceful world where all people can engage across cultures with respect and understanding. By investing in first-time international experiences, we empower young adults to begin a lifelong journey toward becoming open-minded and compassionate global citizens. Our mission is to make international experiences accessible to young adults who’ve never had the chance to travel outside the U.S. We do that by offering all-expenses-paid (i.e., free), short-term learning journeys abroad to young adults who don’t yet have a U.S. passport and demonstrate financial need.

Our international journeys are intentionally designed to:

• Shift perspectives

• Break down stereotypes

• Diminish judgmental viewpoints

• Foster empathy and compassion

• Reveal that people are kind, helpful, welcoming, and generally share core values—family, happiness, safety, and community—even if they express them differently

• Dispel the notion that the world is dangerous

Every journey begin with a 3 part pre-departure orientation

• Begin with a pre-departure orientation.

• Encourage students to step outside their comfort zones.

• Facilitate interaction with local students and residents.

• Include activities that connect students to the culture, history, and environment of the host country, helping them to understand the local way of life. 

• Include opportunities to volunteer in the community.

• End with reflections to foster growth and deeper self and cultural understanding.