Global Scholar Summer 2026: Young People Learning, Connecting and Leading

This summer, young people from across the United States and around the world came together through Global Scholar to connect, learn, dream big, and build the skills and confidence to turn their ideas into action.

Across Washington, DC, Atlanta and Montgomery, and our virtual global classroom, students explored some of the biggest issues facing their communities and our world. They met advocates, diplomats, nonprofit leaders and changemakers. They stepped into places where history was made and where decisions are being made today. They wrestled with challenging questions, developed their own ideas for change, and — perhaps most importantly — learned from one another.

Some met with congressional offices on Capitol Hill. Others stood in places central to the history of the Civil Rights Movement. Students joining virtually crossed borders and time zones every day to work alongside peers whose lives and experiences might look very different from their own.

But wherever they joined us, Global Scholars were part of the same thing: a growing community of young people who believe their voices matter and that they have a role to play in shaping what comes next.

By the end of the summer, students weren’t just telling us what they had learned. They were talking about what they wanted to do with it—projects they wanted to start, issues they wanted to work on, people they wanted to reach, and ways they could create change in their own communities.

We send a huge THANK YOU to all of the young leaders, parents and families, staff and trainers, partners and experts who helped make this Global Scholar summer so extraordinary. Here are some highlights:

Washington, DC: Turning Ideas into Action

Our DC Global Scholars spent the week exploring advocacy, international affairs and how change happens in practice.

Students met with organizations and leaders, visited embassies, took part in Action Labs, and spent a day on Capitol Hill, where they met with congressional offices and advocated around issues they care about.

Capitol Hill was one of the most frequently mentioned highlights in the student surveys. For many students, it was their first experience directly engaging with elected leaders or their staff.

One student called Capitol Hill something they “would never attempt myself, but this empowered me.” Another said, “I didn’t know you could just go in and speak to your representatives.”

Students also consistently highlighted the Action Labs, which gave them space to wrestle with questions about leadership, identity, systems and change, and the embassy visits, where they were able to engage directly with diplomats and learn about international issues and careers.

The relationships students formed were just as important. They talked about meeting people they never would have met otherwise and learning alongside students from different countries, communities and backgrounds.

“I feel more in control of my voice and story than I ever have,” one student wrote.

Atlanta & Montgomery: Learning the History of Change

Our Atlanta program focused on human rights, gender and development, and exploring our shared history to look towards a brighter future.

Students visited organizations and historic sites in Atlanta and Montgomery, including CARE, the Carter Center, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, and the Legacy Sites in Montgomery.

The Montgomery experience, and particularly the Legacy Museum, stood out strongly in student feedback. Students described the experience as eye-opening, emotional and very different from learning the same history in a classroom.

One student said the trip allowed them to “connect all the random dots in my head with the things in front of me.”

But the program wasn’t simply about understanding history. Students were also thinking about what that history asks of their generation.

“The biggest thing I’ve taken away from this experience is that our actions have the power to create change,” one student wrote. “Leadership is not only about having a position, but about caring, listening, and taking action to make a positive impact in the world.”

Virtual Global Scholar: A Global Community Without Borders

Our Virtual Global Scholar program brought together students from countries around the world for a week of speakers, workshops, discussion, projects and collaboration.

And one of our favorite things about the week was watching just how quickly a real community could form across thousands of miles.

Students talked repeatedly about making friends from other countries, learning about different cultures and perspectives, becoming more comfortable communicating across differences, and finding other young people who shared their desire to make a difference.

“The collaboration between everyone across the world” was one student’s favorite part of the program.

Students also worked on their own projects and ideas for change. For some, the experience helped close the gap between wanting to do something and knowing how to begin.

“Before this program, I had many ideas, but I didn’t really know how to turn them into a real initiative,” one student wrote. “Now I feel much more confident, and instead of only thinking about making a difference, I feel prepared to actually start doing it.”

Another student admitted that they originally thought Global Scholar would primarily be something useful for their college applications.

“Instead, it became something that came from the heart.”

The experience, they explained, made them genuinely want to create positive change—not because it would look good on a résumé, but because they had realized that young people really can make a difference.

One Summer, One Global Community

Across cities, countries and time zones, Global Scholars spent this summer asking questions, challenging themselves, building friendships and imagining what they might do next.

They left us talking about advocacy campaigns and community projects. About careers they hadn’t known existed. About people they met from halfway around the world. About histories they now understood differently. And about having more confidence to walk into a room, speak up, and contribute.

As one Global Scholar wrote: “This program reminded me that age doesn’t define our ability to create impact. No matter where you come from, your ideas, your experiences, and your voice are valuable.”

That’s the community we’re working to build through Global Scholar: young people connected across geography and difference, learning from one another and building the confidence, relationships and skills to make their voices heard.

Stay tuned for 2027 dates! And if you’re a partner, organization or leader with an interest in bringing Global Scholar to your community please reach out to us at GlobalScholar@AMPGlobalYouth.org