Getaway Growth

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Getaway Growth

Getaway Growth makes international travel possible for underserved youth

As our world becomes increasingly interconnected and we experience an era of unprecedented world challenges, it is imperative for our youth to be aware of how they are interrelated with people in other parts of the world. At Getaway Growth, we believe enriching opportunities such as transformative travel and experiential learning prepare students to develop the nuance and understanding needed for

real-world interactions and become global leaders of tomorrow. Too often underrepresented communities face insurmountable obstacles in participating in these enriching experiences. It is our mission to remove barriers and facilitate access to international travel for underserved youth in the United States by developing and providing fully-funded programs for our student cohort, helping expand their mindset of possibilities and see the many opportunities and paths available to them.

06/08/2026

A strong personal brand can open doors long before a résumé is reviewed.

Getaway Growth students will also participate in a pre-trip workshop focused on Digital Portfolio Development, Self-Branding, and Personal Marketing. Students will learn how to effectively showcase their experiences, skills, achievements, and unique stories in ways that help them stand out in academic, professional, and leadership opportunities.

From building a compelling online presence to communicating their value with confidence, participants will gain practical tools to help them take ownership of their personal and professional journeys.

05/21/2026

‘My name is Jocelyn. I grew up in East Palo Alto and go to school in Atherton. Experiencing both places shaped how I see the world. Even though the cities are close to each other, people have very different opportunities. Seeing this difference helped me understand unfairness and made me more aware of the challenges some communities face including my community.

My background and my involvement in community service also shaped how I see the world. I have helped organize donation drives and volunteered in my community. And through these experiences, I learned that helping others is not about feeling for them, but about listening, respecting them, and working together. Everyone has a voice, and real change happens when people are heard.

In school, I enjoy learning through collaboration and discussion. I like classes that allow me to think, ask questions, and connect ideas to real life. I enjoy working with others, sharing perspectives, and learning from people who have different experiences than I do.

Joining Getaway Growth is important to me because I want to build my confidence, learn new skills, and connect with people who are motivated and driven. Getaway Growth would help me improve skills like communication, teamwork, and leadership. I want to use these skills to better support group projects and service activities I take part in. I believe it is important to listen to others and learn as you go.

I would also like to share my experience with friends, classmates, and people I love. I want to show them that learning about other cultures and new places can be exciting and valuable, even if it feels unfamiliar at first. In addition, I want to share my experience with future students and encourage others who may not see opportunities like this as possible for them.

Long term, I hope to stay involved in helping my community. The lessons from Getaway Growth would help guide how I work with others and take on responsibility. I want to continue learning and growing while finding ways to give back.

This experience would not end after the program. It would continue to influence how I think and how I try to make a positive difference.’

05/19/2026

As part of our pre-trip professional development series, students will also participate in a LinkedIn Profile Building & Optimization workshop designed to help them strengthen their digital presence, build professional confidence, and prepare for future opportunities.

05/14/2026

Meet Vallentavally!

‘My name is Vallentavally Kerubo Bitengo, a second year student at the University of Nairobi pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Sociology, and Geography.

My long-term goals include building my career as I aspire to become a clinical psychologist. I’m also focused on personal growth: learning to overcome my weaknesses, insecurities, and past traumas. These goals are helping me grow into a better, more healed version of myself, and they align with my purpose of helping others as a future psychologist.

I see the Getaway Growth journey as a lifelong catalyst, not just a two-week experience. I intend to integrate the program’s core values empathy, innovation, and cross-cultural understanding into my future practice. I envision creating community-based workshops in places like Naivasha, Kenya that combine psychosocial support with practical skill-building, empowering youth to reframe their challenges.

I also have a strong interest in culture and how it shapes identity, perspectives, and human interaction, and I enjoy meeting new people and broadening how I engage with individuals from different ethnic backgrounds and diverse opinions. Joining the Getaway Growth Program is important to me because it offers a meaningful space to develop intercultural competence through real experiences and shared learning, allowing me to step beyond my comfort zone and grow both personally and academically. I am most excited about engaging with different communities, exchanging perspectives, and becoming a more open-minded and globally aware individual.’

05/12/2026

Our students are preparing to step into the next phase of programming with a series of pre-trip virtual workshops designed to build confidence, professionalism, and career readiness. Resume writing and optimization is just the beginning as we equip students with the tools they need to stand out, grow, and succeed in future opportunities. 🚀

05/05/2026

Meet the Getaway Growth 2026–2027 Cohort!

My name is Andrea. I graduated from CSULA with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work.

Over the years, I have spent time volunteering and interning in various locations, each with its own distinct purpose and core takeaways.

During high school, I participated in a CTE Child Development program, where I assisted instructors and worked with children at nearby elementary schools, providing aid in their education. Concurrently, I volunteered at my local library for several months. The volunteer work I did demonstrated to me the impact, progress, and connection that one individual can achieve in their community through service.

Down the line, I completed a 400-hour internship, fulfilling the requirements for my social work major, with the Bridge Academy Movement, a program that focuses on re-entry workforce paths through the arts for youth at the Boyle Heights Art Conservatory. The involvement in this program allowed me to see firsthand, through a different experience from my own, how multiple forms of inequity in systems affect young people.

As a person who intends to work in the social work field, one of the long-term methods I envision utilizing to pay forward the Getaway Growth experience I gain is to apply the skills and knowledge I have strengthened and learned to assist the work and clients in my service when applicable. For instance, cultural competence, noted as a benefit of the program, is a crucial component of social work practice, as practitioners assist individuals from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Joining the Getaway Growth program will provide an opportunity to pursue that on a larger scale, developing my interpersonal and cultural competence skills through firsthand immersion. I am very appreciative of this opportunity and am most excited to make new connections and build upon my current cultural knowledge and awareness through this study abroad experience.

04/30/2026

Some impacts can’t be measured in numbers.

They’re written in words like these.

Through Getaway Growth, students don’t just travel—they gain confidence, perspective, and a sense of possibility that stays with them for life.

This is what access looks like. 🌍

04/27/2026

We’re excited to introduce Tam Schon, who has been supporting Getaway Growth behind the scenes since the beginning of the year.

Tam brings a background in positive psychology and research, and focuses her freelance work with NGOs on impact evaluation and communications. She is particularly passionate about understanding how programs create meaningful change in people’s lives, and how that impact can be measured, communicated, and strengthened over time.

Having lived internationally across six countries, Tam draws inspiration from the role of travel and cultural exchange in shaping growth and perspective. She strongly believes in the power of youth development and immersive learning, values that closely align with our mission.

At Getaway Growth, Tam is supporting the development of our impact evaluation efforts, helping us better tell the story behind our work, and contributing to grant writing.

We’re grateful to have her as part of our community.

04/21/2026

Looking to give back in a meaningful way?

Getaway Growth is seeking mentors to support students as they prepare for and return from life-changing international experiences.

You’ll help students navigate:
✈️ Travel preparation
🌍 Cultural awareness
💼 Personal & professional development

Mentors are matched with 1–2 students and provide support throughout the full journey-not just the trip, but beyond it.

We’re particularly seeking mentors with experience in business/entrepreneurship, medicine, military, and education, but welcome individuals from all backgrounds.

🗓 Apply by May 31, 2026 (11:59 PM PT)

04/02/2026

We are thrilled to announce that we have secured a sponsor for all student passports—The Asia Institute. This support removes a critical barrier for many of our students and brings us one step closer to making global experiences more accessible.

Address

San Mateo, CA

Website

https://www.getawaygrowth.org/

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