The Odyssey: Changing Course for Positive Change
The Greenheart Odyssey makes new changes in the year 2025 to reflect Greenheart’s 40 years in the field!
Greenheart believes that our alumni have been and continue to make a huge impact on the communities that they serve. Because of this, we want to give and support a platform that can inspire others to stay connected with their fellow exchange colleagues. Thus, our Greenheart team has decided to renovate our Alumni Council to further support our post-participants.
These changes will be a great way to be a part of a Greenheart cohort that creates and executes impactful changes in our alumni network. Different from the Alumni Council in the past, Greenheart is creating a way for our participants to manage alumni initiatives through monthly newsletters, council meetings with Greenheart staff, virtual meetups, in-person connections, and social media leads.
Positions Available:
- Vice Chair/ Alumni Lead: 2 year cycle
- Treasury/ Budget: 2 year cycle
- Marketing/ Communication: 2 year cycle
- Research: 1 year cycle
- Secretary: 1 year cycle
President of Greenheart International, Daniel Ebert shares, “we prioritize alumni engagement in effort to amplify the impact of our programs while creating a global community of like-minded individuals. We will look to our Alumni Council as an advisory group to help foster these long-term connections, brainstorm additional ways to culturally enhance our programs, identify ways to fund our generous impact grants and scholarships, and determine whom the recipients of them will be.”
Another update in our Odyssey programs is our Greenheart Impact Grants. This program is to help continuous funding opportunities for participants and alumni to create and execute community development initiatives. Projects can earn up to $2,000 and those awarded each season will meet with each other and with the Greenheart team, in the hopes of creating open discussion about each global project being done worldwide.
In the past, we have had 3 seasons of Greenheart Impact Grants. Due to changes in the Alumni Council, we have decided on 2 seasons. This will allow Greenheart staff to better support each awardee through the grant process and ensure each project is as successful as it can be.
YES high school participant Maliha speaks on her previous impact grant, “Seeing young individuals transform into passionate climate advocates was a humbling reminder of how small actions can spark lasting change. Knowing that my project planted seeds of awareness and action in their minds fills me with hope, hope that these empowered youth will nurture a more sustainable future.”
Our Greenheart Impact Grant’s mission is to further assist our alumni through impactful projects. With guidance from the Greenheart network, we hope to continue supporting many participants through their leadership journey who truly inspire world change.
Since 1985, Greenheart International has inspired the idea of community development by empowering youth to be global advocates. The Odyssey is a series of four leadership programs that encourage the next generation of change-makers worldwide. With guidance from Greenheart staff, each participant of the Odyssey will gain public speaking skills, community engagement, leadership development, and lifelong connections.
Stops on the Odyssey include:
- Junior Greenheart Global Leaders Conference
- Greenheart Global Leaders Conference
- Alumni Council
- Greenheart Impact Grants
Greenheart’s Jr. Greenheart Global Leaders Conference in Chicago brings together six high school scholars from around the world. Greenheart Travel and Greenheart International students can spend the last few days of their cultural experience program in the Windy City.
Our Greenheart Global Leaders Conference was revived back in July of 2024 after COVID-19 put us to a halt for five years for the safety of our staff and participants. This year in 2025, we will double the amount of GGLC participants from last year to join the conference. With now forty international leaders, each will progress in their professional skills and further their passion for community development.
Ambassador Scholar Esraa Naanoush attended GGLC in 2024 and shares, “the chance to connect with passionate leaders from 17 different countries was an experience that truly transformed my perspective on global collaboration and leadership. I will always cherish the spirit of unity, the shared vision, and the lifelong friendships formed. It’s a memory I’ll look back on with immense gratitude, knowing it has shaped me into a more mindful and impactful individual.”
Your cultural exchange experience does not have to end once you return home! Who knows, maybe your first Odyssey stop will spark a world-wide change. Apply to the Odyssey programs on your Greenheart Club account to continue your passion for new ideas and positive changes. For any questions, please reach out to Club@greenheart.org.
Interested in supporting one of Greenheart’s programs? Please click here for more information.