CCI & Greenheart Travel Launch Global Greenheart Initiative

CHICAGO, Aug. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenheart Travel, a division of the nonprofit Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI) which arranges high school abroad programs for Americans and Canadians, is introducing the Global Greenheart Initiative (GGI). GGI enables CCI high school students studying abroad to give back to their host communities by volunteering. The initiative comes just in time for the September 15 deadline for Greenheart Travel's High School Abroad Program for the spring 2012 semester; students can sign up for GGI as part of their study abroad applications.

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GGI is comprised of the Global Greenheart Club and Global Greenheart Grants. The Global Greenheart Club gives students the opportunity to volunteer in their host community by networking through their in-country local coordinator. It is active year round and members are rewarded prizes based on the number of hours they volunteer. The Global Greenheart Grants are funds awarded to students to use for community development projects in their host country. The students are responsible for taking the initiative and creating this community-focused project. 

"We are very excited about this initiative because it enables our participants to become a more integral part of their host community and further expand Greenheart's mission of connecting people and planet," said Anna Kacyn, senior relations manager for Greenheart Travel. "These students are already trail-blazers and will further their leadership skills through these volunteer projects and grants."

Volunteering in a foreign country enables the students to further immerse themselves in a new language and culture while making a long-lasting difference in the community they're visiting. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these initiatives for the Spring 2012 semester; applications are due September 15.

GGI is available in all host countries where U.S. students study: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain and Sweden.

CCI and Greenheart Travel are dedicated to promoting social responsibility and environmental awareness through cultural exchange. For more information, visit http://www.cci-exchange.com/high-school-abroad/, email Anna Kacyn, [email protected] or call 1-888-ABROAD-1.

SOURCE Center for Cultural Interchange