7 Tips to Help Students Pay for Study Abroad

by Lara Garanzuay, Communications Specialist

With the school year starting up for most higher education institutions, students are once again thinking about study abroad programs. If you were to ask any current student why they don’t take part in study abroad, most will say because the programs tend to come at a high cost. Only about 16% of all undergraduate students study abroad every year. However, most institutions offer hundreds and thousands of dollars in scholarships, it’s just a matter of learning about the opportunities and applying. Along with that, there are many study abroad programs that are deemed more affordable, including short-term faculty-led programs and virtual international education options. 

Here are some tips on making study abroad more affordable:

Apply financial aid to the cost of studying abroad

• Check if you qualify for financial aid at the Federal Office of Financial Aid

• Research your study abroad options early on to include the cost in the financial aid application for the year.

• Going on a faculty-led program as part of a course taken during the semester is a great option.

Apply for study abroad scholarships

• Check with your study abroad office about the amounts, the process, and deadlines for internal scholarships

• Explore external scholarships online, here are just some of the many opportunities

• Many Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs and other community organizations and foundations also offer scholarships for international study and travel. Ask your financial aid office and research online!

Opt for a shorter program

• Because faculty-led and other short-term programs involve only a limited time overseas, they usually have the advantage of being considerably less expensive.

• Take a look at our sample faculty-led programs to get a sense of what’s involved

Consider a virtual study abroad

• Virtual study abroad programs range in length, therefore, faculty can find the perfect fit for their students

• These programs cost a fraction of the cost of traditional study abroad, require much less time, and are more accessible for all

Check with the government of the country you want to study abroad in

• Many countries give financial support to international students studying abroad

• Some scholarships are country specific. CollegeScholarships.org is a great resource if you know which country you want to travel to. Here is a sample list of opportunities for Peru 

Browse the web!

• IIE Passport is a comprehensive search engine for all study abroad programs registered with the Institute for International Education.

• Scholarship Portal provides a comprehensive search system for scholarships available throughout Europe; you can search by region, country, and discipline.

Check with your department or college

• Most universities are aware of how the cost of studying abroad can be the number one reason why students don’t participate, therefore, they allocate certain money specifically for students in specific majors to study abroad

• Schedule a time to meet with your department chair or academic advisor about scholarships for study abroad

Don’t let money get in your way of studying abroad! When you have the funds secured, check out another blog of ours for a student’s perspective on choosing and planning a study abroad trip. 

Fambul Tik’s founder and CEO Amadu Massally brings virtual study abroad to Sierra Leone

by Lara Garanzuay, Communications Specialist

This month Learn from Travel launched seven virtual global education programs in collaboration with Agnes Scott College. One of the programs was based in Sierra Leone and was organized in collaboration with Fambul Tik. This was the first virtual study abroad program in Sierra Leone! As part of the collaboration, we got a chance to ask Amadu Massally, the founder of Fambul Tik, about his organization, the connection between Sierra Leone and the U.S., and other related questions. 

Amadu Massally

Founder and CEO of Fambul Tik

What is Fambul Tik?

Fambul Tik, which means Family Tree in English, is a community organization interested in reconnecting Sierra Leone with her diaspora. The organization primarily focuses on the links with African Americans known as Gullah-Geechees who show a lot of Sierra Leonean ways in their culture, language, diet, etc. 

As our mission states, we are a cultural and educational organization aimed at promoting awareness and understanding the relationship between Sierra Leone and the Gullah-Geechee. We seek to foster research, preservation and development of the origins, history, culture, and the ethnicity of the Sierra Leone and Gullah-Geechee communities. 

Initially formed in 2006 as the Sierra Leone-Gullah Heritage Association, as a means to nurture the relationships between Sierra Leoneans and the Gullah-Geechee, the organization has now morphed into Fambul Tik, with a broader scope. Fambul Tik has reconnected Sierra Leone to Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and Carriacou. All of these are places beyond the United States where Sierra Leonean descendants can be found. So, in short Fambul Tik is an aspiring global organization that seeks to make lasting re-connections between the diaspora and their ancestral land, using the Sierra Leone-Gullah-Geechee Connection as a model.

How does Fambul Tik work to develop relationships with descendants of Sierra Leone?

Our main objectives are:

• To collect, preserve and present the history of the Sierra Leone Gullah Connection

• To foster Community and Economic Development.

• To foster Tourism in both Sierra Leone and Gullah Communities.

• To foster Exchange Living Programs for both Sierra Leone and Gullah Communities

• To strengthen the relationship between Sierra Leone and America

Our approach is to visit a given place where Sierra Leonean descendants may be, based on historical records documented by historians. Particularly the Trans-Atlantic ‘Slave Voyages’ Database, which leads us to where people from Africa were taken to, against their will. Based on these records, we find and engage those folks who are already doing similar work or are interested in making links with Sierra Leone specifically; or Africa in general.

In addition to the many events we have either attended or hosted in Gullah-Geechee country, we made ancestral links between African Americans of Sierra Leonean heritage with people in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada and Carriacou. Folks in America are more than open to this, and we have seen tremendous support in all of these places.

African Americans visit Bunce Island, a place in Sierra Leone where enslaved people were held before being sent to North America and the Caribbean. Tens of thousands of enslaved Africans were taken from Bunce Island to the Low Country in South Carolina and Georgia. Many maintained their culture, which is known as the Gullah-Geechee culture. (Image by: Fambul Tik)

What sparked you to begin work on Fambul Tik?

I don't really know what sparked me, but it was a moment on a beach on Hilton Head Island, SC where my “spark” may have been born. Here is my story ...

In 2006, while presiding over an organization called the Sierra Leone Network, I visited Greenville, SC, to watch the sneak preview of the documentary, “African American Lives.” After watching the film, I asked some of the hotel staff whether they were Gullahs? Feeling offended by my ignorance I observed from their reactions, to assume that every black person in South Carolina should be Gullah, one of them replied: “No meeennn, those folks are down by the Coast!” With a distinct accent that I later found out was similar to Gullah. 

I realized that a lot of Gullah-Geechee people do not know that their ancestry is Gullah-Geechee even though they may know that their ancestry is that which collectively forms the Gullah-Geechee Heritage Cultural Corridor Commission; from the areas in South Carolina and Georgia, or even the southern part of North Carolina and the northern part of Florida. 

As we continued our discussions around our reactions to the film, I excitedly told the rest of the group about my desire to drive four hours to “the Coast,” just go and see and meet Gullah-Geechee people. It did not take much convincing from me before we reached consensus.

Three things stuck in my head that day! First, that the Gullah-Geechees who used to own 100 percent of the island now only own about ten percent. Second, the features of these African Americans were so African in appearance that it was quite noticeable to me after living in the U.S. for 23 years, at that point, and having seen many African Americans. Third, the feelings and self-expressions I had at the ocean knowing that my country was on the other side of the Atlantic; a place I hadn’t been in about 23 years at that moment, was uncomfortable if not tormenting. I returned back to the Washington, DC area, wrote about my experiences and someone wrote back suggesting if I had ever spoken to Joseph Opala, the historian who had worked for a long time on the Sierra Leone Gullah Connection, starting in 1980, when he presented his ideas at the United States Embassy, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.”

Why is this work important? 

This work is important for at least two reasons. First, we need to tell our own narratives, our own accurate stories. Once we establish these narratives we must then initiate programs that have the potential to effectively mobilize people on both the Sierra Leonean and American sides of the story. As a second reason, we will move beyond the history and culture and on to purposeful work, up to and including charitable work, social entrepreneurship or outright investments for profits.

Africa will never realize her optimal potential outside of her diaspora. The sooner we realize this and work together to make this possible, the better things will become for black people.

A Gullah sweetgrass basket maker from Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, known as the sweetgrass basket capital of the world, shares techniques with villagers in Rogbonko Mathaka, a remote village in Sierra Leone, known for shuku Blay baskets which are very similar. (Image by: Fambul Tik)

Where do you see Fambul Tik in the next 5 years?

My personal dream is to see Fambul Tik evolve into a leading heritage community organization that spans the West Coast of Africa at a minimum. But a bigger dream is that in five years we would have established our community organization as a representative of some of our diaspora actors who want to do different things in Sierra Leone. We would have become an entity that teaches Sierra Leone’s history and culture to Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora; our immigrant children, including our deeper diaspora with the Gullah-Geechee and Sierra Leonean Americans.

Beyond the history and culture, we would have become a trustworthy and credible “gatekeeper” for those in the diaspora who may want to be more involved in Sierra Leone through charitable work, social entrepreneurship and/or investments for profit. I want to drive that point home because we are purposeful in wanting to go ‘beyond the fanfare’. A phrase I use as inspiration to do more of what we do. Fambul Tik does and goes beyond just tours.

What do you hope students will learn about Sierra Leone and Gullah-Geechee communities as part of their participation in the Learn from Travel study abroad program?

Well, first and foremost, they will learn about the close and historic links between Sierra Leone and the United States. They will learn about the rice culture and economy and how the enslaved Africans became the Gullah-Geechees. Also about the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade especially as it relates to North America. They will learn the three historical themes that Sierra Leone illustrates: Slavery, Resistance and Abolition. We also hope students will grasp that the Gullah language evolved from both English and African words.

What advice would you give college faculty considering taking students to Sierra Leone for a study abroad program?

I advise them to research the country properly, especially with regard to the U.S. government’s point of view as guided by the State Department. They should also talk to people like us who have organizations that promote and coordinate study abroad programs. We are currently exploring partnerships with Coastal Carolina University, where Dr. Fredanna D. McCormack McGough, who has done some study abroad programs to African countries, will be a great resource for ideas and possible replication. We can make those connections.

How can students and faculty support your work? Do you have any internship or volunteer opportunities for students? 

That is an excellent question! Maybe because it’s something we had not thought about or made any moves towards that. If students and/or faculty can see value in our work we will like to provide opportunities for them to do so. Maybe one of the things we can do is to look at what others have done in the past with the same or similar environment.

If you’re interested in taking students to Sierra Leone in person or virtually, you can visit our faculty-led programs page or our virtual programs page. To learn more about Fambul Tik, please visit their website.

Study Abroad from the Safety of Your Home

by Lara Garanzuay, Communications Specialist

Learn From Travel is working with Agnes Scott College to offer seven virtual study abroad programs this Spring. Both organizations value providing students with an education that pushes them to think deeply, engage in their communities and have an international perspective. The Agnes Scott College SUMMIT Program is a eight-day faculty-led global immersion experience where students study a non-English language, and get involved in activities to better understand identity and culture in an interconnected world. 

SUMMIT ensures that thinking globally begins with learning globally. Students will be more than a tourist, they will build cultural competencies that will serve them in work and in life.

With safe travel not possible in the Spring of 2021, Learn from Travel reformatted several existing Global Journey’s programs and developed several new virtual programs to meet the objectives of the SUMMIT Program at Agnes Scott College. The programs described below are innovative in their approach and powerful in their content. 

Featured Study Abroad Virtual Programs

• Astronomy and Discovery in Central Florida

• Marine Ecosystems in the Florida Keys and Belize

• Marronage, Freedom and Resistance in the African Diaspora in Sierra Leone

• Diversity and Health in Ecuador and Miami

• Identity, Globalization and Social Change in Bulgaria and Chicago 

• Industrialization and Scientific Progress, Benefits and Costs in Chicago

• The Presence of the Past in Germany and the U.S. in Washington D.C.

Astronomy and Discovery in Central Florida

This program located in Central Florida includes virtual reality visits to the Kennedy Space Center and other space related sites using VR viewers and 360 degree videos and photos. Students will also explore the connection between Central Florida and Puerto Rico, where the recently decommissioned Arecibo Observatory is located, and learn about the Puerto Rican community in Central Florida. Through conversations with environmental and disaster managers, nonprofit leaders, and Puerto Rican hurricane refugees, students will learn about the coastal impact of hurricanes on Central Florida and on Puerto Rico and its people, many of whom have moved to Central Florida since Hurricane Maria in 2017. 

During the four-day program, Agnes Scott College Students will also meet with University of Central Florida faculty and student experts, have discussions with historians and city officials, and learn about Environmental Protection in Central Florida. 

Marine Ecosystems in the Florida Keys and Belize

The Florida Keys are a string of tropical islands stretching about 120 miles off the southern tip of Florida. They are an international destination for diving and other marine activities, and are located in a protected marine sanctuary. The Keys are similar to the Cayes (Keys) of Belize, including Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye, two of the most visited locations in Belize due to their abundance of marine life and international fame for diving and snorkeling.  

In this weeklong virtual program, which was initially designed to be a travel program to Belize, students will learn about the various marine ecosystems, their threats, and efforts to protect and restore them in both locations. The group will learn about coral research and restoration, hear from scientists and knowledgeable tour guides, and experience the underwater world through 360° 3D videos. Among many other activities, students will meet their Belizean peers to share culture and knowledge.  

Marronage, Freedom and Resistance in the African Diaspora in Sierra Leone

This four-day virtual international education program is designed to explore the connection between the Gullah-Geechee communities in the United States and Sierra Leone, the departure point for thousands of enslaved people during the colonial era. Students will learn about the resistance to slavery, its abolition, and the establishment of a free society in Sierra Leone, including the settlement by African Americans who returned to Sierra Leone after generations in bondage. 

Participating students and faculty will experience virtual tours of slave castles and sites of resistance to slavery, visit villages, and watch skits in the Krio language. The program also allows the students to experience Sierra Leone culture by conversing with Sierra Leonean students and political leaders. They will deepen their exploration of the cultural, economic, and ethnic connection between Western Africa and the United States.

By Erik Cleves Kristensen - Freetown street, CC BY 2.0

This virtual study abroad program draws on the support of local partners and features prominent guest speakers and subject matter experts. Live virtual experiences and interactions with Sierra Leonean students are among the highlights of this immersive virtual program.  

Diversity and Health in Ecuador and Miami

Students will compare South Florida and Ecuador in a variety of factors that influence health outcomes while learning about cultural diversity, differences between public and private healthcare, and environmental elements.

Students will learn about health and healthcare in Ecuador through numerous lectures by University of the Americas in Quito faculty. They will also learn about alternative and rural medicine and hear from a group of women in the Chota Valley, a historically Afro-Ecuadorian community,  who are starting a tourism initiative. 

In Miami  students will gain an understanding of social determinants of health through conversations with the medical director of a community health clinic network, a young leader from the Miccosukee Tribe who will share his thoughts on spiritual and herbal medicine, and volunteers at a community garden located in a food desert.

Identity, Globalization and Social Change in Bulgaria and Chicago

Chicago is home to the largest Bulgarian community in the United States. In this virtual education program participants will learn about the past and present day experience of the Bulgarian community in Chicago.

Through virtual visits to Chicago and its suburbs, students will take part in conversations with local leaders, cultural activities, and historical site visits. Additionally, they will visit the Jane Addams Hull House and other iconic Chicago locations to better understand the context of the city. Students will experience unique events by conversing with Bulgarian artist and community leader Kina Bogovska, attending panels on immigrant identity, touring Bulgarian community and cultural centers, visiting the Bulgarian Embassy and touring the Jane Addams Hull-House museum.

Industrialization and Scientific Progress, Benefits and Costs in Chicago

Chicago is the birthplace of the first refrigerated rail car and the car radio, and is home to Willis Tower - the second tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. During the 20th Century, Chicago became the world's largest rail hub, and one of its busiest ports.

The city’s impressive growth and industrialization did not come without costs. The Great Chicago Fire destroyed the mostly wooden city in 1871, leaving 100,000 people without homes. After rapid industrialization and population growth in the early 20th Century, Lake Michigan was polluted by sewage and industrial waste. Each time, however, the city’s engineers found a way out and up. Today, Chicago is ranked as one of the United States’ most diverse cities with a bustling economy. 

During their virtual travel to Chicago, through virtual site visits and conversations with innovators, historians, local students, and scientists, Agnes Scott College students will learn about the past and present of the greatest city in the Midwest and have a chance to take a critical look at the costs of its progress. Throughout the week-long experience, students will also tour the 1983 World Fair and Argonne National Lab, take part in diversity panels, and virtually visit a comedy club.

The Presence of the Past in Germany and the U.S. in Washington D.C.

This virtual program, based in the capital of the United States, is intended to help students struggle with the complexities of memory and identity as they relate to the atrocities of the Nazi regime in Germany and slavery in the U.S. The program will allow students to compare and contrast the U.S. and Germany.

Students will embark on virtual visits and discussions by museum guides to the National Mall, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Participating faculty and students will deepen their understanding through conversation with topic experts and present day activists. Students will finish the program with few concrete answers, but having explored a number of universal questions that many nations around the world, including the U.S., face today.    

Learn from Travel can create customized virtual programs on any subject matter anywhere in the world. For more information, please visit our virtual programs page.