Youth Global Awareness & Experiences

GVF is committed to supporting study abroad opportunities for university students, particularly at minority-serving institutions, to participate in university-sponsored programs that emphasize sustainability and/or conservation education. Responsible environmental stewardship is built on understanding different perspectives, cultures and traditions in the global effort to protect our planet. In 2026, GVF will expand to fund students at minority serving U.S. universities and/or U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations running overseas programs. Funding is expected to partially cover travel, program fees, and lodging (i.e., cost-share the total expense).

  • Person with backpack in front of the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, with German flags flying.

    Study Abroad

    The study abroad experience is essential for understanding our globalized world. GVF supports U.S. university student participation in overseas programs run by US-based 501(c)(3) entities. Scholarships partially cover travel, program fees, and lodging for programs emphasizing sustainability and/or conservation.

  • A group of three people collaborating and discussing ideas in an office, using sticky notes on a glass wall.

    Participating in Global Think Tanks

    International think tanks foster creative thinking and innovation by bringing people with diverse experiences, expertise and viewpoints together to focus on policy or societal issues. GVF supports U.S. university student participation in international think tanks focused on sustainability and/or conservation.

  • Two people wearing blue shirts and gloves kneeling by a lakeshore, releasing a fish back into the water.

    Field Schools

    GVF strongly believes you “have to go there” to truly understand the complexities involved in protecting the planet’s biodiversity. GVF supports U.S. university student participation in well-run field schools in geographical areas with high levels of biodiversity threatened by human activity (i.e., biodiversity hotspots).

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