Exciting news! United Planet has been awarded a two-year $400,000 grant from the American Student Assistance® (ASA) to provide virtual internship opportunities across the world to equity-deserving American secondary school students and to expand its advocacy around global citizen leadership and sustainable development education. ASA is a national nonprofit changing the way kids learn about careers and prepare for their futures.
ASA recently announced that it has awarded more than $6 million in grants to 16 mission-aligned nonprofit youth-serving organizations from across 15 states. The grantees’ initiatives are focused on improving career readiness outcomes for middle and high schoolers from under-resourced communities. United Planet is one of these 16 organizations receiving a part of this funding.
The grant will fund the expansion of immersive virtual global citizen leadership skill-building internships to empower youth for success in a global economy and interconnected world. The grant will help enable the development of global competency, 21st-century active citizen leadership, and advocacy for sustainable development education with a particular focus on addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
David Santulli, our Founder and President, expresses our gratitude for the grant. “We are incredibly grateful for the support of ASA to prepare American youth through virtual internships and training for success within a global economy, interconnected world, and the multicultural communities in which they live. By developing American youth as global citizen leaders, we will open up a world of opportunity for them and prepare them as leaders within their own communities and beyond.”
Empowering American youth
A recent study by ASA found that while 79% of high school students would be interested in a work-based learning experience, only 34% were aware of any opportunities for students their age. “We are honored to support United Planet to increase access to invaluable work-based learning opportunity in the form of internships, which will help young people understand their options, uncover the way they like to work, and begin to build the social capital that is needed for long-term career success,” said Julie Lammers, Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Corporate Social Responsibility at ASA.
With this backing and collaboration, we are empowered to extend the reach of its initiatives and advocacy efforts. This includes the provision of immersive global citizen leadership internships and the amplification of their endeavors in advancing sustainable development education. ASA’s support is pivotal in our overarching mission to empower deserving American youth with equitable opportunities, preparing them for success in an increasingly interconnected global landscape and economy.
Apply for the internship!
The application process for the virtual internships has already started. High school students and faculty members can apply for the internships through our website. The next round of internships will be from August 5th until October 4th. The deadline for the application is July 1st.
ABOUT UNITED PLANET
United Planet is a non-profit organization with a mission to create a global community, one relationship at a time. Established in 2001, United Planet offers volunteer abroad, virtual internships, internships abroad, gap year volunteering, and global virtual exchange in more than 40 countries.
