World Learning coaches help Obama Foundation scholars prepare for service-focused summer voyages abroad

September 24, 2024

By Abby Henson

Last September, Jackie Troschinetz learned about an opportunity to be a digital coach for college juniors looking to build careers in public service. The role involved helping the students design their own study abroad trips. Getting to help students gain exposure to new communities and expand their worldviews—all through the lens of public service—drove her to apply.

“I heard about the digital coaching role through my connections at World Learning that I made working as a group leader in Jordan for The Experiment in International Living [World Learning’s foundational youth exchange program],” said Troschinetz. “I loved the idea of bringing my coaching and facilitation skills into a new role to help design service-focused trips around the world, and I was drawn to the opportunity to work with rising changemakers and talented youth.”

These changemakers were the 100 recipients of the 2023 Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship, a two-year leadership development and scholarship program funded by the Obama Foundation and Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb. Last September, the foundation selected World Learning to provide digital coaching support to its then-latest cohort of Voyagers.

“The Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship, like World Learning, believes that exposure to diverse cultures and communities fosters empathy and cooperation, which are essential for creating meaningful change in the world.”
World Learning CEO Carol Jenkins

Throughout last fall and this spring, World Learning coaches worked to prepare the students for their Summer Voyages, a component of the scholarship that requires the students to design and plan a public service project either in the United States or overseas. Voyagers use this opportunity to learn more about public service areas, future career fields, and the populations they may want to serve.

“The Obama-Chesky Voyager Scholarship, like World Learning, believes that exposure to diverse cultures and communities fosters empathy and cooperation, which are essential for creating meaningful change in the world,” said World Learning CEO Carol Jenkins. “Our partnership with the Obama Foundation combines resources and expertise to further our mutually aligned missions.”

World Learning has a vast global network and robust educational frameworks that are grounded in an experiential learning approach. For more than 90 years, it has worked with youth to foster intercultural understanding, community service, and leadership skills—all of which are critical for being a compassionate and effective public service leader.

As part of the digital coaching process, World Learning grouped the students into virtual “neighborhoods.” Here, the coaches facilitated small group discussions and provided breakout rooms for the students to ask questions and address individual concerns. The coaches also provided one-on-one counseling on identifying public service focus areas, selecting travel locations, mapping out key partner organizations, establishing achievable learning outcomes, and communicating effectively to secure needed resources for their trips. Each scholar then submitted their Summer Voyage plan for approval by the Obama Foundation to receive a travel stipend.

“I loved the idea of bringing my coaching and facilitation skills into a new role to help design service-focused trips around the world, and I was drawn to the opportunity to work with rising changemakers and talented youth.”
Jackie Troschinetz, World Learning digital coach

The World Learning team’s experiential learning approach guided the students through concrete learning activities and periods for reflection. This approach encouraged critical thinking, allowing the scholars to maximize their own backgrounds and creativity to ensure an impactful experience this summer.

“I was impressed that many of the Voyagers had accomplishments, internships, or awards before they even became a scholarship recipient,” said Troschinetz. “I found they were good at sharing their stories and what drives them. We as coaches came in to guide them to make relevant connections on how to take their dreams into the real world.”

The cohort of Voyagers represented 33 states and territories and 75 higher education institutions, including Ivy League schools, HBCUs, small liberal arts colleges, and major public and private research universities. The scholars’ fields of study ranged across the physical and life sciences, humanities, social sciences, and policy studies.

In early May, the Voyagers headed to 65 different countries across the globe for their Summer Voyages, which ran through August. Students did a range of service projects, such as addressing accessibility in museums, volunteering in palliative care settings, and working to make urban design projects more equitable.

“I enjoyed the experience of coaching and building deep relationships with these amazing individuals,” said Troschinetz. “I loved the energy they brought. I can’t wait to follow what they do next.”

The Voyager Scholarships was established through a $100 million personal contribution by Brian Chesky to the Obama Foundation in 2022. “If we want this next generation of leaders to be able to do what they need to do, they have to meet each other. They have to know each other. They have to understand each other’s communities,” said President Obama in the announcement video.