Meet our 2019 Critical Issues Summit Scholarship Recipients
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Meet our 2019 Critical Issues Summit Scholarship Recipients

At Rustic Pathways, we’re working to create a world where all people are connected through a shared humanity and all decisions are made with a global perspective. We know that educating and building awareness for the next generation of change makers is critical to solving the world’s most daunting challenges such as gender equality, refugee crises, and access to clean water.

To address these pressing issues, we created the Rustic Pathways Critical Issue Summit. The Critical Issues Summit is a unique two-week experience taking place in Southeast Asia, bringing together 100 change makers from more than 20 countries around the world. Students will examine one of five global critical issues in local communities in the region, then unite for a conference-style event focusing on design-thinking and lean startup methods, and will feature issue experts, workshops, and community building.

This year, we’re proud to offer 25 fully-funded scholarships to attend our first-ever Critical Issues Summit.

After receiving nearly 300 applications, we were blown away not only by the response to this program but the incredible applicant pool of teens from 39 countries. To each and every one of you who applied, thank you! You have given us an immense amount of hope for the future and the inspiring power of your generation. The application process confirmed our belief that your generation will change the world for the better and we’re more inspired than ever to help young change makers like you take action.

Applicants were asked to write why they should be considered for the Critical Issues Summit. Their responses were so powerful that we wanted to share a few examples:

” …the ability to travel and collaborate with other motivated and passionate youth will give me the opportunity to build connections and friendships that will last a lifetime. I am confident that being surrounded by other change makers will inspire me to take steps towards changing the world for the better in any way that I can. “

“I have witnessed the discrimination my siblings and parents have been subject to due to inconsistencies in our family’s color palette and bloodless ties. My unusual upbringing, skepticism, and change-making initiative will definitely make me an apt candidate for The Critical Issue Summit.”

“The summit provides resources that will help me hone in on critical thinking and problem-solving methods. It will guide me in crystallizing the dynamic steps needed to be taken to understand the roots of a global problem. Helping me create real solutions, not band-aid solutions.”

Without further ado, we would like to introduce our travelers….

About the Author

Rachel Levin

Brand Engagement Manager

Rachel joined Rustic in 2013 and led programs for three summers in Costa Rica, Peru, and Ghana. She’s also led programs in Fiji and Tanzania. A graduate of the University of Vermont with degrees in sociology and Spanish, Rachel focuses her love for travel, writing, and her unquenchable curiosity of our natural world as Rustic’s Brand Engagement Manager. Based in Tahoe, CA, Rachel is a talented ceramicist and lover of the outdoors.