Frequently Asked Questions

The Powerful Youth Global Leadership Academy is open to all youth from around the world. Our only requirement for admission into this youth summer program is that you are age 12-18 (Canada location) or age 14-18 (UK location) at the time of the program.

All instruction is done in English, however, we do not have any mandatory minimum English language requirements since we are an experiential leadership training program. We suggest that students do try to have at least a proficient level of English (IELTS 4 or CEFR A2), or the ability to speak and understand short statements and questions in English, but this is not a mandatory requirement. By far the most important requirement is to have a positive attitude, be excited to go out of your comfort zone, and have the desire to develop your skills as a young leader. Students will be expected to speak in English at all times during the program, including in their rooms and during free time, in order to create an inclusive environment.

1. Apply for your program of choice via our online application form

2. Receive your program acceptance confirmation email (within 3 business days), and review all program details and information provided

3. Reply to the acceptance email to confirm your attendance

4. Make your US$ 325 deposit payment (via PayPal or wire transfer) within 30 days to officially register for the program

5. Receive your program registration letter and (if traveling from abroad) letter of authorization and custodianship

6. If required, apply for a visitor visa to Canada or the UK.

7. Make your payment in full by May 31st, 2024.

8. Submit the mandatory forms and waivers (shared in April 2024) by May 31st, 2024.

International participants require a standard visitor/tourist visa to enter the country to attend the program. A student visa is NOT required to attend GLA, and we do not provide the documentation required for study applications in Canada or the UK.

Canada

Do I need a visa to enter Canada? https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

What is required for minors applying for a visitor visa to Canada? https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/minor-children-travelling-canada.html

United Kingdom

Do I need a visa to enter the UK? https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa/y

What is required for minors applying for a Standard Visitor Visa to the UK? https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor/if-youre-under-18

General

We provide the following documentation for international minors to apply for a visitor visa (if necessary) once we receive the deposit payment.

– Letter of Program Registration

– Letter of Authorization (to be signed by parents/guardians before travel)

Global Leadership Academy Canada 2024 tuition

GLA: US$ 3275

GLA + Best of BC Tour: US$ 4720

Global Leadership Academy England 2023 tuition

GLA: US$ 3550

GLA + Best of England Tour: US$ 5200

All programs include:

– Full room and board (all meals and accommodation)

– All program materials and activity fees

– Local emergency health insurance for the duration of the program

– 6 months of post-program support, including 1-hour one-on-one virtual coaching session

– Pick-up and drop-off transfers at the select locations below:

Canada Programs

– Arrivals: Victoria Airport (YYJ) or Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal

– GLA Departures: Victoria Airport (YYJ) or Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal

– Best of BC Tour Departures: Vancouver Airport (YVR)

UK Programs

– Arrivals: London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Stansted Airport (STN), or Cambridge Train Station

– GLA Departures: London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Stansted Airport (STN), or Cambridge Train Station

– Best of England Tour Departures: London Heathrow Airport (LHR), London Stansted Airport (STN), or St Pancras International Train Station (London)

Once you have submitted your application online, you will receive an email letting you know if you have been accepted into your desired program. To accept your offer and guarantee your spot, you must pay a non-refundable $325 USD deposit within 30 days, which applies towards your total tuition cost. This deposit allows us to officially register you in our program and to provide you with the documents necessary for you to apply for a visa to Canada or the UK, depending on your country of residence.

Payments for Powerful Youth’s programs may be made securely and online through PayPal or through bank wire transfer to our US account in USD.

Refund Policy

If you would like to cancel for any reason,

– Before May 31st, 2024: Full refund of tuition paid, not including the non-refundable deposit

– After May 31st, 2024: Partial refund of tuition paid (depending on individual program costs already pre-paid), not including the non-refundable deposit

– Within 4-weeks of program start date: No refund

In the case of a denied visa for unexpected reasons, you are entitled to a full refund. Proper documentation must be provided.

If the program is canceled for any circumstance, you are entitled to transfer your registration to the 2025 program or receive a refund in full.

For our Canada programs, participants will stay on the Brookes Westshore campus (https://westshore.brookes.org/) located at 1939 Sooke Rd, Victoria, BC V9B 1W2. The school dorm rooms sleep 2-4 students, have ensuite bathrooms, and are large enough for each participant to have their own bed and storage space. Laundry and housekeeping services are provided once per week.

For our UK programs, participants will stay on the Brookes UK campus (https://uk.brookes.org/) located at Flempton Rd, Risby, Bury Saint Edmunds IP28 6QJ. The school dorm rooms sleep 3-6 students, have ensuite bathrooms, and are large enough for each participant to have their own bed and storage space. Laundry and housekeeping services are provided once per week.

For the add-on tour program, the students stay in group accommodation. Rooms sleep 1-6 participants (depending on available accommodation), typically with separate shared bathrooms for each gender. When possible, participants stay on a local university campus in shared dorm accommodation so they get to experience campus life for a few nights.

We assign students to dorms according to gender, age, and to promote diversity. We reserve the right to decline all rooming requests to stay in the same room with someone you know.

Both programs share the same learning objectives – developing leadership skills, gaining confidence, and creating a global mindset – but accomplish these in different ways. The two programs are run concurrently on the same campus and the two groups also spend much of their time together, including meals, free time, off-campus activities, evening events, and some program activities as well. There are many opportunities for students to make friends from the other age group!

The Junior program is designed to help younger student become comfortable and confident with the different processes and approaches to leadership, rather than focusing on the outcome. There is also a greater focus on critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity through the introduction and use of the design thinking approach. Junior students complete a larger number of smaller projects compared to Senior students, including both group and individual projects.

The Senior program is designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge to develop their own community leadership project with the intention of creating positive change. Students spend the first week focusing on skill building and gaining confidence, with the second week dedicated to better understanding themselves, the world around them, and how exactly they want to make a difference. Then, with the support of our coaches, they make a step-by-step plan to do just that, along with a presentation to share their vision.

In order to help participants with the implementation of their projects or to work towards other leadership goals, we offer support from senior staff members via email. This can include giving feedback on documents (including grant funding applications, job applications, or project proposals), providing a reference letter, sharing information about their projects with our network, offering encouragement, etc.

We also offer each participant a 1-hour virtual coaching session in order to provide them one-on-one support with their projects and/or goals. There is no set coaching schedule as we have participants worldwide in different time zone with different school calendars, so the coaching session can be organized by contacting our team directly by email to find a time that works for both a staff member and the participant.