An adventure awaits you in Peru! Filled with jaw-dropping terrain, Peru is one of the most bio-diverse countries on Earth. Peru’s landscape includes the lofty peaks of the Andes, vast coastal deserts and the lush, tropical rain forests of the Amazon Basin. The birthplace of several proud, ancient civilizations, present-day Peru is home to an incredible assortment of indigenous groups that blend into a unique and beautiful culture. Sadly, the people of Peru struggle with high levels of poverty and class inequality. Government corruption hinders Peru’s economic development and...

An adventure awaits you in Fort Lauderdale! Ft. Lauderdale celebrates the culture South Florida, a mix of big-city, small-country immigrants, and tourism-driven beach life. All of this combines to make this city, which some consider as part of Miami, a place of its own. However, Ft. Lauderdale isn’t a city immune to challenges. More than a fifth of those who live in Ft. Lauderdale call another country home; 20% of the population lives below the poverty line, which is higher than the state average. More than 15% of parents are single mothers. Many who live in Ft. Lauderdale...

An adventure awaits you in Philadelphia! Help the City of Brotherly Love live up to its name.  Where history and modern architecture meet, Philadelphia’s reputation for art and culture is unmatched. The city offers more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other American city, and life is returning to some gentrified neighborhoods. But many areas of Philadelphia continue to struggle. Close to half the city’s population lives below poverty level. Vast stretches of industrial areas remain abandoned as the area’s economy shifts to focus on financial and information...

An adventure awaits you in Ghana! Located in West Africa, Ghana’s name means “Warrior King”.  Once part of an ancient military empire called “The Kingdom of Ashanti”, they were known as a people of war. Even during British colonization, the Ghanaian people continued to fight for their nation, becoming the first sub-Saharan nation to gain their independence.  Theirs is a history of fighting for freedom, of refusing to accept what someone else said of them – of fighting to survive and thrive in this world.  It’s worked too – Ghana...

An adventure awaits you in Puerto Rico!     Smiling tourists never imagine the truth of life in Puerto Rico. A commonwealth of the United States, Puerto Rico offers wealthy residents and tourists the comforts of America as well as exotic beaches and a relaxed Caribbean culture. Sadly, almost half of the population lives below the poverty line, and unemployment always remains high. Most of the Puerto Rican people do not have access to services such as police protection and emergency medical care. Many families have been torn apart by emigration—almost half of the...

The Dominican Republic is soaked in history. One of the first landing points for Christopher Columbus during his 1492 encounter with the Americas, it later became the site of the first European colony. Europe’s influence on the island can still be seen in Santo Domingo, the oldest colonial city in the Western Hemisphere. These Spanish-speaking Caribbeans’ favorite pastime is baseball, and the kids will play it all day long! They fully embrace the “island life” and the people are extremely friendly and laid back. Although known for its vast sugar plantations,...