For some high school students, college may be the first time they leave home. For others, college may not even be in the cards.
One Step Initiative (OSI), a nonprofit organization established in 2014 and located in Memphis, Tennessee, aims to make college a reachable goal for the nation’s most underserved high school students by providing seniors with the opportunity to go abroad. With their mission of “education beyond borders,” OSI focuses on the undeserved communities and high school students because these are often the students who rarely have this opportunity brought to them. The importance of international education is stronger than ever. OSI believes in experience-based learning to help connect people and ideas, and wants to provide these students with the proper tools, skills, and experiences to succeed in a global economy.
The program was founded by native Memphian Brian Booker, who truly believes in the importance of providing these high school students with these life-changing trips. In an interview with The Memphis Daily News, Booker quoted, “We are trying to interject in high schools by giving [the students] productive and better choices. I want them to seek better avenues than the ones that they’re surrounded with daily. There are a lot of negative influences out there as it relates to gangs and crime life. There’s a lot of things that could send those students instead of down a pipeline from high school to college to a great career, down that road from high school to jail.”
The benefits gained from study abroad are immense. While abroad, students have the opportunity to live with local families, practice a new language, discover new interests, gain a new perspective, and ultimately step out of their comfort zone. Although study abroad is generally associated with college students, it is never too early to start. By giving these students the opportunity to live and study in a foreign country, OSI is helping to guide high school students in the right direction, towards a brighter future.
The trips cost an average of $5,600 for each student, but come at little or no cost to the student. With the help and support of generous donors, OSI is able to cover the costs of transportation, housing, meals, city excursions, day trips, school tuition, medical insurance, passport registration, and pre-departure orientation. Research has shown how beneficial and impactful study abroad is for students, and without organizations such as One Step Initiative, this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity wouldn’t be possible for many.
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