Youth Learning from the World, Leading in their Communities - Creating Global Leaders for Tomorrow

The new millennium has seen an increasing demand to prepare the next generation to lead in the new global community. As a result, international learning opportunities have a more vital role in developing leaders for tomorrow. International education fosters cross-cultural understanding, leadership skills and a socially and globally conscious attitude. How can educators maximize these learning outcomes and support further skill development once the exchange or abroad program has ended? This study more closely examines the impact of international education on youth leadership development and youth engagement in community service. This action research was done to assist an international youth organization in developing sustainable community service programs to actively engage youth in social action. The findings and recommendations offer international education programs and youth organizations strategies and best practices to support youth leadership development through service learning, an approach to social action, to support and enhance intercultural learning experiences. It can be applied in both academic and non-academic youth programs.