Who we are

OUR MISSION

World Bridges fosters international cooperation between young people of color from low-income backgrounds, and provides them with opportunities to gain global perspectives on the social justice issues that impact their lives. Through participatory training and community-based projects in both the U.S. and abroad, we engage emerging leaders in diverse strategies for effecting social change.

 

 

OUR VISION

We envision a world where diverse young people from low-income and marginalized communities are empowered with the skills, knowledge and global perspectives to address social justice issues that impact their lives and that transcend national borders.

 

 

OUR VALUES

  • We believe that in order to achieve peace and to effect social change, individuals must first be empowered with skills and knowledge, then take collective action to address root causes of injustice.
  • Our programs prioritize the empowerment of individuals and communities that are marginalized, oppressed, and underrepresented around the world.
  • We value the diversity of opinion, and enable cross-cultural awareness and understanding.
  • We value popular education and experiential learning.
  • We work with our international partners in a spirit of solidarity and fair exchange.

 

 

HOW WE CAME ABOUT

World Bridges grew out of a long and solid collaboration between BRIDGES and World PULSE, two international youth exchange programs implementing community organizing and youth empowerment models at home and abroad. The founders of these organizations were young adults from the Bay Area who felt that their own international experiences were critical in their own development and recognition of issues that transcend national borders.

 

ACHIEVEMENTS

Since our inception eight years ago, we have engaged over 1000 individuals in global education dialogues through events and workshops. We have collaborated with over 80 local and international organizations to train and send 100 low-income youth leaders to participate in internships with NGO’s (non-governmental organizations) and volunteer work exchanges in 25 countries abroad. We have also hosted another 100 young people - grassroots organizers, speakers, and volunteers – from other countries on speaking tours and volunteer projects here in the Bay Area. We have organized international environmental camps that bring youth from around the world together to volunteer on habitat restoration projects while learning about the environmental movement. To accomplish all of this, we have maximized resources with the support of over 80 volunteers committing more than 5000 hours and over $12,000 in in-kind donations.

 

Our US-based participants of the Leadership Exchange Program intern with NGO's in the Global South, such as:

  • HIJOS, Guatemala (link)
  • AESMAC, Guatemala (link)
  • Instituto Terrazul, Brazil (link)

 

In turn, youth from our partner NGO’s and workcamps come to the US for speaking tours or to work in our environmental service project. Alumni and their respective organizations serve as hosts and trainers for our international delegates.

Without exposure to international events, global perspectives or actual cross-cultural experiences, young people in the U.S. are ill prepared for the leadership challenges, shifting demographics, or job choices that will confront them in the future. Now more than ever, young people must have the opportunity to learn how their individual actions here can impact people and events abroad, and how global events and policies can affect communities here at home.