Three-fourths of alumni who
completed the survey considered IYLI’s sponsorship of overseas and international
study opportunities to be either Most Important or Important. The same percentage said that assisting
students to examine their knowledge and perceptions of their own and
other cultures, and promote respect of self and others was Most Important or Important.
Respondents rated the
following purposes highly:
Developing students’ academic development (71%), exposing students to international careers, particularly in
fields in which people of color are under represented (92%), importance of
contributing to students’ knowledge of their own and other cultures, and promote respect of self and others (97%), and
requiring IYLI Fellows to fulfill a community service Commitment (92%).
Regarding career exposure, a respondent commented,
IYLI had such a profound impact on my life, my career
decisions and my concept of self. My travel abroad experiences with IYLI helped
me think about who I was in the world and outside of the context of the United
States. Gaining exposure to international careers is especially important for
African-American and Latino youth because they are underrepresented in these
fields. It is important to know what there is to aspire to for students at the
secondary school level. The exposure and academic development (as well as the
community service) from IYLI helped me to learn how to be proactive and to
understand that my presence and participation in the world is important.
Ninety-one percent consider that IYLI’s framework of history, culture,
geography and environment is a valuable tool for building students’ critical
thinking skills.
Responses to several questions suggested the need to revisit some aspects
of IYLI’s purposes. More than half
of respondents (58%) responded that IYLI should expand its summer programs beyond
Africa and should include Asia and Europe. One person commented,
“The focus on Africa and Latin America is important because
it is the cultural roots of the participants. I am Latin American but it was my
trip to Africa that changed my life so it is also possible that travel in Asia
could do the same for African Americans. I do have to say that involving people
of color in international work is very important and so I do believe that this
should remain the target groups for IYLI. I'm based in Asia and would be happy
to provide support of info if IYLI goes that path. Always grateful for the
experience I had.”
In addition, only half of respondents thought that IYLI should continue
to focus its recruitment efforts on African American and Latino secondary
school students. One-fourth of
respondents were not sure if IYLI should continue to focus its recruitment on
its traditional primary population. According to one respondent,
I believe IYLI should remain an outreach for African
Americans and Latinos. It is very important that African Americans and Latinos
get the opportunity to experience culture in a different country more than one
time. Expanding the program to Asia and Europe, isn't a bad idea. I think if a
group of students were to go to those countries, it would be important to see
if they have already been to some of the countries in South America or Africa.
Another person commented,
“…as far as IYLI reaching out
to others besides African-Americans and Latinos I can say that my opinion is
indifferent. It would be a great opportunity to diversify the student groups on
each trip. I have to give that some more thought.
Finally, three-fourths of Alumni who responded to the survey reported
that they would play a greater role in the organization if there were more ways
to do so.
