•Identify your unique strengths and abilities as a leader
2. Confidence building
•Better understand yourself as an individual and leader
•Gain the confidence to be yourself through new experiences and new skills
THE 4 PILLARS OF THE GLA EXPERIENCE
3. Global perspective
•Create lasting connections with youth from around the world
•Build your cultural competency
•Expand your comfort zone
4. Community impact
•Gain skills and confidence to create positive change
•Make real impact both during and after the program
Identify your PASSIONS, values, and unique abilities
Discover your PURPOSE as an individual and a leader
Create positive CHANGE in yourself and your community
What makes the Global Leadership Academy a uniquely powerful experience for youth?
The Global Leadership Academy combines the best of a summer camp, pre-university program, service trip, leadership training program, and study abroad experience all into ONE unforgettable program!
• Be actively engaged in leadership learning with our experience-based approach
• Make new connections from around the world and develop cultural competency
• Convert your passions and interests into exciting changemaking projects
• Learn valuable skills and tools to help you reach your post-program goals
• Earn a certificate that details your hours of community service impact and leadership development
• Benefit from personal help & support 24/7 with 1 staff per each 6 participants
Which program is right for you?
All Global Leadership Academy programs share the same learning objectives - developing leadership skills, gaining confidence, broadening global perspectives, and creating community impact. The right program for you simply depends on how long you’d like your experience to be, and what location you’d like to explore!
Global Leadership Academy DISCOVERY is a fast-paced, 1-week leadership program. This is a unique experience to quickly develop leadership skills and confidence in a fun and supportive environment. Complete 40+ hours of leadership training and community service!
In 2026, the GLA Discovery program is available in Singapore for ages 10-17.
Global Leadership Academy is our flagship 2-week leadership program. With hands-on activities, community service, outdoor adventures, and new experiences, each day offers fresh challenges that inspire growth and leadership. Complete 60+ hours of leadership training and community service!
In 2026, the GLA program is available in Canada (ages 12-18) and Kenya (ages 14-18), with both locations offering optional add-on tours to extend your experience.
Global Leadership Academy+ is an extended 3-week program for who want to dive even deeper into leadership Along with some of the Global Leadership Academy’s signature activities, there are so many new challenges, games, projects, and experiences to be had at GLA+. It’s everything our participants love about the Global Leadership Academy experience - but more of it! Complete 80+ hours of leadership training and community service!
In 2026, the GLA+ program is available in Canada for ages 13-17.
The Brookes Westshore School 1939 Sooke Road, Victoria, British Columbia
CANADA
Brookes Westshore was built in 2019 on the west coast of Canada in the beautiful city of Victoria. This IB World school accepts both local and international boarding students, and in the summer, the campus is home to the Global Leadership Academy Canada. Forests, hiking trails, a lagoon, and the historic Hatley Castle are all within walking distance from campus, along with a supermarket.
GLA (14 days): US$ 3500
GLA & Tour (19 days): US$ 5195
GLA+ (21 days): US$ 4950
Dorm rooms sleep up to 4 students and each have their own ensuite bathroom. Each participant will have their own bed and storage space in their room, and also have access to a shared lounge for Powerful Youth students with comfortable sofas, flatscreen TV, pool table, ping pong, board games, and more. Laundry and housekeeping services are provided once per week. Students also have access to oncampus facilities including an indoor gymnasium, art space, outdoor lounge, library, and more!
ACADEMY Session 1 for ages 12-14: June 28 to July 11, 2026
+ optional Best of BC Tour: July 11 to 16, 2026
ACADEMY Session 2 for ages 12-18: July 12 to 25, 2026
+ optional Best of BC Tour: July 25 to 30, 2026
ACADEMY+ for ages 13-17: July 26 to August 15, 2026
Best of BC Tour
The Best of BC Tour offers an action-packed 6-day, 5-night tourism program after the 2-week Global Leadership Academy concludes. Tour participants stay in both Victoria (2 nights) and Vancouver (3 nights) and enjoy exciting daily adventures including whale watching, hiking, shopping, tourism highlights, university campus visits, and more. Join the tour to extend your time with us and explore more of beautiful British Columbia!
St Andrew’s School Turi Private Bag 20106, Molo
KENYA
St Andrew’s School Turi has been a leading international school in Africa since 1931, set on 450 acres in the beautiful Kenyan countryside The large estate offers a quiet and safe setting for the Global Leadership Academy Kenya. With modern facilities and plenty of outdoor space on campus, along with unique towns and Lake Nakuru National Park nearby, it’s a fantastic location to learn, have fun, and explore a more local side of Kenya!
GLA (14 days): US$ 3750
GLA & Tour (21 days): US$ 5250
Dorm rooms sleep 2 students and there are shared, single-gender bathrooms on every floor. Each participant will have their own bed and storage space in their room, and also have access to a shared student lounge on their floor. Laundry and housekeeping services are provided once per week.
Students also have access to on-campus outdoor spaces, modern arts and sports facilities, and more.
ACADEMY for ages 14-18: July 5 to 18, 2026
+ optional Kenyan Culture & Safari Tour: July 18 to 25, 2026
Kenyan Culture & Safari Tour
From visits to traditional villages, marine excursions, Maasai cultural experiences, and safari trips, this is a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience across Kenya after the Global Leadership Academy concludes. This 8-day, 7-night program is packed full of exciting activities within the country exploring Kenya’s culture, nature, and wildlife, and also includes accommodation at hotels and eco lodges, transportation within the country, and all meals.
National Service Resort & Country Club 10 Changi Coast Walk, 499739
SINGAPORE
In partnership with Camp Discovery Asia, Global Leadership Academy DISCOVERY in Singapore is a 7-day, 6-night program open to international youth ages 10 to 17.
Select program activities will be conducted by age: Junior (ages 10-13) or Senior (ages 14-17).
Participants will stay at the National Service Resort and Country Club in Changi and have supervised access to the pools, bowling alley, sports facilities, and more during afternoon activities. Spacious two-bedroom, twobathroom bungalows sleep up to 6 students of the same gender. The bungalows also feature comfortable indoor and outdoor spaces to relax during free time.
GLA Discovery (7 days):
SGD $2950*
*Pay $2750 if you register before March 31st!
DISCOVERY Session 1 for ages 10-17: June 21 to 27, 2026
DISCOVERY Session 2 for ages 10-17: July 5 to 11, 2026
“[GLA] is an amazing way to create leadership skills, meet new people, and get new responsibilities.”
- Ella, Canada
“GLA helps you realize what you’re capable of.”
- Proud, Thailand
“It’s super fun, you learn quite a lot, and you make lots of friends!”
-Merle, Netherlands
“You get to make new friends, learn more about yourself, learn about different cultures, and learn how to make a difference in your community, and it’s FUN!”
- Galia, Mexico
“A great way to spend 2 weeks of summer, finding new connections as well as your passions”
- Ashot, Armenia
“A great program to learn deeper about leadership to empower yourself and build connections ”
- Pendo, Kenya
What are the program requirements for applicants?
The Global Leadership Academy is open to all youth from around the world. Our only requirement for admission into this youth summer program is that you are within the stated age range at the time of your program (see page 16 for age restrictions by program).
All instruction is done in English, however, we do not have any mandatory minimum English language requirements since we are an experiential learning program. We suggest that students have at least a proficient level of English (IELTS 4 or CEFR A2), or the ability to understand and speak English conversationally, but this is not a mandatory requirement. All students will be expected to speak in English during the program, including in their dorm rooms and during meals and free time, to create an inclusive environment.
The most important requirement is to have a positive attitude, be excited to go out of your comfort zone and experience new things, and have the desire to develop your skills as a young leader.
“Perfect balance of learning and fun”
- CLAUDIO, PERU
What are the age restrictions for each program?
Canada
The Global Leadership Academy Canada programs accept youth ages 12-18. Participants will be enrolled based on age in either the Junior group (ages 12-14) or the Senior group (ages 15-18). Some activities are led together as a large group and some activities are divided into the two groups. The overall goals of the two programs are the same, but we accomplish them in different ways.
The Global Leadership Academy+ Canada program accepts youth ages 13-17, with all students participating together in the same activities.
Singapore
The Global Leadership Academy DISCOVERY programs in Singapore accept students ages 10-17. Participants will be enrolled based on age in either the Junior group (ages 10-13) or Senior group (ages 14-17), with some activities led together as a large group and some divided into the two groups. The overall goals of the two programs are the same, but we accomplish them in different ways.
Kenya
The Global Leadership Academy Kenya program accepts youth ages 14-18, with all students participating together in the same activities.
“Awesome, unique, inclusive” - RORY, CANADA
What kind of visa do I need to attend the program?
International participants may require an electronic travel authorization or visitor visa to enter the country to attend their program. A student visa is NOT required to attend a GLA program, and we do not provide the documentation required for study applications.
Canada
Do I need a visa to enter Canada?
www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
What is required for minors applying for a visitor visa to Canada?
Do I need a visa to enter Kenya, and what is required?
https://etakenya.go.ke/general-information
General
We provide a Letter of Registration and Letter of Authorization for international minors to apply for an electronic travel authorization or visitor visa (if necessary) within 2 weeks of receiving the deposit payment. We are not an accredited school program and therefore do not require a study visa to attend, so we do not provide notarized custodian documents required to apply for study visas.
What does the program tuition include?
All Global Leadership Academy programs are fully-inclusive, meaning students are fully covered for all accommodation, meals, supplies, and activity costs while attending the program.
• Accommodation (weekly housekeeping & laundry for 2/3 week programs)
• All meals and snacks
• Program materials, activity fees, and local transport
• 24/7 support and supervision from our staff
• Arrival and departure airport transfers (see below)
• CANADA/KENYA: Local emergency medical insurance
We recommend that all participants purchase travel insurance in their home country prior to their trip.
CANADA TRANSFERS
Arrivals
• Victoria Airport (YYJ) or Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal
Departures
Academy/Academy+
• Victoria Airport (YYJ) or Swartz Bay Ferry Terminal
Best of BC Tour
• Vancouver Airport (YVR)
KENYA TRANSFERS
Arrivals/Departures
• Jomo Kenyatta Nairobi International Airport (NBO)
SINGAPORE TRANSFERS
Arrivals/Departures
• Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
What is the refund policy?
General Policies:
• In the case of a denied visa, you are entitled to a full refund. Documentation must be provided.
• In the case of cancellation due to medical or compassionate reasons, documentation must be provided and reviewed. Tuition already paid is eligible to be transferred towards a 2027 program if approved.
• If the program for which you are registered is cancelled for any reason, you are entitled to transfer your registration to the 2027 program or receive a full refund.
Canada/Kenya Refund Policy:
Before May 31st, 2026: Full refund of tuition paid, not including the non-refundable deposit of US$ 350
After May 31st, 2026: Partial refund of tuition paid, with the amount depending on date and program
Within 4-weeks of program start date: No refund
Singapore Refund Policy:
30+ days in advance of program start date: Refund of tuition paid, not including the non-refundable deposit of SGD$ 500
<30 days in advance of program start date: Refund of tuition paid, not including the non-refundable deposit of SGD$ 500 and SGD$ 500 administrative fee
What is the application and registration process?
1. Apply via the online application form on our website:
https://powerfulyouth.com/apply-now/
2. Receive an acceptance confirmation email within 3-5 business days, and review all program details and provided information.
3. Pay the deposit* to officially register for the program.
*Canada/Kenya: US$ 350 / Singapore: SGD$ 500
4. Receive your letters of registration and authorization.
5. If required, apply for a visitor/tourist visa.
6. Complete your registration by paying your tuition in full and submitting all mandatory forms and waivers before the deadline.**
**Canada/Kenya: by May 31st / Singapore: 30 days in advance
7. Share your travel itinerary a minimum of 4 weeks in advance.
8. Receive your Pre-Arrival Guide, which includes helpful information and a suggested packing list, and get ready for an unforgettable experience!
“[GLA] helped me to know more about myself.”
- YORICK, TAIWAN
Do you offer financial aid for your programs?
In order to allow as many youth as possible to have access to our programs, we offer tuition scholarships of up to 95% for individual applicants who would not otherwise be able to attend due to financial barriers. Scholarships are open to youth worldwide.
What does a GLA scholarship include?
Partial scholarships (up to 50% of tuition costs) will be awarded on a rolling basis starting in January 2026, but large scholarships (50-95%) are awarded in April/May 2026, after the scholarship application deadline of March 31, 2026.
We award scholarships exclusively for our leadership programs, not including any add-on tour programs.
Our scholarships do not cover the cost of airfare or travel to/from your home country to the program, nor do they cover the cost of visas or related documents.
You will provide basic personal information, answer five written answer questions so we can learn more about you, and indicate which locations and sessions you would be interested and available to attend. The deadline to submit a scholarship application is March 31st, 2026.
Judging Process
Our scholarships are highly competitive. We award scholarships on the basis of leadership experience, leadership potential, motivation to attend the program, and financial need.
“[GLA] was a personal discovery for me”
- MARIA JOSE, MEXICO
What is your electronics policy?
As the program is focused on building a learning community that is engaged and connected to one another, it is important that participants are not only physically present, but also mentally present during the activities. For this reason, our programs are mostly free of electronics. Participants will agree to this policy as part of signing the code of conduct on the first full day of the program.
Participants will only have access to their personal electronics for a limited time each day. All phones, tablets, and laptops will be turned in and safely kept by program staff, to be distributed during select periods each day, and for longer programs of 2 or 3 weeks, overnight. We recommend students bring a watch to tell the time, and a digital camera if they wish to take pictures during all activities. During add-on tour programs, students will have their personal electronics at all times.
Staff carry phones 24/7, and emergency contact numbers will be provided in advance if families need to urgently contact their children for any reason.
During select project planning blocks, participants will be able to use their laptops, tablets, or phones to conduct research or develop presentations. However, as part of the signed code of conduct, participants will agree to using them only for relevant tasks or risk having them taken away and returned at a later time.
“I grew by challenging myself every day”
- SARA, JAPAN
“This program is not just for fun… it teaches you lots, like LOTS! It gives you friends, skills, and leadership!”
- Lee Ching, Thailand
“It is a chance for you to build connections and understand your strengths and how you can use them to create a better world.”
- Chaucer, Taiwan
“It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. … I found myself and left behind some fears I had.”
- Gabriel, Peru
“The experiences in GLA changed my life. I found my strengths and myself as a leader. I have been proud of myself since this program!”
- Tsugumi, Japan
“[GLA] offers different types of experiences that normally we wouldn’t do that brought out my confidence.”
- Ana, Georgia
“Beyond imagination! The program is very interesting and meaningful, and every day is amazing!”
- Jessica, China
“It was so much fun and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
- Murci, USA
“Something totally different from anything I’ve ever experienced, ... unforgettable!”
-João Paulo, Brazil
“Every aspect of this program was so enjoyable and all have become precious memories! GLA gave me the most valuable and inspiring two weeks of my entire life.”
- Jay, Korea
“[GLA] helps you grow as a person and gives you confidence.”
- Fernanda, Bolivia
“I learned so much about the world and about myself in a fun way.”
