Improving Outreach Activities -- Mentoring Youth in a Structured Skills-Based Development Program Increases Personal Growth of College Students Studying Abroad

As study abroad education becomes increasingly common, so does the need to understand how different outreach opportunities alter the study abroad experience. To determine how outreach program design links to perceptions of personal growth, we surveyed 72 college students who participated in different youth outreach activities while studying abroad. Being a mentor in a sequenced, active, focused, and explicit (SAFE) youth outreach program increased the probability of perceived personal growth in college students by 27% relative to unstructured outreach activities in the same location. Thus, we suggest the SAFE framework be considered when designing youth outreach activities. Additionally, 44% of respondents considered outreach options as a factor when selecting a study abroad program. Combined, these findings provide an incentive for study abroad organizations to invest in structured youth outreach opportunities for their clientele--in what may be a triple-win opportunity for study abroad organizations, their students, and youth in host country locations.