World Leadership School

The border area around El Paso (Texas), Las Cruces (New Mexico), and Ciudad Juárez (Mexico) is pulled between the conflicting realities of the USA and Mexico. Because of its history, the region represents a fascinating window into the complexities of the U.S.-Mexico border – and, in fact, the complexity of many international borders around the world. The nearly 2,000-mile border between the United States and Mexico sees 350 million legal crossings annually, making it the busiest border in the world. The more remote areas of the border see another estimated 500,000 illegal entries, and the U.S. government is ramping up efforts to better secure the border and pass immigration reform.

While the debate over U.S. immigration rages on, a tight-knit community of government and non-profit agencies continues to adapt to the ebbs and flows of migration over the border near El Paso and Las Cruces. El Paso has been ranked the safest large city in the U.S. for four consecutive years, in front of New York City and Austin. Its standing as one of America’s safest large cities is due in large part to the cooperation between all the different organizations, government, nonprofit, and business, which come together here at the border.

The safety of our programs rests on the experience and skills of our Staff, Country Coordinators and Instructors, who convene at our annual training in Colorado’s Arkansas Valley.

• The Staff of World Leadership School have decades of experience working in different educational environments. Their focus is logistics, risk management, program design, professional development, and consulting.
• Our Country Coordinators live and work year round in our overseas countries. They screen our homestay families, evaluate our transport and other service providers, and provide ground support for our groups.
• Our Instructors are veteran educators with extensive international experience. They have wilderness first responder training and often have past affiliations with Peace Corps, Outward Bound, NOLS, and/or independent schools.

We strive to responsibly manage risks. Our itineraries minimize highway travel and maximize immersion in rural communities that we know well. We update our risk management protocols, integrate feedback into program design, and invest in safety and communication equipment. Despite these efforts, World Leadership School cannot guarantee safety nor can it eliminate the inherent and other risks of international student travel. For information regarding program activities and associated risks, risk management, and student and parent responsibilities, please contact our office.

“This program really opened my eyes to what others are going through. I am inspired to try to advocate for people in fear of speaking up for themselves.”
— Student from Wilmington Friends School

“This program widened my view of immigration, and, after hearing everyone’s different perspectives, opened my eyes to the complexity of the issue.”
— Student from Oregon Episcopal School

“This program was truly one of, if not the most, transformative and meaningful experience I’ve ever had. It is something I will genuinely remember forever. The people we met and the powerful stories they told will certainly drive me towards helping to solve the humanitarian issues that I witnessed.”
— Student from Colorado Rocky Mountain School

“This program both changed me and inspired me. This program helped me realize that immigration is an incredibly complex issue, and it changed my preconceived notions about immigrants and why they come to the US. Additionally, the stories I heard from immigrants in the community inspired me to speak up for their rights and to inform others in my community of the hardships they face.”
— Student from Colorado Academy