World Leadership School

Santa Maria de Dota’s ecosystems include cloud forests and pristine rivers that provide habitat for many types of plants and animals. Our homestay families welcome students into their homes and often involve students in daily chores such as feeding animals, picking fruit, or working in the garden. Farmers in this region are known for sustainable agriculture and cultivate some of the finest coffee beans in the world. Many local coffee farms are known for eco-friendly practies such shade-grown and organic cultivation. Santa Maria de Dota serves as an example of how rural communities can harness their natural resources and cultural heritage to build a sustainable future, balancing economic development with ecological conservation.

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.

“Santa Maria de Dota is a very small, tight-knit, relaxed and proud community. My host family was very welcoming and genuine. They were so kind and willing to open their lives to us.”
— Student from Trinity Hall

“[This program] inspired me to see the value in teamwork and generosity. Everyone we met was so hardworking and appreciative.”
— Student from Packer Collegiate Institute

“[This program] helped me realize the value of time spent getting to know others and their cultures. And this goes from people in the community to even people I go to school with.”
— Student from Loomis-Chaffee School