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Global Fellows

Water1st Global Fellows are selected to participate in a travel experience to learn about sustainable development in our project communities.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Global Fellows program was developed for the next generation of global leaders to learn the complexities of poverty and the importance of a community-led philosophy of development with the intent to encourage impactful collaborative strategies moving forward.

Global Fellows are leaders who are motivated to make an impact on one of the world’s biggest problems; they are collaborative, adaptive, and self-aware.

Our curriculum prepares students for a week-long experience in communities impacted by extreme poverty in Kenya, Bangladesh, and Honduras, and includes resources and guidance to support the analytical thinking process around the topic of global development. Global Fellows learn the importance of entering project communities with respect, humility, and a willingness to listen and learn from people who understand their needs best. Students will gain a new perspective and a powerful voice to advocate for the people they meet who need safe water.

Cost

$2,500 land fee

Travelers are responsible for their own flights, vaccinations and medications, passport and visa fees, and spending money for souvenirs.

The $2,500 fee includes:
-Hotel
-Meals + bottled water
-Chaperones
-Drivers + ground transportation
-Tour guides
-Translation
-Cultural experiences
-Emergency medical evacuation and travel insurance
-Baggage fees
-Scholarship support for other Global Fellows

We offer scholarship assistance based on need and we do not ask for income verification.

Income range:
under $50k = $2,000 scholarship
$50—$75k = $1,500 scholarship
$75–100k = $1000 scholarship

FAQs

To be eligible to apply, applicants must be a junior or senior in high school (or equivalent) and have completed one year on the Water1st Youth Board.

Application deadlines are updated below. Additional interviews will be scheduled upon request. We will take up to 9 students for each site visit. Please do not be discouraged if you are not selected during the first year you apply.

 A $500 nonrefundable deposit will be required once notified of your acceptance to the program. The remainder of the fee must be paid 30 days before travel.

Yes, students are required to attend separate Global Fellow meetings leading up to travel that will prepare students for the experience and upon our return to debrief and process the experience.

Water1st staff will travel with students at all times. There will be 1 adult for every 3 students. Water1st will provide students and their families a detailed itinerary with emergency contact information.

Info Night
Considering applying and have questions? Register for our Honduras info night on Zoom Sept 19th at 6pm PT.
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2024-2025 cohorts

HONDURAS
February 17-24, 2024

Global Fellows travel to the beautiful, mountainous Lempira region. The roads are rough, but the projects, the people, and the refried beans are unforgettable. Global Fellows are able to meet and interact with our communities as well as experience our projects at every stage: carry water with community members who are on the waiting list for a project, participate in a construction day in an ongoing project, and celebrate a water system completion. We also spend time on a female-owned coffee farm and in the historic city of La Esperanza to learn more about the Lencan culture.

We will fly in and out of the newest Honduran international airport in Comayagua and spend 4 days visiting Water1st projects in the mountainous Lempira region. We will also visit La Esperanza, the heart of the Ruta Lenca, a region of Lenca ethnic influence.
Thursday, August 10th, 2023
Applications open

Tuesday, September 19th, 2023
6:00 – 7:00 pm PT
Info night via Zoom

Friday, October 6th, 2023
Applications close

Friday, October 20th, 2023
Applicants notified

Sunday, February 4th, 2024 
5:00 – 6:30 pm PT
Hybrid meeting for students

Tuesday, February 6th, 2024 
6:00 – 7:00 pm PT
Zoom meeting for parents

Sunday, February 11th, 2024 
5:00 – 6:30 pm PT
Hybrid meetings for students

Saturday, February 17th 
Leave for Honduras

Saturday, February 24th 
Return from Honduras

Sunday, March 3rd, 2024 
5:00 – 6:00 pm PT
Hybrid meeting for students

Sunday, May 5th 
Carry5 Walk for Water

KENYA
June 22-29, 2024

Global Fellows will visit our newest program that is the first of its kind in the region with rural households connecting to a piped water system as well as water-seal toilets and a place to bathe. We’ll travel to the western region of Kenya, near beautiful Lake Nam Lolwe (also known as Lake Victoria). Carry water with people who are on our waitlist for projects, visit schools in the region to interact with fellow students who live with water scarcity, and spend days learning alongside the staff of our two newest partner organizations.

We will fly in and out of Kisumu, Kenya, and spend 5 days visiting Water1st projects in the hills above Nam Lolwe, one of the world’s largest and most famous freshwater lakes. We will cross the equator on the way to visit project sites in Kakamega. And we’ll pass within miles of the childhood home of Barack Obama, Sr., father of the 44th U.S. President.
Monday, January 8th, 2024
Applications open

Tuesday, January 30th, 2024
6:00 – 7:00 pm PT
Info Night via Zoom

Friday, March 1st, 2024
Applications close

Friday, March 15th, 2024
Applicants notified

Sunday, May 5th, 2024
Carry5 Walk for Water

Sunday, June 9th, 2024
5:00 – 6:30 pm PT
Hybrid meeting for students

Tuesday, June 11th, 2024
6:00 – 7:00 pm PT
Zoom meeting for parents

Sunday, June 16th
5:00 – 6:30 pm PT
Hybrid meeting for students

Saturday, June 22nd
Leave for Kenya

Saturday, June 29th
Return from Kenya

Monday, July 8th
5:00 – 6:00 pm PT
Hybrid meeting for students

BANGLADESH
February 15-22, 2025

Global Fellows visit projects in urban neighborhoods in Dhaka and Chattogram, Bangladesh’s two largest cities. Our Bangladesh partner is a pioneer in helping urban communities organize and gain access to clean water and toilets. This is a rare opportunity to interact with the amazing people who are improving the informal urban settlements slums where they live. You will visit households with completed water and toilet projects, learn from community leaders about their plans for future projects, visit schools and interact with students, and participate in health education and menstrual hygiene training sessions. Global Fellows will also be treated to home-cooked meals (begun bhaja!) by our partner organization staff.

We will fly in and out of Dhaka, Bangladesh, and spend 6 days visiting Water1st project communities in Dhaka and Chattogram, a city on a seaport of the Bay of Bengal.
Meeting & prep dates TBA
Applications for the 2024 Global Fellows trip to Honduras are now open and due October 6.

Questions? Contact Susan.

Register above for our Honduras info night on Zoom Sept 19th at 6pm PT.

trip highlights

Angele Hunskor, mother of Hayden, Global Fellows Honduras and Ethiopia programs
"My son gained valuable insight into the complexities of global development and came home a much stronger and wiser advocate for those he met. He grew as a person and friend through deep connection with the other teens and adults on the journey. I believe he will look back on it as one of the great learning experiences of his life."
Cindy Sackett , mother of Mackenzie, Global Fellows Honduras program
"Mackenzie came home from her experience with Water 1st noticeably more mature in her awareness of life around her. She seems to have learned the appreciation of the life she is living in a way I’m not sure her father and I could have instilled. She is grateful to have been given the opportunity and I believe has just begun her impact on philanthropy."
Carolyn Davis, 2023 Global Fellow
"I want to encourage people in my community to have a deeper understanding of the state of our world. I think it’s important not to get too caught up in daily life and instead be intentional about who you impact and your role."
Lake Barrett, 2023 Global Fellow
"At one of the gatherings, a girl from the local community sang for us. After, she explained how Water1st allowed her to pursue her passion, because now that she doesn’t have to walk for water anymore, she can focus more on music. Ever since I came back, I have been so much more grateful for the little things that I have. I want less and try to give a little more now."
Colson Struss, 2023 Global Fellow
"The work day was difficult. We carried pipes, then buried other ones. We were almost to the end of the process, and I could see some of community members looking like they felt proud of the work, especially when we were at the top where the water pump was going to turn on later that day."

additional youth programs

seattle youth board

This school year program, offered for students in grades 6th – 12th in Seattle and the surrounding area, empowers members to use their talents and networks to further the work of Water1st and to meet like-minded students around the community. 

2 hours per month

after school or weekends during school year
VIRTUAL YOUTH BOARD
This school year program, offered online around the world for students in grades 6 to 12, empowers members to use their talents and networks to further the work of Water1st and to meet like-minded students around the United States and across the globe.

2 hours per month

after school or weekends during school year
SPEAKER REQUEST
Would you like Water1st to speak to your class or organization? We’d love to meet your group and do not charge for speaking. Please get in touch using form below.
SCHOOL CLUBS
Want to start a Water1st club in your school? School club leaders will be supported with curriculum and connections with other School club leaders around the world. Please get in touch using the form below.
RESOURCES
Use our free resources for educators, from science to writing activities, facilitator lesson plans, and more!
CONTACT US
Have Questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out.
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Wine sales tax and shipping fees
Sales tax: Sales tax is based on your address. We’ll send you a receipt that includes your sales tax and shipping fee (if applicable).

Approximate shipping costs: Complimentary Seattle-area deliveries for all purchases.

Fall 2023 promotion – Free shipping of orders of 12 bottles (1 case) or more. You may order as many cases as you want.

Please note approximate shipping costs vary depending on destination. Due to shipping fees that are beyond our control, our suggested minimum order is 3 bottles:
1-3 bottles $24-28
6 bottles $27-37
12 bottles $37-57
*If shipping to Alaska and Hawaii, please call the winery for a quote at (509) 875-2211

Shipping available to the following 34 states + Washington DC: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Water from Wine is a very small winery and unable to benefit from competitive shipping rates that larger wineries enjoy. Wine is shipped via UPS, which adds additional fees for shipping alcohol because an adult over 21 must sign for delivery. Water from Wine does not profit from shipping costs. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Wine sales tax and shipping fees

Sales tax: Sales tax is based on your address. We’ll send you a receipt that includes your sales tax and shipping fee (if applicable).

Approximate shipping costs:
Fall 2021 promotion – Free shipping of orders of 12 bottles (1 case). You may order as many cases as you want. Free shipping promotion is limited to 2 cases/person/month.

Please note approximate shipping costs vary depending on destination. Due to shipping fees that are beyond our control, our suggested minimum order is 3 bottles:
1-3 bottles $24-28
6 bottles $27-37
12 bottles $37-57
*If shipping to Alaska and Hawaii, please call the winery for a quote at (509) 875-2211

Shipping available to the following 36 states + Washington DC: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Water from Wine is a very small winery and unable to benefit from competitive shipping rates that larger wineries enjoy. Wine is shipped via UPS, which adds additional fees for shipping alcohol because an adult over 21 must sign for delivery. Water from Wine does not profit from shipping costs. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns..