PANGAEA INNOVATOR PROGRAM

PROGRAM
COMPONENTS
​ENTREPRENEURIAL PROJECTS
The highlight of the Pangaea Innovators Program are two projects that Pangaea Innovator Fellows will jump right into as soon as they arrive in their destination countries. The Pangaea Project will align with each Fellow's personal interest and talent, and culminate in a product or service that Fellows can continue to develop with Pangaea Abroad's support. The community projects will be have a social entrepreneurial spin, with students creating a sustainable service related to education or trade that could have a positive impact on the communities they will serve. Through daily entrepreneurship courses, Pangaea Fellows will build critical skills in the areas of market research and analysis, communication, teamwork, leadership and many more. However, most importantly, Pangaea Fellows will walk away with self confidence, self awareness, and the ability to take any idea and turn it into a reality. 
SERVICE LEARNING
When we travel, we often marvel at the architectural beauty, the exquisite cuisine and the richness of the culture of the country we visit, then return to our homes feeling inspired and rejuvenated. As guests in foreign countries, travelers have the obligation to show respect for the local culture, people, and place, and this respect we can show through simple acts such as learning to speak 'hello' or 'thank you' in the local language or reading about the history of the country to better understand the foundations of the country's current society.  At Pangaea Abroad,  we take it one step further and require our Pangaea Fellows to share the gifts and talents they possess to make a small difference in the lives of locals that we meet through the journey of our program. Pangaea Fellows will learn about the local community as they engage in service, then identify one need that they will try to create a solution for and through our community project. The idea is to give and learn. 
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
When Pangaea Fellows enter the real world, they will learn the importance and value of networking, and realize what it means when adults say that it is not about what you know, but all about who you know.  Networking is one of the most important elements to sustain success in an individual's career or an organization.  Our program gives students the unique opportunity to network with founders, directors, employees from local top-notch companies and promising startups as well as from international corporations to learn how to be successful abroad.  Pangaea  fellows also work with local students and build lifetime international friendships which give them the chance to work collaboratively to shape the future of our world.
THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE 
Our daily reflection sessions encompass topics laden with valuable lessons that could be applied to the daily lives of Fellows. A few probing questions we ask are:
  • What is one culture shock you experienced throughout the trip?
  • What are some shared values between the Chinese and Americans?
  • Was Rio what you had expected it to be? If not, how was it different?
  • What are some social issues in China that you could also find in the States?
  • Why is Brazil the only Latin American country to speak Portuguese?
SMART TRAVELING
Pangaea Abroad takes immersive experience seriously. Fellows will not get a safari-like experience, seated comfortably in a bus and making stops at various tourist attractions. Rather, Fellows will carry a map and navigate the city through local guidance using public transport. Fellows will be able to choose to live with a local family, which may be uncomfortable at first, but would quickly become one of the most rewarding experiences as they learn how to respect a different culture. Finally, Fellows will learn to frame adversity as a challenge and learn to enjoy the challenge. Pangaea Abroad hopes that every Fellow will be able to realize the opportunity for personal growth and the thrill that comes with traveling. We also expect Fellows to be able to navigate their way around when they are dropped in any foreign environment.

TIMELINE

PROGRAMS
Gain a deeper understanding of Brazil, which will host this year's Summer Olympic Games, while experiencing the beauty and diversity of Rio and Sao Paulo; visit multinational companies in Sao Paulo and the fabled beaches of Rio; participate in a service project to serve a local community and understand its social issues, which its people and government are working hard to resolve.  Or experience Beijing, the heart of one of the most powerful nations today. Immerse yourself in Chinese culture as you learn to make jiaozi, or Chinese dumplings, hike the Great Wall, and take a stroll through the park to witness the elderly engage in their daily morning exercises. Meet global citizens and social entrepreneurs from all over the world that have made China their home and get inspired by their stories of starting companies from the bottom in a highly regulated market. 

BRAZIL

RIO DE JANEIRO

CHINA

BEIJING