How do our alumni evaluate our Summer School in the long term?

From 2020, the Global Education Department is organising a People in Peril Summer School (LEČO) for young people aged 16 to 20. Over the past four years, a total of 81 male and female graduates have participated. It is the intention of the Summer School that the participants:

• Raise awareness of the inherent privileges and vulnerabilities of different social groups
• Understand the complexity of local and global challenges
• Acknowledge their own self-worth and their strengths
• Encourage cooperation and respect for other people’s differences as well as functioning in a diverse group
• Reflect on their own approach to education
  

What impact does the summer school have on young people? 

We asked our alumni how attending the summer school changed their decisions about education, work and volunteering, as well as their view of the world. 38 young people took part in our survey. Up to 90 % of respondents said that the Summer School had an impact on their lives when making decisions about education, work and volunteering. 

I know a simple thank you doesn’t express all my feelings, but I really must thank you for a wonderful experience. That one week lasted like a month in the best sense of the word. I met people here in whom I found immense inspiration and also good friends. I really appreciate all the conversations that have added value for me. We weren’t afraid to discuss even slightly more controversial topics and that’s because we felt comfortable and relaxed with each other. I have never experienced a friendlier atmosphere. So thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity and the people I have been able to get to know.

Participant of the 2023 Summer School LEČO.

Education 

When asked about education, 42 percent of male and female respondents said that summer school influenced their decision about what to study. Many of them say they gained the confidence to pursue further education or follow their interests. The summer school introduced them to new ideas and challenges that need to be addressed, such as climate change, poverty, migration and social justice. These male and female graduates said that after the summer school they had a desire to address these challenges and study fields related to these topics.

I later used the acquired knowledge in my studies. I studied Service, Hospitality and Tourism Management in Denmark, where we focused a lot on ecotourism and sustainability. The knowledge from the summer school led to my choice of the subject Sustainability Tourism, helped me with planning different activities and also on exams as I was able to better imagine, connect and think critically about many things.

Participant of the 2020 Summer School LEČO.

Work

The People in Peril Summer School also influenced decisions about work. Of the 38 young people who responded to the survey, 74 % were employed. 22 % said they were eager to work on difficult challenges or to continue to make a positive impact on people or the environment. 16 % of LEČO alumni were working in civic or nonprofit organizations.

Also thanks to the summer school I got to volunteer at a non-profit organization, where I later got a paid position. It motivated me even more to work with youth.

Participant of the 2020 Summer School LEČO.

Volunteering

More than half (55 %) of those who participated chose to become a volunteer after LEČO. The summer school showed them the importance of community involvement and introduced them to the challenges in their communities and the world.

Friendship, community and respect

When asked about the holistic impact, up to 76 % of male and female alumni responded that the LEČO has impacted their lives in other ways, particularly through broadening their horizons and friendships, and has also had an impact on their process of self-discovery. When asked how they would choose to describe the summer school, the most frequently chosen words were friendship, community and respect. In addition, a quarter of the male and female participants also chose a welcoming atmosphere.

It never occurred to me before how essential it is to be a volunteer and not just think about yourself, but to try to help, even just a little bit, someone else or the world.

Participant of the 2021 Summer School LEČO.