Every year, African Leadership Academy welcomes young people from around the world to its Johannesburg campus for the Global Scholars Program (GSP), an immersive summer experience for students aged 13 to 19.
Through entrepreneurship, leadership, and cross-cultural learning, participants are challenged to think differently about the problems around them and develop the skills and confidence to take action.
At the heart of GSP is learning by doing. Students work alongside South African entrepreneurs and social ventures, using design thinking to explore real challenges and develop practical solutions. They collaborate with peers from different countries and cultures, building skills in leadership, innovation, teamwork, and creative problem-solving while forming friendships and networks that extend far beyond the program.
GSP offers two pathways:
- Engage Africa is an 18-day immersive program rooted in ALA’s Entrepreneurial Leadership curriculum. Participants work with entrepreneurs and community partners, take on team challenges, and explore Africa’s history, diversity, and innovation. They leave with practical tools to develop social or community-driven initiatives of their own.
- Explore Africa is a 10-day introduction to the GSP experience. Through service-learning projects and interactive workshops, students develop foundational leadership skills including self-awareness, communication, collaboration, and confidence. It is designed for students who are beginning their leadership journey or looking for a shorter summer experience.
Johannesburg is more than the setting for the program. It is an important part of the learning experience. By engaging directly with entrepreneurs and organizations developing solutions to challenges in their communities, participants see firsthand how local knowledge, creativity, and entrepreneurship can drive meaningful change.
Whether they choose Explore Africa or Engage Africa, students leave ALA with stronger leadership skills, new perspectives, a global network of peers, and a deeper understanding of how they can create positive change in their own communities.
