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RootEd Global: Growing from Our Roots

  • Jessica Hardiman, Ed.D
  • Oct 4
  • 2 min read

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At Youthlinc, our mission is to create lifetime humanitarians and RootEd Global was born from that same vision: to help students connect their education with purpose through community-based study abroad.


Since 2017, our college-based study abroad programs have empowered university students, faculty, and professionals to engage in community-driven global experiences through service, cultural exchange, hands-on collaboration, and academic coursework.


What began as Global Community Leadership (GCL) was always envisioned as an extension of Youthlinc’s mission; a pathway for students to continue serving beyond high school and into college, connecting their education with purpose.

As the Director of RootEd Global, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing how these programs change lives. Not just for students, but for the communities we learn from. I’ve seen students who began nervous about traveling abroad return home with a renewed sense of self, global awareness, and compassion that transforms how they show up in their careers, families, and local communities.


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That is the heart of RootEd Global: helping students grow into informed, compassionate global citizens.


Why the Rebrand?

As our programs evolved, so did our purpose.


While Global Community Leadership reflected our beginnings, it no longer captured the full scope of what these programs had become. In 2025, we rebranded to RootEd Global. A name that honors our foundation while better representing the education, connection, and growth we offer.


What Does RootEd Mean?

  • Rooted in community, connection, and purpose.

  • Ed for education-the core of every global experience we create at Youthlinc.


This rebrand also strengthens our alignment with Youthlinc’s pathway of programs: Real Life → Service Year → RootEd Global → Friends & Family


All designed to nurture lifetime humanitarians at every stage of life.

Looking Ahead: RootEd Global 2026 Programs


Applications Now Open

In 2026, RootEd Global will offer twelve transformative international programs with Utah State University. Each destination is a deep dive into community-based learning, cross-cultural dialogue, and field-based education that bridges the gap between the classroom and the world.


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Students from any Utah college or university can enroll and receive academic credit through Utah State University, or participate without seeking course credit. Either way, they’ll return home with new perspectives, lifelong friendships, and a greater sense of purpose.


2026 Destinations & Focus Areas:

  • Cuba – Afro-Cuban Music & History

  • Morocco – Environmental Sustainability

  • The Balkans – Ethnic Identity & Peacebuilding

  • Nepal – Outdoor Leadership

  • Cambodia – Peace Corps Prep & Peacebuilding

  • Peru – Public Health

  • Nepal – Health Education

  • Fiji – Special Education

  • Mongolia – History & Community Development

  • Vietnam – Global Communications

  • Colombia – Community Development

  • Rwanda – Peacebuilding & Reconciliation


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Ready to be RootEd?


Applications are open now for all 2026 programs. Priority deadline is December 1, 2025


If you’ve ever wanted to connect with communities around the world and earn college credit, this is your invitation! Come as you are. Leave RootEd.

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