essential eligibility criteria

Global Routes Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC)

The Essential Eligibility Criteria are designed to help potential participants understand if Global Routes is the right fit for them. These criteria are critical for success on our programs, and are considered when making admissions decisions. These EEC serve as a guideline for understanding expectations, though do not encompass everything that might be expected of program participants. Potential participants, parents, and educational consultants should read these criteria carefully and consider whether the Global Routes program is right for them or their students.

Global Routes is an experiential education program designed to challenge students mentally, physically, and emotionally. It is not a therapeutic program or a program for adjudicated youth. Global Routes is unable to accept students who require consistent therapeutic support or students who are mandated to participate by their parents or other parties.

Global Routes reserves the right to deny admission to any student that we determine does not meet the below criteria. If, additional information arises relevant to this EEC, Global Routes reserves the right to initiate further communication and potentially remove any student from the program.

The following apply for all Global Routes programs.

General Requirements – All participants must:

Abide by the Global Routes Participant Policies.
Listen, respond quickly, and respect oral instructions given by their Overseas Educators (OEs).
Have an adequate level of English language fluency for safety and comprehension.
Be able to go the full program with limited or no access to personal cell phones, Wi-Fi devices and regular communication with those outside of the program.
Choose to participate in a Global Routes program on their own free will (rather than being sent by parents or someone else, students should not be mandated to participate).
Be able to successfully participate without requiring unsustainable amounts of the OE’s time, focus and energy relative to other students.
Take responsibility for and manage their health and well-being independently, including but not limited to; hydration, general nutrition, allergy management, environmental protection, and mobility.
Be responsible and capable for the management, administration, and security of a sufficient supply of all prescription medications needed for the duration of the program.
Under no circumstance share, offer, or sell any prescription medications.
Be able to share living and sleeping spaces with other students, occasionally of a different sex, gender, and/or sexual orientation.

Environmental and Cultural Ethics Requirements – All participants must:

Be willing to travel using ethical environmental practices such as minimizing waste and environmental footprint whenever possible.
Commit to buying locally and not purchasing products that endanger plant or animal species and ecosystems.
Abide by cultural norms such as dress and behavior (as advised by OEs).
Be willing to make an effort to practice and learn the local language.

Physical Requirements – All participants must:

Be able to travel for the duration of the program in an at-times physically challenging and potentially remote environment.
Possess the strength, physical endurance, and agility to travel through rough terrain and navigate wilderness and urban landscapes at a moderate pace.
Be able to carry all of their own gear on their back for up to one mile at any given time.
Be able to complete a moderate uphill hike with a daypack weighing from 5 – 20 pounds.
Discuss any medical issues that arise with their OEs.
Disclose any physical limitations or health concerns that would impact their ability to fully participate in the program.

Emotional Requirements – All participants must:

Be able to participate in group meetings where they will practice active listening and openly express their thoughts, feelings, and emotions to others.
Be able to consciously reflect with the group on the experiences they have through oral and written prompts given to them by their OEs.
Communicate openly and honestly with their peers, OEs, and local contacts.
Commit to creating a safe environment for all students and not, in any circumstance, threaten, bully, or mock others physically or verbally.
Cope with the stresses of travel for the duration of the program with a small group of peers in countries that are drastically different from the students’ home environments.
Be able to discuss and manage social and emotional issues that may arise on the program with the OEs.
Be willing to engage with the Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS) process as guided by their OEs or Program Director when behavioral challenges arise. We will explain CPS during Orientation.

Mental Health Requirements –

Global Routes is an experiential education organization committed to running gap semester and year-long programs for students between the ages of 15 and 18 from diverse backgrounds. Global Routes is not a therapeutic program and is not able to support students who are in need of ongoing mental health support. However, we have seen many students with various clinical diagnosis have a successful and rewarding experience on our programs and require transparency on medical forms to adequately prepare and support each student. Please review the EEC closely to determine if a Global Routes program is right for you. If Global Routes staff identify concerns about a student’s ability to meet the EEC after completing our holistic admissions process, we will consult our independent mental health specialist to determine if and how we are able to support you.

All participants must:

Fully disclose mental health history, substance use history, medication history, learning differences, ongoing illnesses, physical injuries, and/or other limitations during the application process.
If requested, provide a reference from a mental health professional to help identify a students’ ability to meet the Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Be able to go the duration of the program without regular professional and/or therapeutic support.

(revised 2/2025)