Raleigh International has worked with young people worldwide for over 44 years.
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Impacting young people for 44 years
Raleigh International has evolved (Operation Drake (1978 – 80), Operation Raleigh (1984 – 88) and Raleigh International Trust (1992 – 2022)), but it has and will always focus on supporting young people to act and create change for themselves, their communities, and the world.
Raleigh has proudly worked with more than 55,000 young people from over 100 countries, creating a global community dedicated to taking action towards a fair, inclusive, and green world where young people confront the planet’s most urgent crises.
“It helped enhance my leadership skills and I became a better me. Volunteering not only creates youth leaders but also inspires youth in the community to work.”
Peter | Raleigh Volunteer
VISION
To build a world of young adults as global citizens who have the skills and confidence to work with others to build a fair, inclusive and green world for everyone.
MISSION
To create life-enhancing journeys and transformational experiences for young people aged 17-24 where they can challenge themselves, disconnect from technology and connect with people and nature – all whilst making a long-lasting impact.
How does Raleigh International work with young people to create lasting change?
We work with young people through our international volunteer programme: Raleigh Expedition.
Our Expeditions
Our expeditions are youth-driven. Young people play a part in decision making and leading.
Service learning
Young people develop vital skills for the future and learn to reflect on their experiences.
Long-lasting impact
We work with communities to ensure projects are relevant to their needs, responsible and ethical. Volunteers work on sustainable solutions to poverty, low education levels, food insecurity, and unemployment.
Values
Pura Vida
The national saying of Costa Rica, it means ‘pure life’. It stands for living with optimism, humility, kindness and embracing life to the fullest.
Believe in yourself
You have the power to change the world around you. Fight self-doubt with bravery and belief, and you will surpass even your own expectations.
Create impact, together
Our voices and actions are stronger together than apart. It is the power of connection, collaboration and unity that changes the world.
Find the courage
Dig deep and walk courageously in spite of your anxieties, worries and fear. Stand up for what you believe is right.
Live open-minded
Listen and learn from the views of others and you will widen your horizons beyond measure. Embrace and nurture global and cultural differences to see the world in full colour.
Never give up
When it gets hard, keep going. With perseverance and steadfast determination you can expand your limits, then even the greatest challenges can be overcome.
Challenges young people face today
We know that the world today can be a hard place for young people, who in the current context face a range of issues and barriers to reaching their full potential. Through Raleigh Expeditions we work to provide a programme which supports young people to build resilience and skills to overcome the challenges they face.
- Living in a post-pandemic world: Online learning removed opportunities for growth and connection in a key time for young people’s development. Many lost the chance to engage 1-1 with peers, and teachers, and to experience real-world learning on school trips or on a gap year. On Raleigh, young adults can catch up on opportunities missed out on during lockdown.
- Mental health: The Mental Health Foundation found that 89% of 18-25s were affected by anxiety daily and a third felt anxious all the time. With youth mental health issues such as depression and anxiety on the rise, pressure to excel in academics, extracurricular activities and meet societal expectations make this worse. A Raleigh programme gives young people the space to break the norm, do something different for themselves, to find their own clarity in a supportive environment which encourages reflection and self-growth.
- Negative effects of technology: Our always connected culture has shown to cause distraction, attention issues, sleep disruption, exposure to bullying, peer pressure and unrealistic views of people’s lives via social media. Making steps to disconnect on Raleigh allows young people to regain perspective, detox from harmful practices and fosters an interest in nature.
- Eco anxiety: Climate change is a global issue. Young people are likely to live through the worst of its effects, However, there is still a lack of action from policymakers and governments, which can leave young people feeling helpless and disillusioned. Raleigh gives the space for young people to take tangible action for the environment and learn how to tackle climate issues.
The Raleigh Impact
Over the years Raleigh has made some significant impacts on communities, the environment and people
100
Over 100,000 people now have long-lasting access to safe and accessible hygiene facilities and access to toilets, handwashing and drinking water.
74
of volunteers feel happier after being without their phones during Expedition. 63% said they had improved mental health.
65
Volunteers have built or rehabilitated more than 65km of trails and conservation infrastructure
500
Over 500 rural households supported to protect income from environmental challenges.
What our Raleigh volunteers say
Hear from our past Raleigh alumni's life changing experiences
