Students International (SI) is a mission and community development organization with operations in Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Nicaragua. SI’s passion is to provide students with opportunities to volunteer in ministry and service sites that are related to their personal academic and vocational interests. These experiences are transformative spiritually, academically, vocationally and personally while simultaneously focusing on Christ-centered ministry through our long-standing presence within the local communities. SI currently has over 60 staff ministering in four different countries. We partner annually with around 100 groups to provide short-term mission opportunities to over 1,000 students and adults. Academically, we have worked for over 25 years providing semester study abroad programs in conjunction with Christian colleges across the country.

For over 100 years, Crown College has been a boldly Christian institution dedicated to academic excellence. Crown has the highest level of accreditation that a U.S. university can receive, meaning that your credits will transfer anywhere.  Crown is ranked as one of the top 3 online Christian Colleges by OnlineU.and as one of the top 2 colleges for future missionaries. Crown’s physical campus is in Saint Bonifacius, MN, which is just outside of  Minneapolis.

Airfare and in-country expenses are paid directly to Students International. Students are able to raise support for some or all of these costs. SI will guide you through the process.

Academic tuition and fees are paid directly to Crown College. Federal and State grants and loans may be used to cover these expenses.  Crown’s Financial Aid Office will guide students through the application process. Students may also apply private scholarships to their academic expenses. Because Crown offers competitively priced tuition (which is further reduced for the Global Bridge program), students are not eligible for institutional grants or scholarships.

Can I raise support for my expenses?

Yes, you may raise support for your ministry-related SI program costs. SI will furnish a fundraising packet to guide you through this process and will furnish donors with tax-deductible receipts.

Students work along SI’s full-time staff members who have years of ministry experience.  During the first few weeks of the program, students will be able to experience several of the sites before choosing to focus on one particular area of ministry for the duration of the program.  Check out SI Santiago’s ministry sites here.

Students will live near Santiago for much of your time on the Global Bridge. They will live in community with other participants at the Global Bridge base house located on a nine-acre operating tropical farm. The base is within walking distance or short driving distance of most ministry sites. During language school weeks, you will stay in carefully-selected host homes in Santiago.  During the spring, students will have the opportunity to live and work in our ministry sites near Jarabacoa, DR.

A number of excursions are built into the Global Bridge to enhance students’ experience of the DR’s history, culture and natural beauty. Although the travel schedule is subject to change, frequent destinations include:

• • Colonial City, Santiago
  • 27 Waterfalls in Puerto Plata
  • Historical Landmarks and museums
  • Beaches, hikes, camping, snorkeling, white water rafting and more

At both the Global Bridge house and in host homes, we serve a variety of meals such as typical Dominican dishes, pastas, casseroles, tacos, soups, grilled/baked chicken, pancakes, eggs, platanos, fruits, vegetables, sweet bread, and more. Students often help with meal preparation and/or clean-up.  If students have health related dietary restrictions, SI is usually able to make the necessary accommodations to ensure students’ health.

Most of your in-country expenses are covered, though you may want to bring money for snacks, souvenirs, etc. This will vary from student to student. ATMs are available in town and we recommend this as opposed to carrying a lot of cash with you into the country.

Beginning in October: Rolling Admissions (Deposit due upon acceptance)

April:

• April 30: Application deadline

May:

• Apply to Crown College School of Online Studies
• Pre-departure tasks (fundraising, forms, mentor meetings)

June:

• June 1: Full deposit due

July:

• Virtual team orientation meetings
• July 15: Flight booked & Pre-departure documents due

August:

• August 1: Payment due
• Pre-departure tasks & packing

Mid-late August: Arrive in Santiago

• Week 1: Orientation and Team building

September – December:

• Ongoing: 3 wks language school, 3 wks ministry sites.
• Crown College Fall courses
• Early December: Debriefing

Early December – Mid-January: Christmas break; Return to the U.S.

Mid-January: Return to Santiago; Re-orientation

January – May:

• Ongoing: 3 wks language school, 3 wks ministry sites.
• Crown College Spring courses

Mid-Semester: Spring break

Mid-May:

• Debriefing

Return to the U.S.

All Global Bridge participants will return home over the December holiday break for about a month and return for the start of classes in mid-January. Holiday break airfare is not covered in your SI program cost.

Check out all the details about the program in the Global Bridge Student Handbook!