About Tilting Futures

We equip young people worldwide to create meaningful impact on global issues.

WHERE THEY ARE

Today’s youth face a unique set of pressures. Growing up with unprecedented connectivity and intersecting global crises has placed a heavy burden on this generation. They want change. But where to start? Navigating these challenges—while trying to discover one’s identity and purpose—is a tremendous and pivotal undertaking.

HOW WE TILT

We’re optimistic about the future. We know that young people, when given the opportunity and guidance to transform their ideals into action, can become the capable and courageous citizens our world needs. If you need proof, just look at our graduates. They’re leading positive change all over the globe.

A thriving future where communities work across differences to solve the world’s most complex challenges.

To empower young changemakers with the skills they need to make positive, lasting impact on global issues.

We believe immersive learning is the best way to help guide personal transformation and a global perspective to those seeking change.

OUR VALUES

Have courage to do the hard stuff

Align your life and actions with your convictions

Advance equity and opportunity for all

Connect to build empathy

Practice curiosity before judgment

OUR HISTORY

Tilting Futures (originally Global Citizen Year founded by social entrepreneur Abby Falik), has been at the forefront of educational innovation since 2010. The organization’s Global Citizen Year Fellowship program provided immersive, educational gap year opportunities to 1000 young people worldwide from 2010-2020. The virtual Academy program supported over 1500 students in two short years from 2020-2022. Today, our flagship program, Take Action Lab, builds upon our previous offerings by strengthening our commitment to equity and accessibility.

KEEP EXPLORING...

2010

2020

Global Citizen Year Fellowship

The transformative Global Citizen Year Fellowship launched in 2010 as the organization’s first program. The Fellowship used deep cultural immersion to equip young people with skills and perspectives that can’t be learned in a classroom alone.

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For the equivalent of an academic year, our Fellows lived with a family in Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, India, or Senegal and apprenticed with local efforts advancing education, health, and sustainability.

During our decade running the Fellowship, we served more than 1,000 students.

2020

2022

Global Citizen Year Academy

When the COVID-19 pandemic halted international travel, we reimagined our programming to meet students where they were – in front of a computer.

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Just as our alumni will tell you, it’s often the biggest challenges that make way for the biggest opportunities. In 2020, we launched our virtual Academy – bringing our signature curriculum to exponentially more students in more countries than we could have ever imagined.

In just two years the Academy served 1,500 students from 80+ countries.

2022

PRESENT

Take Action Lab

Rooted in our founding vision and core values, our newest programming, Take Action Lab, is built on 10+ years of proven transformational impact.

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Combining the best of the Global Citizen Year Fellowship and Academy programs, we redesigned our curriculum in 2022 with input from 1,000 students. Starting with our inaugural site in Cape Town, Take Action Lab meets students’ desire for deep connections, a sense of belonging, and focused learning in areas such as human rights and climate.

Designed for replication in new countries and integration within universities, Take Action Lab dramatically increases equitable access to global learning immersion opportunities.