Reach The World
Reach the World’s mission is to help elementary and secondary school students and teachers develop the knowledge, attitudes, values, and thinking skills needed for responsible citizenship in a complex, culturally diverse, and rapidly changing World. RTW enriches the curriculum through its interactive website by connecting classrooms to volunteer travelers exploring the globe. RTW identifies and trains volunteer travelers, manages web-based content posted weekly by these travelers, and delivers training and support to the program sites. Most of RTW’s travelers are college students in study abroad programs worldwide, while others are independent explorers.
The MAKULU
The Makulu is a 43-foot sailboat that RTW uses to travel around the world. Learning to live on a boat for three months along the west coast of Africa was challenging, but I acquired valuable survival skills.
Navigation
The Voyage from Agadir, Morocco, to Dakar, Senegal, took ten days and nine nights at sea. Before GPS, sailors used nautical charts and protractors to find destinations.
Travel by Sea
The Gambia River
Small dingy boat used to reach the shore of Djiffer, Senegal, while the Makulu was anchored at sea.
The Gambia River
The Gambia River
A team of four sailors and three educators on a tour of the Gambia River in Africa. A major transportation and slave trade artery that starts at the Atlantic Coast and runs directly through the middle of Senegal.
Culture
Reported on small towns and villages along the northwest coast of Africa. Collected information about currency, language, religion, cuisine, and customs to share with students in the United States.
Schools
Visited K-12 classrooms, met with educators, and participated in a global network that used technology and travel to bridge the divide for students attending schools in underprivileged communities.