TGP’s Blog

Meet Elizabeth Tofte – an Earth Sciences major at Penn State who experienced Iceland with the help of a TGP scholarship.

Meet Taylor Weddington – a graduate of University of North Carolina – Wilmington who experienced Peru with the help of a TGP scholarship.

This blog features the TGP Costa Rica Alum, Hannah Redmond who has launched a business with her sister Ariel called Happy Box – a one-stop shop where you can build custom care packages in a few simple clicks with a handwritten note for a personal touch!

Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy our friends & family and be grateful to the earth for all it gives us. TGP has made a list of 10 tips to make your Thanksgiving a little more environmentally friendly and give back to the earth in any way we can!

This blog features the Antioch University New England Alum, Courtney Dragiff who says, “TGP helped me understand international issues at a local, personal level.” She graduated with a Masters in International Sustainable Development & Climate Change in 2021.

Halloween is fast-approaching and so is the waste that comes with it. TGP has made a guide to make your Halloween festivities a little more sustainable this year!

TGP’s monthly blog dedicated to renewable energy & sustainability.

Organized CleanUp’s are a great way to combat the problem of litter and keep communities clean, safe and healthy. National CleanUp Day takes place on September 17 & TGP has tips for you to organize your own CleanUp!

This blog features the virtual Nepal Ethics of Sustainable Development Alum, Jaedyn Medrano who says, “this program taught me how to think about a project holistically, and it has guided me along the path to being a better cultured and inclusive young professional.” She is set to graduate with a double major in Renewable Natural Resources & Ecological Restorations in December of 2022.

Reproductive Justice is Climate Justice. The GREEN Program stands to defend the reproductive rights of all women and people who give birth to access safe reproductive health care. We must do more to educate others and understand the interconnection between Reproductive Justice and the Climate Crisis. It’s important to draw the connections between climate change, pollution, and reproductive rights.

For this year’s Clean Beaches Week (July 1-8), TGP encourages you all to Get Out and Take Action in a local clean up or campaign event in your area. To help understand how you can make a difference to our beaches this year, we put together 5 environmental friendly tips-and-tricks to consider this month.

On one hand, I believe that every student should be given a chance to study abroad at least once in their life, because it teaches us things that textbooks cannot: adaptability, resilience, curiosity, empathy, just to name a few. Whether good or bad, bursting our bubble and learning about our world will inspire us and open our minds. On the other hand, the people we interact with benefit from the diversity, because all of us bring unique perspectives to the table. Perhaps we share an idea that no one has thought of but could be key to solving a problem; we fuel the aspirations of someone who is facing similar difficulties; or help take down stereotypes.  

n June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX, and announced the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery. It is on this day every year since that we celebrate “Juneteenth” as the end of slavery in the United States. It is a day that we celebrate ancestors and leaders who fought to be liberated. We celebrate their power, resiliency, and tenacity. 

The GREEN Program loves to celebrate love, and there is no better way to do that this month than by recognizing a few LGBTQ+ leaders and organizations that are making a difference not just in their own communities but for our planet altogether. Read below to learn more about some people and spaces that are working together to promote a better world that focuses on inclusion and equality.

The month of May is known to many as the end of classes and the start of Summer, but May is also known as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Our team at TGP wanted to take a moment to recognize the contributions and influence of AAPI Americans throughout history, culture, and achievements both on a global scale, and from those who are a bit close to home. We also encourage you to learn more about AAPI Heritage Month and get involved through additional resources.

When Fall 2021 rolled around and I saw the TGP scholarship opportunity, I thought I’d apply not expecting much. When I found out that I actually got it, I was like “I guess I’m actually doing this!”. I was a little nervous and anxious but also so excited for the opportunity! I was also grateful that the enrollment process was very smooth for me with no significant challenges along the way.

Global experiences have definitely shaped me into the person I am today through increased cultural awareness and sensitivity. Getting to really know a great group of diverse individuals from all over the world has not only shaped my perspective on current world issues, but has also allowed me to take a glance at certain topics from another angle and point of view.

AJ Ewing spent his past Winter Break a little bit differently than most students, by studying abroad on our GREEN Nepal program. As a Construction Science major, AJ notes that he was nervous coming into the study abroad program having no prior experience in sustainability or electrical/solar grids, but he was excited and eager to learn. As soon as he arrived, all his nerves were gone as he was welcomed by our team and ready to dive in. Now, he can honestly say that when he thinks of The GREEN Program, he thinks of “family away from home.”

As someone who is in a field with a limited representation of ethnic minorities, TGP created a neutral ground where there was a range of diversity on different levels. My GREEN Program experience in Iceland wasn’t just about the adventures and cultural immersion, but about the education too. I thoroughly enjoyed the lectures because I saw how passionate the different lecturers were about their work and research which is truly inspiring. As a geologist, learning more about the wonder that is Iceland in Iceland was definitely a dream come true.

Whether it’s an Earth Day Festival or a Community Clean Up, TGP challenges you to get outside and take action in your local community this Earth Day 2022 and #InvestInOurPlanet

Maryam Aida Tidjani got to experience a brand new kind of GREEN Program during the hard times the world was facing, a 100% Virtual and Online experience. Initially planning on traveling to Peru in 2021, the global pandemic continued to shift things around and we had to pivot all travel programs to Online experiences.

There is no question that sustainability and travel are interconnected, and more people are becoming conscious of their environmental impacts. As a result, travelers are seeking ways to reduce their carbon footprints while on vacation, on their study abroad programs, work travels, and more. Sustainable travel is not just about reducing your environmental impact, but also about supporting local communities and preserving cultural heritage. Here are five practical tips to travel sustainably.