There’s no denying the transformative power of travel—it opens doors to personal growth, cross-cultural exchange, and a more expansive worldview. But how do we ensure that the benefits of travel go beyond the trip itself, creating a lasting impact not only on the destinations visited but also on the travelers and their home communities? CAS Trips has taken this challenge seriously with the creation of the CAS Project Challenge (CPC). The CPC gives students the tools to turn the lessons learned during travel into meaningful, sustainable change by inspiring them to think globally while acting locally.
CAS Trips was founded by passionate educators and travelers who know firsthand the value of cultural exchange. That same passion is at the heart of our trips. Time and again, teachers and youth who’ve traveled with us have reflected on the deep impact it has on both them and their students. One educator summed it up perfectly: “Without travel, we are nothing. Travel takes us out of our tiny bubble and reminds us that we are part of this incredible planet of humankind.”
For students, the experience often sparks an enduring curiosity, with many coming back inspired by new perspectives and different ways of life. Beyond memories and strengthened friendships, travel offers gifts like empathy, open-mindedness, and global awareness — important building blocks that will ultimately shape who they become.
Indeed, we feel that one of the most important impacts of travel is its ability to nurture emotional intelligence in students. As a teacher on a recent CAS Trip put it, “Travel allows students to be open-minded, which is something that needs to be learned and even framed first.” This newfound open-mindedness helps students see the challenges in both the communities they visit and—crucially—their own communities with fresh eyes. This equips them with the creativity and compassion needed to feel ready to tackle these challenges head-on.
The CAS Project Challenge was born from the realization that while travel is transformative, it’s not enough on its own to create lasting change. We wanted to make sure that the growth students experienced on our trips continued after they returned home. That’s why we introduced the CPC in 2018—a structured, purpose-driven platform that allows students to apply what they’ve learned in real, impactful ways.
At its core, the CPC aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), guiding students to think about global challenges and how they can make a difference locally. The program helps students identify issues in their own communities, develop actionable projects, and implement them with tangible outcomes.
During trips, students participate in a CPC workshop led by CAS Trip Leaders, using the IPARD framework—Investigate, Prepare, Action, Reflect, and Demonstrate. In these workshops, CAS Trip Leaders prompt students with challenging, thought-provoking questions designed to push them beyond surface-level ideas. For example, students might be asked: "What is the root of the specific problem you are addressing?" or "How will you measure whether your project is creating a sustainable solution?" This helps students pinpoint the most pressing issues in their communities and think critically about realistic and measurable goals.
Students are encouraged to map out clear action plans, guided by further questions like: "What resources can you yourself bring to the table, and what might you need to source?" and "Who are the stakeholders that can support or be impacted by this initiative?" This structured process helps students break down big ideas into achievable steps, ensuring they return home equipped not just with inspiration but with concrete, viable projects they can implement.
From its launch to 2023, the CPC has engaged 6,494 students and 397 teachers from 45 countries, with participants also contributing over 27,000 hours of community service in CAS Trips destinations. Hundreds of student-led projects have been launched through the CPC, each addressing a unique challenge in local communities. From environmental campaigns and health initiatives to educational programs for younger students, these projects illustrate how experiential learning can have lasting effects.
A great example of this is the Swiss Football4Impact project, which started as a simple community football event and grew into a school-wide initiative that continues to raise awareness about mental health and financial literacy. In India, the “Hifazat” project, initiated by students from Shiv Nadar School, has gained wide recognition for its innovative approach to improving community and school health programs. These stories are proof of the power of youth-led initiatives and the role that travel plays in inspiring them.
To extend the reach of the CPC even further, CAS Trips made it accessible online in 2019, allowing students from around the world to participate—whether they’ve traveled on a CAS Trip or not. This has created new opportunities for global collaboration, with over 150 student-led projects submitted through the online platform. The ability for students to make a tangible difference in their communities, even without traveling, has proven to be a strong motivator for continued engagement. By aligning the CPC with SDG Target 17, which emphasizes the importance of partnerships in sustainable development, we’ve created a model where travel, education, and global collaboration come together to create long-term, positive change.
We see the CPC as a vehicle for lifelong learning and personal growth. One teacher reflected, “A lot of students were growing on this trip by having to rely on themselves and by exploring on their own. This experience opened their minds to different possibilities.” This comment captures the essence of what makes travel so transformative. When students step outside their comfort zones and encounter the unfamiliar, they develop a stronger sense of responsibility, curiosity, and agency.
Travel helps youth deepen their understanding of the world, and the CPC ensures that this understanding translates into action. Whether they’re implementing projects at home or engaging with peers globally online, CPC participants are making a real difference.
As we continue our collaboration with Tomorrow’s Air, CAS Trips remains committed to creating opportunities that allow students to engage with the world in ways that have lasting, positive impacts—for themselves, their communities, and the planet.