March 17, 2020
Dear LearnServe Abroad Students, Parents, Advisors and Applicants,
I hope this finds you in good health and good-as-can be spirits given the new normal that we are now living in.
I wanted to let you know that the LearnServe Board and leadership team have taken the difficult decision to cancel LearnServe Abroad 2020. Given the rapid global spread of COVID-19 and daily changes — including travel restrictions, social distancing, and strains on health infrastructure both in the U.S. and abroad — we determined that the potential risk to our travelers is simply too great.
While confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Jamaica, Paraguay, Zambia, and South Africa remain low, we do not know how the pandemic will develop or how governments will react come June. We do not want to take the risk that one of our travelers becomes infected; is unable to seek health care in-country; or gets stuck in-country or in-transit.
I know this is disappointing news. We are so inspired by the passion for global learning and changemaking you shared at our kickoff meeting, and we had been so looking forward to traveling with each of you this summer!
A few logistical notes:
- LearnServe will refund any payments or deposits made towards LearnServe Abroad 2020 travel. (If you have any questions about this, please let me know.)
- We encourage all LearnServe Abroad 2020 travelers to re-apply next year! You will be given preferential consideration in the admissions process.
- We are exploring offering a domestic, DC-based summer program focused on social entrepreneurship within a global context. (Should social distancing restrictions ease by later June.) While this is by no means the same as traveling abroad, we hope it may offer an exciting opportunity for changemaking, closer to home.
Finally, we recognize that families are affected by the pandemic, social distancing, and economic downturn in different ways. We have begun to compile community resources in DC, MD, and VA and will share them once we have a thorough list.
Please let us know if you are in need of assistance — or if you may be in a position to support others in our LearnServe community.
Let me know if you have any questions. And in the meantime, please stay safe and healthy!
With appreciation,
Sabine and Scott