Beyond the Sport: Connecting with our Global Community via Service-Learning

At Beyond Sports, our mission is right there in the name. While our tours are built around high-level athletics, we believe some of the best travel experiences can happen when you step off the court or field, and into the local community. Our mission to “connect the world through sports” is not just a slogan, but rather a commitment- a commitment to showing up, volunteering, and building authentic relationships with our partners. We call this service-learning, a dual-focused approach where our athletes gain valuable new perspectives and our partners benefit from sustainable, hands-on support. 

Do all trips engage in service-learning?

Service-learning activities look different depending on the type of trip you are involved with. Because we offer programming ranging from intense training trips to leadership academies, the “service” side of things shifts depending on the schedule. For example, a team trip that is shorter might focus more on competitions and cultural excursions. On the other hand, our Girls Leadership Academy for Service and Sport (GLASS) completes several service-learning activities over the course of the 10-day session in Costa Rica. 

Why service-learning?

As a people-first company, Beyond Sports not only prioritizes the wellbeing of our travelers, but those in the communities we travel to as well. Service is an important component of many of our trips, being a bridge to form connections between our athletes and locals. By utilizing a service-learning approach, we acknowledge the benefits that both parties receive from service projects. Our community partners receive assistance on certain projects, and in return, our athletes learn the value of giving back, and have the opportunity to connect with people from different walks of life. Some examples of our service-learning activities include assisting with youth sports clinics, at schools or after-school programs, at animal shelters, and at environmental cleanups. We work closely with our partners throughout the year to ensure that service activities are sustainable and beneficial for all. 

Who are our partners?

Our community partners are vetted organizations doing incredible work to improve different sectors within their communities. While some of our partners have an emphasis on sports, we also partner with organizations that focus more on education, community development, and animal welfare. Here are a few examples of our partner organizations, a description of their mission, and how we partner with them.

Roblealto, located in San Jose, Costa Rica, is a foundation dedicated to improving the social welfare of vulnerable children and teenagers. They specialize in preventative and development educational and social programs, ensuring their participants are well prepared for school, work, and entering society. We have worked closely with Roblealto for several years, and co-host dozens of programs every year. Typically these programs include our athletes leading sports clinics, participating in P.E.-like activities, or competing in contests with the local youth participants. Through these engagements, our players see firsthand the power of mentoring, while the local youth get to engage with role models who inspire things such as studying hard in school and committing to a sport. 

Sharing a similar mission of building unity through sports, PeacePlayers, originally based out of Northern Ireland, is one of our Student-Athletes Abroad partner programs. PeacePlayers uses sports as a bridge to build connections in areas historically divided by conflict. Since launching in Northern Ireland in 2003, they have expanded their work to South Africa, the U.S. and the Middle East. SAA interns partner with PeacePlayers in July to host sports camps for youth athletes in Belfast Northern Ireland, focusing on leadership development, building communication skills, and leveraging teamwork to assist in conflict resolution.

Another one of our partners in Costa Rica, Halfway Home, is an animal shelter that works to rescue, rehabilitate, and care for neglected or stray animals from the surrounding area. During our service sessions, Beyond Sports participants help exercise, walk, and bathe dogs that would otherwise spend the day in a kennel. It’s a favorite for our animal-loving athletes!

A Lasting Impact

The goal of every service session is mutual benefit. Our partners get the support they need to keep their programs running, and our athletes go home with more than just a win-loss record, they return with leadership skills and a deeper understanding of how they can give back to their own communities at home.

Community Partners

Interested in learning more about our community partners? Visit their websites below to learn more about their missions and impacts.

Roblealto, San Jose, Costa Rica - https://roblealto.org/

PeacePlayers, Belfast, Northern Ireland - https://peaceplayers.org/

Halfway Home, Tamarindo, Costa Rica - https://halfwayhometamarindo.com/about-us/