The next TTL program is targeted to begin in Spring 2009. The program consists of three phases, application for the 2009 is linked below:

Phase One: Wrestling with Ideas

Location: Seattle, Washington (USA)
Duration: April-June (3 months)

Phase Two: Learning from the Field
Location: In a rural community in Asia, Africa or Caribbean
Duration: July-September (3 months)

Phase Three: Taking the LEAP
Location: Seattle, Washington (USA)
Duration: October-November (2 months)

Phase One: Wrestling with Ideas
Location: Seattle, Washington
Duration: April-June (3 months)

In April, a small cohort (3-5) enters the iLEAP Taking the LEAP program and spends the first three months in Seattle, Washington working closely with iLEAP staff and faculty in 10+ hours a week of seminar coursework while also working 20+ hours a week on a project in a local community based or nongovernmental organization. Both activities are closely integrated as readings and classroom assignments complement and enhance the work being done in local organizations and vice versa. The content of the seminar curriculum emphasizes critical foundations in social, educational and political economic theory, content issues in international development, globalization, volunteerism and service, and philanthropy, and a practical understanding of program development, program management, monitoring and evaluation and proposal writing.

However, while students will necessarily acquire a deeper understanding of the nonprofit/civil society sector as well as professional skills from their coursework and work in their respective organization, the broader purpose of this initial period is to cultivate and inspire each student's ability to think, observe, consider, criticize, reflect and act. In addition to the volunteer work, the classroom and the associated readings, discussion and exercises are critical for drawing out the important themes and ideas that gird the iLEAP mission: challenging the mind, emphasizing action, application of critical thinking and reflection, and encouraging each intern to develop and pursue an idea. This idea will be an important theme throughout the program.

Phase Two: Learning from the Field
Location: In a rural community in Asia or Africa with iLEAP International Faculty
Duration: July-October (3 months)

After Phase One is complete, students enter a rather different phase of the Taking the LEAP program. Early in the program, while students are still in the Seattle area, they are individually matched with an iLEAP International Faculty member who is living and working in a rural setting in the countries of Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. Initial contact is done over email, post, fax and telephone in preparation for their time there in the spring. Unlike most international educational programs where chaperones from the home country accompany the visiting students, the iLEAP International Faculty member is someone who is a lifetime resident and leader in the community where the students will be working and living . During this phase of the program, through their work with the iLEAP International Faculty, students will be challenged to extend and apply their understandings of concepts learned in Phase One of the instructional program. The content of individual activities will vary depending upon the iLEAP faculty member with the principles of the iLEAP vision resonating in all activities. Like during Phase One, students will be working with a community based organization in their respective rural environment. There will also be assignments and exercises that are intended to help students see their work in these organizations from multiple perspectives. Students will be living in a long-term home stay with a local family and experiencing day-to-day rural life while they work with and learn from iLEAP faculty. During Phase Two it is likely that students will be working 30+ hours a week in their respective organization and project.

Phase Three: Bringing it Home and Taking the LEAP
Location: Seattle, Washington
Duration: October-November (2 months)

True to the process of praxis that emphasizes action-refection-action, upon the completion of Phase Two, students will return to the Seattle area for Phase Three, a three month time of reflection, sharing and preparations for the future. Since each student will have been working in a different country, Phase Three will first emphasize sharing their experiences with each other. Because of the intense and life-changing nature of their work during Phase Two, it is important that each have an opportunity to reflect and commiserate with their fellow students and iLEAP staff in order to sort out their impressions, reactions, emotions and so on. At the completion of the program, students prepare and present, in a public forum, their work with iLEAP faculty and their experiences abroad.

A second, and equally as important, part of Phase Three is the preparation for the next steps, or as iLEAP would put it, the 'leap'. Therefore parallel to their work reflecting and presenting their experience to others will be close work with iLEAP staff and fellow students to create and pursue an idea. This could be related to their work and/or organizations in Seattle or overseas, or it could be something completely new. After nine months, the students are prepared to take their next steps with a broad set of experiences and international support network to drawn upon. Some may go on to work in the nonprofit sector, in international organizations or in public service, while others may go to graduate school or pursue further formal education. Still others may find that their next steps involve more unstructured pursuits or even to start their own organization or project.