CULTURAL HERITAGE, IMMERSION & GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
BONBINI TO ARUBA DUSHI TERA.
Our programs are for Visitors and our beloved local children.
Discover our engaging, adventurous, and hands-on teen travel programs for Summer! Scroll down to explore all the unforgettable adventures waiting for you. Space is filled on a first come, first serve basis, book soon to secure your spot!
Transformative Educational
The Aruba Dushi Tera Program offers immersive, culturally-enriching student experiences, tailored for tween & teens students. Whether you’re looking for summer or winter programs, The Aruba Dushi Tera Program provides life-changing opportunities for teens & tweens to expand their horizons, develop leadership skills, and gain a deeper understanding of Aruba and the world.
A Well-Rounded Approach
Our programs are thoughtfully designed to offer the perfect blend of sightseeing, cultural immersion, and hands-on learning.
Students will not only explore iconic landmarks but also engage in interactive activities that spark curiosity and foster leadership.
FOR OUR BELOVED LOCAL KIDS:
Heritage Program
Our programme aims to help local school children develop an understanding of their local heritage and its significance.
The aim of the Heritage & Cultural Immersion programme is to make sure that:
- Children develop a sense of pride in where they live.
- Children understand their local heritage and how it relates to the national story.
- Teachers are more confident in making effective use of local heritage resources in delivering the curriculum.
- Local historic context is embedded in the school’s curriculum.
- Heritage providers are more connected to the needs of local kids.
- Parents are engaged in their children’s learning.
- Communities are more deeply involved in the life of their society.
Participation in cultural immersion programs transforms students’ perceptions of self and others while making new friends.
FOR VISITORS
BONBINI TO ARUBA
Immersing yourself in a new culture is the best way to truly experience the world.
The world is brimming with cultures and unique people and perspectives. Technology and travel have brought our world closer together. But even though people can reach each other more easily doesn’t mean we all perfectly understand each other’s cultures. To really begin to understand a culture that isn’t your own requires cultural immersion.
What is cultural immersion? What are the benefits of cultural immersion? And how do you do it? Read on to learn more about cultural immersion.
FOR VISITORS
BONBINI TO ARUBA
Immersing yourself in a new culture is the best way to truly experience the world.
The world is brimming with cultures and unique people and perspectives. Technology and travel have brought our world closer together. But even though people can reach each other more easily doesn’t mean we all perfectly understand each other’s cultures. To really begin to understand a culture that isn’t your own requires cultural immersion.
What is cultural immersion? What are the benefits of cultural immersion? And how do you do it? Read on to learn more about cultural immersion.
What Is Cultural Immersion?
Culture immersion is diving into a culture and surrounding yourself with it. It’s all about interacting with local people and understanding who they are, how they view and interact with the world, and having an opportunity to experience the culture for yourself. Maybe it’s spending a summer or winter vacation abroad or volunteering with a group for a month or becoming part of a community a world away from home. However it looks, the goal is to surround yourself with the culture and immerse yourself in it.
Taking a week-long vacation to country-hop through Europe, South America or Aruba isn’t full cultural immersion. You don’t spend enough time interacting with the residents or go deeper into understanding and experiencing a different worldview and way of life. To really immerse yourself, you need a bit of time in the culture and to be intentional about immersing yourself.
What Are the Benefits of Cultural Immersion?
Why should you want to experience cultural immersion? What are the benefits of doing so? These are some of the key benefits of culture immersion:
You can make meaningful connections with people around the world.
Spending quality time with people in new cultures is an amazing way to connect with people. While a quick vacation abroad isn’t enough time to build real relationships, cultural immersion can provide that, so you can connect with new people and learn to understand them and their lives better. Meaningful connections allow you to create real relationships and to have opportunities to learn from people around the world.
You can learn new art forms, practices, traditions, and perspectives.
When you immerse yourself in a new culture, you have the chance to learn more about the culture and to learn their art, practices, traditions, and ways of connecting and viewing the world. Maybe you can learn a new sport or try your hand at traditional art and dance. Maybe you learn to cook a traditional dish or participate in an annual festival. While culture can include trying new foods and celebrating new holidays, it also includes learning about how people understand and relate to the world around them, and you can learn that and appreciate other ways of living and connecting.
You can experience personal growth and get to know yourself better.
Learning more about another culture doesn’t just lead you to learn more about others. It also helps you learn more about yourself. As you see how other people live and understand the world, you will gain a better understanding of your own culture, the way you live, and the way you view and interact with the world around you. Learning about another culture also allows you to grow. You can integrate some of the new perspectives and practices into your own life, values, and plans for your future.. Immersing yourself in a culture also helps you develop more empathy and understanding for others and differences, which are important human skills for meaningful collaboration and connection.
You can connect with new cultures and gain a broader perspective.
Immersing yourself in a new culture allows you to gain a new and broader perspective on big world issues like climate change, pandemics, and poverty. These are global issues that impact all of us, and will require collaboration across different countries and communities to help solve. Learning about how other people experience these same challenges helps you gain a new perspective, and it also helps you see just how much you do have in common with so many people around the world. Cultural immersion helps you see the interconnectedness between us all and gives you the skills to start collaborating with others to make a positive change. Email us and lets start this amazing journey
Vacation Programs
Students, 13-18 years-old, can enroll on the following programs independently, or with friends. They will join a group of teens from across the Aruba and will be chaperoned by experienced, passionate and globally-minded educators.
Below are a few of our trending programs for summer.
Aruba Dushi Tera
- Comprehensive, Enriching Experiences: Our programs offer a perfect blend of cultural immersion, educational activities, and hands-on learning opportunities, providing students with a holistic and meaningful travel experience.
- Transparent, All-Inclusive Pricing: We eliminate surprises by including all activities, tips, and gratuities in our pricing. Teachers and students never have to worry about extra costs, making budgeting straightforward and stress-free.
- Personalized and Supportive Service: Every program is tailored to meet the specific needs of each group, with personalized service from the planning phase to pre-departure preparation meetings and continuous support throughout the entire trip.
- Quality, Centrally-Located Accommodations: We ensure comfort, convenience and maximize your time with centrally located hotels where every student has their own bed (on international programs), ensuring they rest well and stay energized.
- Authentic Culinary Experiences: We provide locally sourced, high-quality meals that allow students to explore the unique flavors of the region, adding an important cultural element to their travel experience.
Exploration and Immersion
The best way to truly understand and appreciate a country is by connecting with its people, tasting its cuisine, and immersing yourself in its rich history.Email us and lets start this amazing journey. Our programs bring this to life through authentic experiences like visits to iconic landmarks, museums,attending concerts or sporting events, and hands-on activities such as art or cooking classes. These meaningful interactions allow students to experience each destination from a local’s perspective, making every moment unforgettable.
Leadership and Team Building
Our leadership and team building activities help students discover new interests and encourage them to further develop their self-confidence and communication skills. Students will have the opportunity to meet with local dignitaries, participate in cultural workshops, play local sports, navigate through financial literacy and go swimming at different beaches on our island, explore the different sides of aruba & neighborhoods and horseback riding.
Community Engagement
Travel gives us an opportunity to make a difference, to give back to the people and places that we visit along the way and to make the world a better place. Students will make a positive impact by participating in activities such as working on community projects, providing assistance to local farmers, participating in beach conservation or beach clean up.
Accommodations
Centrally located accommodations, with free Wi-Fi are our standard. Please see your program for more details.All hotels are carefully selected and inspected and meet our high standards for cleanliness and safety.
Site Visits and Attractions
For in-depth site visits, local experts join our group. These licensed local guides are experienced, knowledgeable and trained professionals. We handle all arrangements and reservations for excursions, site visits, lectures, workshops and activities as outlined in your program details.
Meals
We include daily breakfast and dinner, and select lunches, with thoughtfully planned menus to reflect local culture, flavors and specialties. Please see your program itinerary for specifics on included meals. Special events, dinner shows and cooking classes are also included on most programs.
Program Director
A full-time professional Program Director meets the group upon arrival at the destination airport and remains with them until they check-in at the airport for their return flight home. Program Directors expertly manage all the trip logistics, ensuring a seamless travel experience. In addition, they provide cultural insights and tips that only a local expert can offer.
24/7 Support
Hands-on pre-departure planning throughout the year to ensure students are fully prepared for their program. On tour 24/7 support from our local offices and experienced staff.
The ARUBA DUSHI TERA & Global Citizen Certificate
Upon completion of the program, students will receive a ARUBA DUSHI TERA & Global Citizen Certificate that verifies that they have successfully fulfilled the requirements of our program.
Core Values
EQUALITY
We believe all humans are created equal and we work to ensure that all peoples’ status, rights and opportunities are supported.
EMPATHY
We show compassion, understanding and care for others, and make a difference in our local communities and broader world.
INCLUSIVITY
We pledge to be a welcoming presence, and invite people of all backgrounds, ethnicities, religions and gender identities into our community.
OPEN MINDEDNESS
We recognize people have different views, and we strive to understand and respect each other's cultures, experiences and opinions.
