Our Programs
Launch your changemaking journey with us today
Program Overview
Every LearnServe Student Gets…
Small Cohort Sizes
Learn about social entrepreneurship and develop a venture that benefits your school or community.
1-on-1 Meetings
Personal guidance with a student success advocate to support your growth.
Mentorship
Connect with experienced advisors who provide expert insights and guidance.
Local & Global Community
Join a diverse network of peers passionate about creating positive change.
Funding Opportunities
Access resources to fund and implement your venture in real-world settings.
Fellows: Year 1
Channel your anger into passion, and passion into action.
Over the course of a 7-month school year, we'll walk you through identifying a social injustice in your community you want to solve. You will research, design, pitch, and launch a social venture.
Available in Washington D.C; Lusaka, Zambia; and Batan, Costa Rica.
(In-person and virtual) Weekly sessions from October - April
This program is for you if:
- You are frustrated by global and local injustices, but are unsure how to take action
- Have an idea to benefit your community, but don't know where to start
- Want a unique opportunity for hands-on learning (P.S. You can get community service hours.)
Incubator: Year 2
Deepen your impact with a global cohort
Our Incubator guides students who have completed the Fellows program into a year of elevated research, development, and implementation of their project. In this advanced program, you will dive deep into customer discovery and launch minimum viable products.
Available virtually for students in Washington D.C; Lusaka, Zambia
Weekly sessions from October - April
This program is for you if:
- You were inspired during the Fellows program, and are ready to do more
- Have a solid idea about what you want to accomplish, but need further guidance to overcome obstacles
- Are ready for an intensive year of growth and want a tight-knit community to grow with you
LearnServe Global: Summer Capstone
Connect with LearnServe peers in a transformative travel experience
LearnServe Global brings together graduates of our Incubator program for a two-week cultural and learning exchange in Lusaka, Zambia.
What to expect:
- Hands-on Social Impact: Visit nonprofit organizations to gain a deeper understanding of social entrepreneurship in a global context.
- Collaborative Action: Fundraise, plan, and implement a community action project that directly benefits a local community.
- Meaningful Connections: Strengthen bonds with LearnServe peers you've met through the Incubator, sharing experiences and learning from one another.
LearnServe offers a suite of dynamic, interconnected programs that bring together young people from diverse backgrounds with untapped leadership potential and a strong desire to create change. As you progress through our programs, we help you develop a sense of agency and purpose through leadership and social entrepreneurship training.
New To LearnServe?
New To LearnServe?
Start With Our Fellows:
Channel your anger into passion, and passion into action.
Available in Washington D.C; Lusaka, Zambia; and Batan, Costa Rica.
(In-person and virtual) Weekly sessions from October - April
This is the program for you if...
You are frustrated by global and local injustices, but are unsure how to take action
Have an idea to benefit your community, but don’t know where to start
Want a unique opportunity for hands-on learning (P.S. You can get community service hours.)
Every Fellow gets:
Small cohort sizes to learn about social entrepreneurship an develop your venture
1-on-1 meetings with a student success advocate: discuss your personal and professional interests, college plans, and wellness
Mentorship: Meet monthly with different mentors from a variety of industries who will provide you feedback and guidance on your projects, as well as hearing from guest speakers
Opportunity to apply and receive a $200 matching seed grant to implement your project (for US students)
Incubator:
Deepen your impact with a global cohort
Our Incubator guides students who have completed the Fellows program into a year of elevated research, development, and implementation of their project. In this advanced program, you will dive deep into customer discovery and launch minimum viable products.
Available virtually for students in Washington D.C; Lusaka, Zambia; Weekly sessions from October - April
Details:
Over the course of the program, you will:
Revisit and reflect on your project developed during the Fellows program, deciding how you want to improve it or pivot to a new cause
Conduct in-depth customer discovery to understand the needs of your community
Develop and launch minimum viable products
Assess the impact of your project and pitch it at our Incubator Pitch Competition, where the winners receive a cash prize.
Our Incubator guides students who have completed the Fellows program into a year of elevated research, development, and implementation of their project. In this advanced program, you will dive deep into customer discovery and launch minimum viable products. This year’s Incubator Program is now virtual and global, with Washington, D.C students collaborating with peers in Zambia.
Applications will open in the Spring/Summer 2025
This is the program for you if....
You were inspired during the Fellows program, and are ready to do more
Have a solid idea about what you want to accomplish, but need further guidance to overcome obstacles
Are ready for an intensive year of growth and want a tight-knit community to grow with you
Every Incubator Student gets:
A unique, online global learning experience, jointly learning alongside peers in the U.S. and Zambia
1-on-1 guidance with a student success advocate: discuss your personal and professional interests, college plans, and wellness
Dedicated mentorship: Meet monthly with a mentor we match with you based on your project and their expertise
LearnServe Global:
Connect with LearnServe peers in a transformative travel experience
LearnServe Global brings together graduates of our Incubator program for a two-week cultural and learning exchange in Lusaka, Zambia.
What to Expect:
Hands-on Social Impact: Visit nonprofit organizations to gain a deeper understanding of social entrepreneurship in a global context.
Collaborative Action: Fundraise, plan, and implement a community action project that directly benefits a local community.
Meaningful Connections: Strengthen bonds with LearnServe peers you’ve met through the Incubator, sharing experiences and learning from one another.
OUR LOCATIONS
Application Process:
Submit your application using the links below and we will follow up.
The application process is simple. We ask for basic contact information and short reflections to the following questions (2-3 sentences to each will suffice):
What is something that you have accomplished this year that you are proud of and why?
What improvements would you like to see in your school or community, and why?
Describe a time when you overcame a challenge or obstacle, and how?
Cost:
Our programs are free for DCPS and DC Public Charter School students.
All other students’ tuition is determined by a sliding-scale tuition model from $50 to $1250, based on ability to pay. No participant will be turned away due to a family’s financial situation.
LearnServe is committed to ensuring our leadership, social entrepreneurship, and global experiences are accessible to all students, regardless of individual circumstances.
Join our email list to be notified when applications are open!
LearnServe Method
All of our programs are built around the LearnServe Method, which guides you through five stages: Foundations, Analyze, Innovate, Act, and Reflect. Below are the core topics you will explore:
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Introduction to social entrepreneurship: Understanding the principles and basics of creating solutions to solve social injustices.
Exploring identity and inclusive communities: Cultivating awareness about your unique identity, and how to create accountable spaces during program sessions
The U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Connecting global frameworks to local action for social change.
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Prototyping and designing pilot projects: Learning how to create and design solutions
Developing Minimum Viable Products (MVPs): Understanding the importance of testing smaller versions of your venture to gather feedback and improve.
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Identifying and refining a social problem: How to identify a social injustice and focus on a specific cause or consequence for your venture
Customer discovery and human-centered design: How to interview or survey others’ effectively to understand their needs
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Measuring impact: Learning how to assess the success of your project through data and feedback.
Planning for the future: Budgeting and long-term planning to ensure continued growth and success of your social venture after our programs.
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Launching your project: Bringing your idea to life with a pilot project
Fundraising and resource mapping: Understanding fundraising and strategies for securing resources for your social venture
Effective communication: Crafting compelling elevator pitches and mastering public speaking skills to present your project to audiences and investors.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the program, participants will:
Acquire hands-on experience in creating prototypes and MVPs, developing practical solutions for real-world problems.
Master the art of the elevator pitch and become proficient in public speaking, equipping you with the tools to share your ideas with confidence.
Gain a comprehensive understanding of local and global social injustices.
Be able to connect local social issues to the U.N. SDGs, demonstrating how local efforts can contribute to global goals.
Develop a deep understanding of various approaches to social change.
Walk away with project management skills, a solutions-oriented mindset, and confidence in your strengths and talents: ensuring that you are prepared to tackle future challenges creatively and effectively
Collaborate with peers from different backgrounds, with heightened awareness about intersectionality, cultural competency,
Project Examples
kTrace:
An app to track the spread of infectious disease using Bluetooth technology.
By Rohan Suri (Fellows DC ‘15), who has gone on to be named on Forbes 30 under 30 twice.
Fresher Choice:
A venture bringing fresh produce to residence in Ward 7.
By Shirin Ghorbani (Fellows DC ‘21), featured in Bethesda Magazine
Kids Are Scientists Too:
A nonprofit inspiring a love for STEM in underserved elementary schools through sessions led by high schoolers and college students. KAST has expanded to 8 U.S. states and Ontario.
By Jessica Yang (Fellows DC ‘11)
Jojo’s Outstanding Jojoba Oil:
A hair care line fighting natural hair discrimination and advocating for ingredient safety in hair care products marketed to Black women.
By Adjo Evonlah (Fellows DC ‘21, Incubator ‘22), recognized as one of six finalists in Towson University’s inaugural Innovation Cup Challenge.
HER Education:
An organization that has now built 13 libraries serving 20,000 students at girls schools in Pakistan and Morocco.
Created by Hannah Ford and Zoha Siddiqui (Incubator ‘17), honored as winners of the Top 30 Changemaker Challenge Awards from T-Mobile, a nationwide search for young innovators!
Project Infinity:
A solar-powered charger for phones, laptops, and light bulbs to provide an alternative energy source during load-shedding (rolling blackouts) in Zambia.
Created by Chama Bunda and Chriad Kawamwilu (Fellows DC ‘23, Incubator ‘24)
Eco-Recycle:
A process upcycling plastic waste into floor tiles, fighting plastic pollution and creating employment opportunities.
By Safi and Joyce Chibwe (Fellows Zambia ‘23, Incubator ‘24)
ScholarCHIPS:
A nonprofit that has provided over $500,000 in college scholarships and supports to college-bound young adults who have incarcerated parents.
By Yasmine Arrington (Fellows DC ‘11)
Boosted Reading:
A venture ensuring DC elementary school students have access to books by and about people of color.
By Nia Brown (Incubator ‘21)
Student Testimonials
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![Jayme - Student testimonials.jpeg]()
"Alot of problems in the world are presented by adults to handle . . . . LearnServe gives you a platform, space, and opportunity to say ‘I care. I see it. I live it. Let me do something about it.”
- Jayme Mims, Paraguay ‘17, Fellows DC ‘19
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![Ethan Huang - student testimonials.jpg]()
"A lot of my LearnServe experience was building skills. One of my first conversations with Scott (LearnServe’s CEO) was that even if my venture doesn’t go very far, I will walk away with the skills to do more projects in the future."
- Ethan Huang, Fellows DC ‘24
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![Adjo Evonlah - student testimonials.jpg]()
"Participating in the incubator was a wonderful experience that enabled me to take my venture from a mere idea to a blooming reality by giving me the programming and resources needed to develop my venture."
- Adjo Evonlah | Fellows DC ‘21, Incubator ‘22
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![Romeo - student testimonies.jpg]()
"The fact that you listened and never once doubted that I can solve these problems has made me believe that one day, I can actually solve these problems."
- Romeo Phillippe, Fellows DC ‘19, Zambia ‘19
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![Jackie Chen - Student testimonials.jpg]()
"From day one, I was so impressed by how organized everything was and how seen and heard I felt. In the past, when I shared my ideas for ventures to others, they weren’t always well received. LearnServe really encouraged me to take action."
- Jackie Chen, Fellows DC ‘22, Incubator ‘23, Global Zambia ‘24
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![Mwansa - student testimonies.jpeg]()
"From the time I was young I’ve been wanting to help alot of young people. But with LearnServe and Njira, they really brought my dream to action."
- Mwansa Sunga, Fellows Zambia ‘23, Incubator ‘24, Global Zambia ‘24
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![Joyce Chibwe - student testimonials.jpg]()
"I’ve developed skills and a mindset to not be dependent only on the government [to solve social problems]. What can I do about this? If this fails, what can I do next?"
- Joyce Chibwe | Fellows Zambia ‘23, Incubator ‘24, Global Zambia ‘24
