Obama-Chesky Voyagers travel to every corner of the world
61 countries, 100 students, one unforgettable summer.
This summer, 100 college students are connecting with new communities and getting real-world experience in the issues they care about, as a part of the Voyager Scholarship.
The Scholarship program engages college students in the United States in their junior and senior years who would not otherwise be able to afford pursuing their passion for public service in college, offering programming tracks to support their public service journeys.
These immersive work-travel experiences are taking Voyagers to a total of 61 countries, with each Voyager visiting an average of three destinations.
Learn more about this year’s destinations and meet a few of our incredible Voyagers:
Voyager Spotlights - United States
Voyagers are traveling to a total of 24 states and territories this summer.
Healthcare, criminal justice reform, and education are some of the top public service issues Voyagers are focusing on in the United States.
Henry Stephens IV
Name: Henry Stephens IV
School: Duke University
Major: Sociology
Destination: Washington, D.C.
Henry is focused on reducing barriers to economic equality. As a volunteer with the Council Office of Racial Equity in Washington, D.C., he analyzes how proposed legislation may impact historically marginalized communities’ upward mobility across the district. Henry hopes this exposure to policymaking will shape his legal approach to advancing economic justice after law school.
Brielle Ward
Name: Brielle Ward
School: Howard University
Major: Supply Chain Management, Pre-law track
Destinations: Chicago, IL and Detroit, MI
Brielle is passionate about combating climate change by increasing the use of renewable energy. This summer, she attended Aspen Ideas-Climate Festival in Chicago, Illinois and other conferences focused on sustainable business practices. Brielle also interned at Nexamp, a solar energy company, and visited Detroit, Michigan to learn about the first road in the United States that charges electric vehicles. Brielle aims to apply these learnings with the businesses and entrepreneurs she hopes to work with as an environmental lawyer.
Voyager Spotlights - The Americas
Voyagers are traveling to 14 countries in the Americas, including Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and Mexico.
Healthcare, immigration/migration, and criminal justice reform are the most common public service issues for Voyagers traveling across the Americas.
Ranee Brady
Name: Ranee Brady
School: Georgetown University
Major: International Politics
Destination: Brazil
Ranee is passionate about promoting access to information and knowledge to foster a more compassionate and secure world. This summer, she is volunteering with local and international news organizations in Brazil, supporting journalists who report from the field and nonprofit researchers who study approaches for providing accurate and fair information. As a student interested in diplomacy, teaching, and international journalism, Ranee’s goal is to learn about different approaches for providing accurate and fair information she can use throughout her career.
William Navarrete Moreno
Name: William Navarrete Moreno
School: University of Colorado, Denver
Major: Public Health
Destination: Guatemala
William is passionate about health equity and founded TheCHANGEproject to advance health equity through education, advocacy, and grassroots organizing. This summer, he will be participating in a biomedical research course in rural Guatemala to gain hands-on experience in clinics and hospitals. He is also completing a research internship at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he is studying how Medicare policy affects patient experience. William’s ultimate goal is to unite the fields of medicine and public health to create a more just and equitable healthcare system—one that places the needs of the communities it serves at its core.
Voyager Spotlights - Europe
Voyagers are traveling to 23 countries in Europe. The most common public service issues for Voyagers traveling in Europe include: advancing equal rights for all, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.
Khris Gonzalez Pebe
Name: Khris Gonzalez Pebe
School: University of Southern California
Major: Public Policy
Destination: France
Khris is passionate about using data-driven solutions to address issues such as illicit trade, human trafficking, and counterterrorism. She visited France to attend a study abroad course focused on historical memory and the legacy of conflict. As part of a broader journey through multiple European countries, she is exploring how historical narratives, migration, and conflict crises shape identity and international relations in different regional contexts.
Nicholas Neuman
Name: Nicholas Neuman
School: Purdue University
Major: Agricultural Economics and Political Science
Destination: Austria and Ireland
Nicholas is focused on bridging the gaps in financing and capacity for rural communities , both domestically and internationally. This summer, he is conducting comparative research to explore how rural communities navigate economic growth and regional investment. He hopes to use these learnings to assist the financing and program management of rural development projects in the future.
Voyager Spotlights - Africa
Voyagers are visiting 11 countries in Africa this summer, including South Africa, Kenya, and Madagascar.
The most common public service issues for Voyagers traveling in Africa includes: advancing equal rights for all, healthcare access, and environmental sustainability.
Jonathan Jean Charles
Name: Jonathan Jean Charles
School: University of Miami
Major: Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Global Health Studies
Destination: Rwanda and Malawi
Jonathan is focused on reducing noncommunicable diseases in low-income communities. This summer, he will support the sickle cell research of Dr. Patrick McGann, a 2023 Leaders USA alumni, and volunteer at community-based healthcare organizations in Rwanda and Malawi. Jonathan aspires to become a culturally competent physician dedicated to health policy and patient-centered health care.
Charity Fisher
Name: Charity Fisher
School: Clark Atlanta University
Major: Social Work
Destination: Tanzania
Charity is passionate about addressing mental health disparities and founded Homegrown the Collective, a nonprofit in her hometown designed to hold space for black youth to heal through community circles. She traveled to Tanzania this summer to volunteer at Unique Child Academy, an organization founded by Miriam Loivotoki Laiser (2024-2025 Leaders Africa) that empowers children and youth to unleash their full potential through inclusive and innovative learning techniques and methods. Charity hopes to apply these skills in her career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Voyager Spotlights - Asia-Pacific
Voyagers are traveling to 13 countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
The most common public service issues Voyagers are focused on in the Asia-Pacific region includes: healthcare, advancing equal rights for all, and science, technology, and innovation.
Eke Djibril
Name: Eke Djibril
School: Howard University
Major: Health Science
Destination: Fiji and Palau Island
Eke is led by her passion to provide culturally sensitive health care to marginalized communities. This summer, she will visit Fiji and Palau Island to learn more about indigenous health practices and therapies. While on Palau Island, Eke will learn more about herbal medicine and complementary and alternative medicine from Christopher Kitalong, a 2023 Asia-Pacific Leader. After graduation, Eke hopes to go to medical school and work on improving health care outcomes for vulnerable populations worldwide by bridging western and integrative medicine.
Rani Basnet
Name: Rani Basnet
School: Middlebury College
Major: International Global Studies
Destination: Nepal
Rani is focused on building inclusive healthcare systems for marginalized communities. This summer, she is visiting Nepal to volunteer at community health clinics catering to disabled communities. Rani’s goal is to learn how these clinics operate, as oftentimes these clinics are the main support systems for the individuals they serve. She will utilize these lessons in her career as an advocate for healthcare professionals and patients from immigrant communities.
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