Abstract

Abstract
This qualitative study was designed to understand the goals and motivations of High School Humanitarian Trip leaders. Three trip animators from three high schools from one school board in the Montreal area were interviewed and my own experience was added to the interview results. The three main areas investigated were: 1) The impact animators feel they have on participants, their schools and communities, as well as the communities they visit. 2) Their knowledge, understanding and management of the critiques leveled against this type of travel. 3) How these factors work to motivate the continuation of trips in a positive way.
Organizing the endeavour is hard work, traveling with groups of adolescents is an enormous responsibility. So while each of the trip leaders had some great adventures, they would not continue with the projects if they did not perceive there to be a positive educational value derived through the relationships and connections that develop in this inter-cultural exchange. The trip leaders reflect in particular on the themes of learning and unlearning, on host communities and work projects and on gender issues. Acknowledging that there is no perfect way of generating communication and learning between cultures, trip leaders aim to move forward, using their experience to ensure that encounters occur with mutual openness and respect. This project aims to add the reflection of high school trip leaders to the general literature on internationalisation, globalisation and student exchanges that usually concentrate on the experiences of university and postsecondary students. It is also suggested that a more appropriate designation than Humanitarian Trips should be applied to these trips.
Key words: Humanitarian trips, high school students, motivation and goals of trip leaders, learning and unlearning outcomes for students, impact on host communities, centrality of work projects, gender