News
Dominican Republic Women's Leadership Program
Look out world! 15 of San Antonio’s area teen students have spent an entire year earning their way to a June 20th departure for the Dominican Republic to attend a Women’s Leadership Summit.
Bianca Pitman, an SOS Global Educator and Trip Leader and The Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas are partnered for this special program that caters to educating and empowering women. The conference will be a life-changing experience that will open their eyes to community needs both abroad and here at home. They will be visiting many non-profit agencies in the DR while traveling through Sosua, Samana and Santo Domingo.
SOS is focused on three pillars that make up the organization. Learn, Serve and Explore. This trip is all three wrapped into one!
Bianca Pitman, an SOS Global Educator and Trip Leader and The Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas are partnered for this special program that caters to educating and empowering women. The conference will be a life-changing experience that will open their eyes to community needs both abroad and here at home. They will be visiting many non-profit agencies in the DR while traveling through Sosua, Samana and Santo Domingo.
SOS is focused on three pillars that make up the organization. Learn, Serve and Explore. This trip is all three wrapped into one!
New Scholarship Guidelines
SOS is proud to announce the travel scholarship program for Summer 2020 trips!
The following scholarships will be awarded for an SOS International Trip for the Summer of 2020:[1]
We will begin accepting applications on October 15, 2019 and the application deadline is November 15, 2019 at midnight. Decisions will be announced by December 15, 2019.
Below is a list of important information when applying for a travel scholarship:
If you are the recipient of a scholarship, the following will be expected of you (and we will ask you, and your legal guardian to sign a commitment agreeing to these terms). This is important in “giving back” to SOS and making it possible for others to have the same opportunity to travel:
[1] In the event a recipient has a balance due for the trip that is less than the amount of the scholarship, the family will be issued a check for the difference to total the amount of the scholarship. For example, if the trip is $3,000 but the applicant has already paid $1,000, SOS will pay the remaining $2,000 owed for the trip and will reimburse the applicant $1,000.
[2] In the event SOS does not have a raffle in 2020, we will ask that the recipient volunteer a minimum of 10 hours for other fundraising events to be announced.
The following scholarships will be awarded for an SOS International Trip for the Summer of 2020:[1]
- One scholarship in the amount of $3,000
- One scholarship in the amount of $2,500
- One scholarship in the amount of $2,000
- One scholarship in the amount of $1,500
We will begin accepting applications on October 15, 2019 and the application deadline is November 15, 2019 at midnight. Decisions will be announced by December 15, 2019.
Below is a list of important information when applying for a travel scholarship:
- Applicant MUST have a minimum of 20 service hours with SOS and the hours must be documented in the SOS volunteer portal. All hours must be completed prior to November 15, 2019.
- Two letters of recommendation are required (one from a teacher/school counselor and one from a family friend, community/church leader, or someone who can speak about your character).
- A strong component of the selection process will be the number of hours volunteered with SOS events. You will have plenty of opportunities over the coming months to volunteer to increase your hours!
If you are the recipient of a scholarship, the following will be expected of you (and we will ask you, and your legal guardian to sign a commitment agreeing to these terms). This is important in “giving back” to SOS and making it possible for others to have the same opportunity to travel:
- After your Summer 2020 trip, you must appear at a minimum of two travel information meetings to talk about your travel experience with SOS.
- Must be an active volunteer with the next annual raffle which will include volunteering a minimum of 10 hours for the raffle which can include various events preparing for the raffle such as soliciting donations of raffle prizes, putting ticket packages together, helping distribute ticket packages, and volunteering at the actual raffle event.[2]
- Be an active participant in fundraising activities for the next year which can include formulating fundraising ideas, promoting an event and participating in fundraising events.
[1] In the event a recipient has a balance due for the trip that is less than the amount of the scholarship, the family will be issued a check for the difference to total the amount of the scholarship. For example, if the trip is $3,000 but the applicant has already paid $1,000, SOS will pay the remaining $2,000 owed for the trip and will reimburse the applicant $1,000.
[2] In the event SOS does not have a raffle in 2020, we will ask that the recipient volunteer a minimum of 10 hours for other fundraising events to be announced.
SOS By the Numbers
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Service
More than 500 Students actively serving in San Antonio More than 10,000 hours served With more than 25 organizations 12 youth social entrepreneurs who started their own projects |
Exploration
More than 400 students have traveled abroad 14 countries and counting 11 awesome trips so far |
Our Values
Education
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Safety
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Respect
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Leadership
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Community
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Our Vision and Mission
Summer of Service (SOS) is dedicated to education through service and travel by providing students with the opportunity to learn abroad in order to better their own communities and serve back home.
We see a world in which all young people - no matter their background - believe in their power to make a positive difference in their communities.
We see a world in which all young people - no matter their background - believe in their power to make a positive difference in their communities.
Learn.We have multiple opportunities throughout the year to attend local educational events. Keep an eye out for announcements.
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Serve.Our partnerships with the DoSeum and San Antonio Airport allow students to serve and earn SOS hours on their own schedule. Contact us for more info.
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Explore.We are now recruiting for our 2020 trips! SOS Has a busy summer planned for 2020 and would love for you to join us on one of our trips.
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