Liz Dwyer, Education Ambassador for the Pepsi Refresh Project, recently spoke to YouthBuild Philadelphia Executive Director Simran Sidhu for a feature on the Refresh Blog.  She writes:

Although YouthBuild Philadelphia focuses on providing an emotionally supportive and academically rigorous program, Sidhu also wants students to have a broadening experience. To that end, the program ensures students participate in both local and international service opportunities. Last year the school sent several students to Guatemala to construct housing and in March, thirty students [and staff] head to Costa Rica for an environmental project where they’ll be moving turtle eggs to safety at night. Sidhu says the youth don’t see the trips as work. ‘You have to understand,’ she says, ‘many are students who… never mind leaving the city or country, they’ve not left their neighborhoods in a long time.’

The Pepsi Refresh project is a an effort to foster ideas and innovation that will make a positive impact on our communities. It will award more than $20 million to fund individuals and organizations through grants ranging from $5,000 to $250,000 over the next year.