What is the name of your organization?
Students of Service (SOS)
What is the name of your solution?
SOS Changemaker Kits
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
To address inequitable access to global service-learning experiences and leadership development for underserved and disadvantaged youth.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
San Antonio, TX, USA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
USA
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
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What specific problem are you solving?
Students of Service addresses the inequitable access to out-of-school educational opportunities—especially those that build global competence, civic engagement, and social-emotional growth. Research shows service-learning and extracurriculars foster academic and psychological success, but economically disadvantaged youth are least likely to access them.
According to a 2021 Oxford University Press article (Impact of International Experiential Learning and the Community and University Partnership Supporting Global Citizenship in U.S. Schools) highlighting SOS, underserved students benefit most from experiential learning—particularly when grounded in service. Yet schools with high percentages of low-income students often lack the resources to provide such opportunities, deepening cycles of educational and economic inequity.
SOS bridges that gap by offering students in grades 6–12 free access to service-learning, international travel, and leadership programs. 91% of participants say SOS shaped their postsecondary goals, and many credit us with helping them access college. The Oxford study validates our partnerships with local universities and our scalable, holistic approach to education.
We’re not just filling a gap—we’re building a movement. By equipping youth with the mindset, tools, and global perspective to lead, we empower them to become agents of change in their communities—fostering a more connected, compassionate, and equitable world.
What is your solution?
Our solution is the SOS Changemaker Kit—an innovative, tech-enabled curriculum and engagement platform designed to scale the proven success of Students of Service (SOS) in San Antonio to communities globally.
The kit includes a global citizenship curriculum focused on service learning, civic engagement, global awareness, and youth leadership. It provides educators with classroom and after-school-ready content and will be available via school licensing, individual purchase (e.g., through Teachers Pay Teachers), and fee-for-service virtual exchanges with international schools.
Students use our web portal to track service hours, sign up for events, share resources, and engage in on-the-go learning. The platform also enables cross-cultural collaboration through global project-based learning experiences.
The SOS Changemaker Kit helps students translate service experiences into real-world skills by aligning activities with their post secondary goals. It not only empowers young people to serve their communities but also builds a global peer network of socially conscious youth leaders.
With this solution, any teacher—anywhere—can access the tools to inspire civic action, foster empathy, and equip the next generation to build a more just and connected world.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution serves students ages 12–18, particularly those from historically underserved communities. While rooted in San Antonio, SOS intentionally blends youth from diverse socioeconomic, racial, and educational backgrounds to expand social capital and foster inclusive leadership. In 2024, SOS engaged 1,211 active students from 155 schools across 19 districts, including public, private, charter, online, and homeschool communities. Forty percent of students were from Title I schools, 78% identified as BIPOC, and 60% were female.
Our program addresses the need for equitable access to globally informed, service-learning. Through 97 weekend Serve events, 6 student-led Make It Happen projects, international and national travel opportunities, and immersive learning experiences like our Teen Medical Academy, we support student growth in leadership, civic engagement, and global citizenship.
Survey data shows strong outcomes: 94% of students said SOS made them more comfortable interacting across differences; 100% of seniors said they better understand their communities and are college-bound; 88% plan to continue community service. Students showed measurable skill gains in teamwork (93%), communication (93%), and cultural awareness (94%).
The SOS Changemaker Kit will scale this impact globally—giving students worldwide the opportunity to engage, serve, and lead in ways that strengthen their local communities and global connections.
