Lamar Shambley grew up in Bed-Stuy, New York, and dreamed of one day traveling to a Spanish-speaking country to use the Spanish he was learning in his high school classes. Shambley had to turn down a study abroad opportunity in high school because the price was out of his reach. But thanks to scholarships in college, he was able to take a service trip to the Dominican Republic.
He returned to the U.S. with a renewed sense of purpose and went on to found Teens of Color Abroad with the goal of providing virtual language learning classes and cultural exchange programs for teens of color in the U.S.
“There are numerous benefits for young Black children to travel internationally. It allows Black students to expand their world views, connect with people from different cultures, and learn more about themselves,” Shambley explains. “Traveling pushes students out of their comfort zone, increasing their adaptability skills, resilience, independence, curiosity, and confidence. At TOCA, we believe these skills are foundational for students to thrive in college.”
