A+ World Academy is an international high school and gap year program, offering teenagers and young adults an experiential, long-term educational project. Besides having the campus on a sailboat, the focus lies on the conveyance of an educational program that will make the students’ global citizens and leaders of the 21st century. Rigorous, exhausting and amazing at the same time.

Its goals, in addition to academic education, are to strengthen intangible values such as tolerance, global perspective and intercultural experience. Young people learn at sea not only the principles of community living but also what is known as reflective learning, which is about self-reflection and personal future-oriented growth.

The combination of classes, duties on board and learning to sail strengthen teamwork, resilience and time management. Instead of sitting at home in school, all of this sounds like the perfect experience on the path to personal development for young adults.

The educational value of this trip is certainly undeniable. Since this program involves very high costs, these teenagers between the age of 15 and 19 mostly come from a rich socioeconomic background and have a sometimes-distorted image of luxury and economic necessity. Consequently, a "natural" social selection takes place due to the extremely high participation fees upfront.

Our mission in Cape Verde is to connect young people to a different culture and way of life. Our program in Cape Verde aims to improve their hands-on mentality, environmental awareness and cultural tolerance, as well as their view of different standards of living. It is not just about getting rid of the prejudice that having less money directly implies a poor and sorrowful life. Especially "less privileged" people are the ones who are often very rich in other contexts. Contexts that are much more important than the amount on the bank account.

One participant from Bermuda says he got to know the A+ World Academy on a shore leave the previous year, so his wish came up to participate in the project himself.