International Carpe Diem Foundation Inc Dba Carpe Mundi

The young woman in the first picture that you see above is Daphne. Daphne graduated from high school in 2012, but after graduation all Daphne wanted to do was start working. For her, college never seemed like an option. That was until Daphne discovered Carpe Mundi and the Carpe College program, a yearlong scholarship opportunity for community college students that includes mentoring, an experiential learning semester abroad, and a summer internship. Yearning for the opportunity to explore new horizons, Daphne decided to give the program a try, and participated in the Carpe College program during the 2012-2013 school year. Through the program, Daphne completed a year of college credit, did a summer internship, and spent three months traveling with a supportive group of peers and leaders throughout India. Daphne is still enrolled in school and is studying social sciences. Her words best describe the strength of the Carpe College program:

“College is barely an option for students like me, from my background, and going abroad is completely out of this world. This program is empowering. It shows you there are ways to go to college.”

 

Daphne is the face of Carpe Mundi, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to transform economically disadvantaged Portland youth into globally engaged change-makers. Carpe Mundi was originally founded as the International Carpe Diem Foundation (hence the name on the top of the page), but changed its name in 2012. More than just a name change, Carpe Mundi went through a transformation and now engages low-income, first generation community college students in the yearlong Carpe College program and works with students at alternative high schools to teach global stewardship curriculum called World CLASS.

 

Our goal is to alleviate the cycle of familial poverty for generations to come by engaging and working with first generation students to ensure completion of their first year of college. Through a transformational service learning semester, a local internship, and constant mentorship and academic support, students leave the program with a broader global perspective, an increased sense of motivation and self-empowerment, and a year of college under their belt. 

 

At Carpe Mundi, we aim to increase college completion rates by providing students with a combination of the engaging elements of experiential and international education, as well as financial and academic access to college. Together, these components make students exponentially more likely to complete a higher degree.

There is a clear need for programming, like ours, that addresses college completion rates, as only 29.3% of Oregon students who enroll in community college end up completing a two-year associate degree program within 3 years. In today’s economy secondary education makes all the difference, as workers with a bachelor’s degree earn on average 73% more than a worker with some college credit. For low-income and first-generation students, those most likely to enroll in community college, these statistics paint a picture of cyclical poverty.

Our innovative Carpe College Program is designed to give low-income students the support they need to finish their associate degree and transfer on to receive their bachelor’s. In partnership with Portland Community College (PCC), Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC), Portland State University (PSU), and Carpe Diem Education (CDE), Carpe Mundi's program consists of three phases:

• First, our students complete a semester at PCC or MHCC, with ongoing academic support from Carpe Mundi. 
• Second, Carpe Mundi students participate in a three-month semester program with CDE, while receiving credit through PSU, in South America, Central America, India, East Africa, or Southeast Asia.
• Upon their return, students complete a local internship and create a capstone project that showcases their experience to their community.

 

We are able to provide this unique opportunity to students through utilizing federal financial aid grants and scholarships, leveraging community partnerships, and the gracious support of individuals such as yourself.

 

By investing in Carpe Mundi you can play a role in ending the cycle of poverty for Portland area youth like Daphne. Your support will go towards sustaining and broadening the Carpe College program, which will increase the impact we can make in the Portland community.

Please make your donation today so that Carpe Mundi can continue to provide transformative education to first generation, low-income students in Portland, Oregon.  

Sincerely,

C. Hansell Bourdon

Executive Director