Students Opposing Slavery FAQs

Students Opposing Slavery is an award-winning, life-changing program for young people to work towards greater freedom in the world. If you have a question not listed here you’d like answered before your visit, you can submit it directly by emailing us at [email protected].

Who is the Summit For?

The Students Opposing Slavery program is for people ages 14-24 who have begun high school or other secondary education but not yet graduated from university.

Does it cost money to attend the Summit?

There are no fees for admission to the program. The costs of the program are supported by our generous funders.
You are responsible for travel expenses if you will be coming to DC from elsewhere. If travel costs are a concern for you, please apply for a travel scholarship when you submit your application to the Summit. Limited scholarship funding is available.

What does the travel scholarship cover?

The travel scholarship covers airplane or train fare, transportation within Washington, DC, and housing in DC
The scholarship DOES NOT cover transportation in your home city, any visa or administrative fees, baggage fees, or seat upgrades.

What if I find out I can’t come after being admitted?

Please let us know as soon as possible. If you withdraw from the program within 3 weeks of the start date, please be prepared to reimburse costs associated with your attendance.

Trafficking sounds like a serious and difficult subject to spend a whole week on. What do you do to support participants’ mental health?

One of our main objectives with the Summit is for the participants to connect with each other and form a network of young abolitionists. This helps with their projects’ completion, but it also provides a foundation of support when it otherwise might feel like you were the only one working on this problem. Our teambuilding and social activities are designed to help people build connections with each other.
At mid-week, we have a specific discussion and exercise centered around self-care in working in a difficult field. It’s incorporated directly into the Summit program, and we invite an expert to discuss secondary trauma and ways to nourish yourself with us.
While students have a busy calendar throughout the program, we have also built in time for participants to spend time alone if that’s their preferred method to decompress.

Where will participants stay during the program?

SOS participants stay in the dormitories at Catholic University, which is within ten minutes of President Lincoln’s Cottage. Dorm rooms are organized by gender per Catholic University’s policy.

What will we do at the Summit?

The program is a mix of presentations from experts in the field, support working on your own community-facing project, and cohort-building activities. It also includes some time to see DC. You can see an example agenda here.

Can I arrive late or leave early?

We strongly prefer that you attend as much of the Summit as possible. Please reach out about your individual situation if you have questions.
If you arrive late, you will miss important launch activities to familiarize you with the themes of our work and build rapport with your cohort.
If you leave early, you will miss an opportunity to demonstrate your fully developed project to stakeholders and to practice real-world problem-solving with your cohort of participants.

What do other people say about the Summit?

Students say:

“The connections I made and the stories I heard will follow me throughout my life and hopefully help me make a bigger impact on the world.”
“You don’t have to know a lot coming in, but you should try… because it can do so much!”

Parents say:

“I can’t thank you enough for giving [my child] the chance to participate in SOS… the entire experience has expanded his view of the world and some of the problems that connect us. This program [has]… significantly moved the needle for him in a very short span of time. Again, THANK YOU!”
“Just wanted to thank you once again for the experience; [my child] seemed to really come out of her shell and was social and had a lot of fun. I’m also thrilled that she met students from other countries as well. What a bonus! … I’d love for her to continue to work with your organization…. You all are doing such important work!”

Additional FAQ for International applicants

What do I need to enter the United States and attend the program?

For most countries, you will need a visa to enter the United States. Please visit the website of the State Department for more information. You can click “Find a US Embassy or Consulate” to discover what locations near you offer visa services.
The visa process begins by filling out a form DS-160 and making an interview appointment at the location near you.
We recommend starting your visa application process as soon as possible, as there can be a lot of bureaucratic processes involved that may generate delays.

What kind of visa should I get?

Please apply for a Visitor B1 or B2 visa. Do not apply for a student visa; your application will be denied by the embassy and you will not be able to attend the program.

My visa application is asking for an address where I will be in the United States. What should I put?

President Lincoln’s Cottage, 3700 North Capitol St NW, Washington DC 20011

Can you help me with my visa?

If you need specific materials to support your visa application, please let us know and we will do our best to provide them. We do NOT have embassy connections or the ability to expedite a visa.
You are the only person who can complete your paperwork and the application process. We recommend making visa arrangements as soon as possible.

What if I can’t get my visa in time?

In some circumstances, it may be possible to defer your admission to the following year of the program. Please reach out with further questions.

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