What drives us
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At All Abroad! Bus, our main mission is to broaden access to the joys and rewards of trips abroad to everyone, benefitting in particular:
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language learners;
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those who don’t have many or any opportunities to travel abroad; and
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anyone with limited exposure to other cultures and languages within their own community.
How we do it
When we film our experiences, we dive deep into local cultures, catch the quirks, meet the locals, chat in the local languages, all so we can capture unique, close-up and sometimes surprising perspectives that enable participants to enjoy a deeper connection to other cultures and authentic language in a meaningful context. By sharing these unique experiences, we aim to cultivate a greater appreciation and understanding of the world around us, while sparking curiosity and a passion for languages and cultural exploration.
We bring our immersive experiences and workshops directly to our different customers and their communities at their location, or online, to provide the essence of ‘being there’ with the convenience of ‘being here’, thereby eliminating barriers such as time, cost, logistics, accessibility, health and risk that may hinder real-world travel. Looking ahead, we aim to start delivering our experiences and workshops on board the first All Abroad! Bus in 2025, to offer an even more immersive, convenient and self-sufficient provision.
The Bus
Why we do it
By striving to ignite a passion for and appreciation of the value of languages, we hope to help reverse the decline in language uptake in UK schools; English is not enough and monolingualism limits prospects and negatively impacts our economy. Learning languages offers countless benefits & opportunities, from cognitive boosts and soft skills to exciting global adventures and a competitiveness in the global marketplace. Multilingualism is also a superpower, unlocking access, insight into, and empathy for other cultures at home and abroad.
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By trying to help bridge the gap between those who can can and do travel and those who face challenges in accessing opportunities to physically travel abroad for themselves, or those who choose not to, whether for environmental reasons or a fear of the unknown. We believe that everyone better off from sampling the joys and rewards of vibrant cultural experiences our world has to offer, whether by opening minds, broadening horizons, awakening senses, a context to language learning or just to have fun!
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We encourage support from businesses, organisations, and individuals who can help us to widen participation and help drive social change.We recognize that many of those who stand to benefit from our provision are from backgrounds and in settings where resources are the most stretched, further widening the opportunities gap and compromising prospects for their development as curious, open-minded, and world-ready citizens.
We understand that those who could benefit the most from our programs often come from places where resources are limited. This widens the gap and hampers their growth as curious, open-minded, and globally aware citizens. We're committed to leveling the playing field by encouraging support from businesses, organizations, and individuals to help us make these experiences accessible to all.
Plus, we're all about sustainability! Our programs offer enriching cultural and language experiences with a smaller environmental footprint. By bringing the world to you, we reduce the need for travel and help protect our planet.
Our values are all about accessibility, inclusivity, sustainability, and a love for global languages and cultures. We aim to inspire, educate, and create a more connected and sustainable world by making these amazing experiences available to everyone.
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All Abroad! Bus... the journey so far
2019 - The Eureka moment!
Standing in front of an unmotivated year 8 French class. “I don’t get it Miss, and anyway, what’s the point? I’m never gonna go to France”. Catherine Tate video on repeat (in my head): “Regardez mon visage, suis-je bovvered ?” ! But, what if I could drive a bus into the school, full of French sights, sounds, tastes, smells, textures and language, and bring France to them? Then, just then maybe they would get it and they would be bovvered!
2020 - Covid
Bus conversations on hold. Instead, a quiet launch of online bilingual exchanges and experiences, immersing teenagers in cooking, virtual visits, and language chats.
2021 - Clubs
Launch of face-to-face after-school language & culture clubs and holiday clubs (provider for Holiday Activities & Food #HAF programme), 'transporting' children abroad through food, fun, language and cultural activities.
2022 - R&D
Exploring technology, delivery options and potential impact of immersive experiences on different audiences, resulting in a decision to broaden our reach much wider. A finalist in Lewes LEAP Awards (Local Enterprise & Apprenticeship Platform).
2023 - Un marché de Noël
Creation and launch of first immersive cultural experience from a Christmas market in Northern France, delivered in person to primary & secondary schools, care homes, community & cultural venues in Lewes area.
2024 - To other destinations...
Creation and launch of first experiences from Spain - ‘All Abroad to ‘La Fiesta de Sant Antoni’ and ‘Al mercado’ for in-person 'pop-up' delivery and online. More experiences in the pipeline. Browse Experiences to find out more / book.
Come aboard to offer visits to others or propose new destinations and events!
2025 - The bus is en route!
Hoping to realise a full physical embodiment of the project: our unique, culturally-immersive offer aboard a touring All Abroad! Bus! Come aboard!
Who we are
Our founder, Julia Vogado is an ‘edupreneur’, facilitator, and qualified languages teacher who favours creative, active, experiential teaching over traditional curriculum and classroom methods, with a particular penchant for teaching language through food, art, music and fun! With a background in international market research and various creative fields, including photography, video, and multi-sensory art, she brings a unique perspective to language and culture education.
A passionate linguist (French, German & Spanish, with bits of Catalan and other languages thrown in) and a proud European, Julia has lived, worked and travelled in a fair few countries and can vouch 100% for the value of languages in enhancing life skills, opening up a wide range of opportunities and providing the confidence and pleasure to connect and communicate with people from other cultures at a deeper level.
All Abroad! Bus is where all my ideas, dreams, passions, experiences, travels, connections and diverse skill sets come together. It’s as though my life to-date all happened to prepare me for putting this vision into being, so I hope you will join me on the journey in one way or another and help to make it something really extraordinary!
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We work with specialist creatives to produce our original resources and linguist facilitators and helpers to deliver our in-person experiences. A network of locals abroad help guide us in the field and contribute to language exchanges. We’re always eager to hear from other linguists, teachers, facilitators, native speakers and creatives, as well as purveyors of international food and goods who may like to collaborate.