Raising Global Citizens: How One Mom Turned Cultural Curiosity Into a Movement

Whitney and her family

In a world overflowing with screens, noise, and fast-paced routines, one mother set out to create something radically simple — and profoundly needed. Meet Whitney, the founder of Global Sprouts, a cultural education brand reshaping how children learn about the world. What began as a personal mission to teach her daughter about her roots has grown into a movement empowering families to raise globally minded, empathetic kids through hands-on, screen-free exploration.

From traveling to over 30 countries to building a subscription brand rooted in authenticity and cultural storytelling, Whitney’s journey is a reminder that curiosity is contagious — and that the next generation is watching how we show up in the world. Her story is heartfelt, inspiring, and exactly the kind of founder spotlight our readers crave.

Whitney, can you share a bit about your journey and how your experiences traveling to over 30 countries shaped your worldview?

“With any country that I traveled to, I found myself having the most fun and feeling the most connected there when I was talking to the locals and listening to their stories and traditions. Yes, it’s fun to see all the popular landmarks of a place and it’s important to do that too, but that’s not what made the place special for me. My family traveled to Samara, Guanacaste which is a small village in Costa Rica this past year and we had the best time acting like we lived there! Seeing my two year old daughter play on the playground with the local kids and her having the time of her life made me realize this is what people need to see. Countries are so much more than a landmark and place on a map. They have stories, traditions, recipes, and so much more that needs to be shared.”

Global Sprouts

How did your personal experiences as a mother influence the creation of Global Sprouts?

“Being from the island of Guam, I knew that once my daughter reached a certain age, I wanted to teach her about her cultural background. But, in my search for these educational materials I found that there was a lack in teaching about the culture and the aboriginal people. I wanted her to see what children play with in Guam, what they see, what they eat and so I was putting together my own little lessons for her and had a moment of realization. If I’m wanting to raise my child to be empathetic and aware of other cultures, then I know there are other parents out there like me and there should be! It’s our job to raise the next generation to be kind and curious about the huge world around theme.”

Global Sprouts is all about raising globally-minded children through hands-on, screen-free learning. What inspired you to focus on this approach?

“Children have enough opportunities to be in front of screens and I wanted this to be hands-on because that’s what makes it really stick. We are huge advocates for project-based learning because it gives them the opportunity to test things out, ask questions, and really have something to take away from the lesson. Also incorporating cultural elements into basic skills like math, reading, and writing is teaching them two things at once without overwhelming them. They just practiced reading out loud with a story about Aphrodite and added together clay pots so now they know a little about Cyprus and sharpened those essential skills.”

Can you tell us about the process of creating a Culture Kit or Passport to Play subscription—how do you decide which country or culture to feature?

“We launched with 12 countries that were all places I had been and had a connection to a local from there so I felt especially connected to them. For each country, we have a cultural ambassador who helps create our Passport to Play, the activity magazine, to ensure it’s authentic and fun. They also assist with emails, blog posts, craft sheets, and essentially all creative and educational elements because we want to accurately show their culture.  ”

How do you balance fun, creativity, and education in your products?

“It’s definitely a team effort! We bring the vision of what we want to accomplish, our ambassadors bring us the cultural elements we can work with, and we have an educator on our board who ensures we are including the right developmental activities for our age group. Each part is essential and we couldn’t do it without our amazing team.”

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced starting Global Sprouts, and how did you overcome them?

“Definitely getting the word out once we launched was a huge challenge. There are a lot of different subscription kits for children so we really had to emphasize all the ways we stand out. Our cultural ambassadors are a huge differentiating factor, as we are a truly authentic company. We went to homeschool conventions across the US, local community events, and hosted cultural lessons which all did an amazing job of making people aware and now we average about 100 subscriptions every month!”

What has been your proudest moment since launching Global Sprouts?

“Getting to witness the world through the eyes of children. They are so pure, so welcoming and really brings hope to the next generation. One parent shared that their daughter drew our mascot, Globee, unprompted and said “Look mom, I drew Globee!” It’s so encouraging to know that it’s really resonating with them!.”

How do you measure the impact Global Sprouts has on children and families?

“Hearing real stories from families of how they incorporated the kit into their homeschool lesson or how thrilled their children were opening it is the most rewarding feeling in the world. It’s even better when they share videos or pictures of them using it and you can see the pure joy on their faces. That’s how I know that we’re doing the right thing and it’s accomplishing our mission.”

Do you have plans to expand the offerings, reach classrooms, or collaborate with schools in the future?

“We are actually launching a new Passport to Play subscription Kickstarter in February which is a monthly play based activity magazine that guides children through a new country with hands-on cultural learning, geography, crafts, language fun, and early skill-building. We’re building on the educational booklet that has been in every kit since the beginning and creating one for early education (ages ~2-5) and another for elementary/middle school (ages 6-12). Each month they’ll explore a new country with over 20 screen-free activities but each magazine is designed to meet every child where they are developmentally. Also, we’re always looking to reach more classrooms so if anyone reading this wants to bring a cultural lesson to their school, please let us know by emailing hello@globalsprouts.com!”

What advice would you give other parents looking to raise globally-minded, culturally aware kids?

“I would say that it 100% starts at home. We can’t rely on anyone else to teach our kids what we weren’t taught ourselves and it would benefit us as well! I’ve had so many parents tell me that they learned right along with them and they loved it just as much as their kid did. It doesn’t have to be intimidating and complicated but it starts by taking initiative.”

Whitney’s mission with Global Sprouts is a reminder that cultural education doesn’t have to be complicated — it just has to be intentional. Through hands‑on learning, authentic storytelling, and a deep respect for global traditions, she’s helping families nurture curiosity and empathy in the next generation.

If you’re inspired by this story and want to see more founders, creators, and innovators featured on YV Media, reach out. We’re always looking to spotlight voices making a meaningful impact.

— Written By Asia DiAmond

 Your Voice. Your Vibe. Your Vision.