Intercultural Exchange Program 2022

Are you 14-18 years old and interested in world cultures, international relations, or global citizenship?

Would you like to form friendships with diverse youth from around the globe?

Join us from July 24 - August 21, 2022 for our completely free, virtual Intercultural Exchange Program! During this 4-week program, you will immerse yourself in the languages, histories, and practices of various international cultures through direct peer-to-peer dialogue.

Program components include the following:

  • interactive workshops about key global issues and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  • foreign language lessons, tutoring, and conversation groups

  • 1-on-1 partner calls with peers from different countries

  • various other intercultural conversation opportunities.

At the end of the program, you will have built a strong foundation of lifelong cultural awareness, culturally competent communication skills, and global friendships.

Apply by July 15

🌎

Apply by July 15 🌎

FAST FACTS

  • Dates: Sunday, July 24 - Sunday, August 21

  • Age: 14-18 years old

  • Location: virtual (conducted via Zoom and Google Drive)

  • Cost: Free

  • Program Structure: 2-5 hours per week, including each of the following weekly calls (call times organized based on participants’ time availability):

    • Required calls for all participants:

      • Sunday workshop call organized for all program participants (recordings will be made available)

      • Culture partner call organized between you and your culture partner

    • Optional calls:

      • Foreign language lesson and conversation group

      • Culture coffee chat organized between you and a randomly matched-up peer

      • Community calls with a larger group of program peers

PROGRAM BENEFITS

  • Make new lifelong friends from across the world (without leaving the house!)

  • Spend your summer productively and safely while making meaningful intercultural connections

  • Learn a new language or strengthen/practice your existing language abilities

  • Expand your cultural perspective and humanize diverse viewpoints

  • Expose yourself to new foods, languages, cultures, and ways of thinking, living, and viewing the world

  • Share your culture, passions, and life stories with like-minded youth worldwide

  • Gain greater understanding of pressing global issues

  • Potential scholarship and/or grant awards, The World in Us merch, and other prizes for the most engaged students 

  • Certificate of program completion 

ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS

  • Location: You can participate from anywhere in the world! 

  • Age: 14-18 years old 

  • Program Expectations: We ask that you complete at least 4 partner calls and participate in 4 workshop calls (either attending the meeting synchronously or watching the recording). Assignments relating to the workshop’s global issue will be provided each week, but you are only required to submit at least 1 assignment. We understand how difficult schedules and time zones can be, so we are very flexible with attendance!

  • Materials: We will primarily use Zoom, Slack, and Google Drive, so students will need access to these platforms. Common school supplies such as pencils, markers, and paper may be useful for some assignments (e.g., one-pager and/or presentations providing an overview of your culture partner’s country).

  • Previous Experience: No previous exchange, language-learning, or travel experience required! Students just need a curious mind open to new perspectives, cultures, and possibilities.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

Across the span of four weeks, you will learn about different global cultures through a youth-for-youth lens and delve deeper into your own cultural identity. At the start of the camp, you will be paired with another student from a different culture and part of the world as “culture partners.”

There will be a total of 5 calls each week, out of which 2 (partner call and Sunday workshop) are required, and 3 (culture coffee chat, foreign language lessons, and community calls) are recommended but not required. The Sunday call is scheduled by program directors based on participant availability; all other calls will be scheduled in smaller groups to accommodate individual members’ schedules. If you can’t attend a Sunday workshop synchronously, we ask that you watch the meeting recordings on your own time. Below are more detailed description of each call:

Sunday Workshop: Each Sunday, program directors organize a program-wide call to present and provide educational background on the theme of the week (which will be a global issue such as quality education or mental health) through an interactive presentation. The directors will also explain the week’s tasks and overall schedule.

Partner call: This 1-on-1 call will be between you and your culture partner. These calls will allow you to initiate illuminating conversations and form close friendships with a peer from a different cultural background. For each call, you will be provided a discussion guide related to the week’s global issue theme, and you will be encouraged to discuss your local context and cultural perspective on each topic. You will also be encouraged to play games, discuss your personal interests, and get to know each other better as friends! You and your partner can DM each other on Slack or your preferred platform to determine the timing of each call week-to-week.

Culture coffee chats (optional): In this call, you’ll be randomly matched with a peer from a different background and have an opportunity to learn about their culture, interests, experiences, etc. Once matched, you and your culture coffee chat partner can decide on the date and timing of your call.

Language lessons & conversation groups (optional): If you mark interest in learning a language when applying, you will be placed in a language class led by an experienced language tutor/instructor. In addition to weekly classes in that language, each language offered will have conversation groups open to all interested participants, regardless of whether they signed up for those language classes.

Community call (optional): These open-ended calls will be organized for any interested participants to meet informally, get to know one another, and discuss the weekly workshop or any other topics of interest.

APPLY BY JULY 15

Can’t access Google Forms due to firewalls? Here’s an alternate application form through our website (please use the alternate form only if you cannot access the Google Form!)