Cultural exchange builds bridges between cultures, destinations, and, most importantly, people.
Sharing ideas and approaches benefits anyone involved, including applicants on placements, through to the new communities they serve. For applicants, it’s the trip of a lifetime to understand a new area and how it goes about things. This more profound understanding of a different place helps shape people’s professional or personal approach to life. It encourages those participating to become global citizens who can display better empathy and understanding for those worldwide.
Yet, it goes broader and deeper than just one person. Each cultural exchange applicant will make an immeasurable impact on their travel area and the people they engage with there.
A great example of this is at summer camp. International staff from around the world work at camps, positively affecting many different groups. They contribute to the wider economy of the town, city or State where they reside. They work hard and provide much-needed staffing capacity to the summer camp families they have joined. Yet, most importantly, they can have a life-changing impact on the campers they serve. Not only will campers have a positive role model in a particular activity or on a specific day, but they’ll go away having positive interactions with people from around the world, which is a significant experience to take into adulthood.
Cultural exchange brings people together.