Publication Date: June 6, 2024
Publication Location: Washington, DC
Contact: Abby Henson | [email protected]
World Learning is expanding The Experiment Digital, its innovative virtual exchange program, to youth in Latin America.
The Experiment Digital connects high school students from the Middle East and North Africa region with students in the United States using online platforms. The program expansion into Latin America involves working with partners identified in 15 countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean with the plan to reach students across the entire region. The new iteration will launch next year and is funded by the Stevens Initiative, which is housed at the Aspen Institute and is supported by the Bezos Family Foundation.
“Virtual programs play an important role as a democratizer of education. For many young people, they offer a viable way to expand their skills and global perspective,” says World Learning CEO Carol Jenkins. “This, in turn, can further personal growth, enhance college readiness, and expand employment opportunities. For all these reasons, we are proud to be expanding The Experiment Digital program into Latin America.”
The program will have two offerings: “Climate Change and The Environment” and “English-Spanish Language Exchange.” In the former, participants explore the intersectionality between climate change and their communities and design projects to address ecological restoration, community resilience, or societal inequity. In the language tract, participants learn how to read stories and articles, converse about their daily lives, and write descriptive passages in both English and Spanish.
World Learning plans to enroll approximately 900 students in the program, which includes synchronous sessions with instructors and peers, asynchronous activities, collaborative final projects, and post-program workshops and alumni events to engage participants beyond the exchange. Participants will connect via online platforms such as Canvas and Zoom.
“Virtual exchange connects young people from around the world, creating engaging spaces for dialogue and discovery that support the development of practical life skills and build friendships along the way. It is a powerful tool to reimagine what global learning looks like,” says Christine Shiau, executive director of the Stevens Initiative. “World Learning embodies the spirit of innovation and collaboration necessary to help young people unlock their creativity, foster critical thinking skills, and feel connected to the world.”
The Experiment Digital is managed by the team of World Learning’s flagship program, The Experiment in International Living. The Experiment Digital is an open enrollment program, allowing high school-aged participants from any eligible country to apply online and participate outside of school. Educators and organizations are encouraged to share the opportunity with their high school students. For more information, email [email protected].
More Information:
World Learning is a global nonprofit that works to create a more sustainable, peaceful, and just world through education, cultural exchange, and locally led development. Through a portfolio of nearly 100 programs, including The Experiment in International Living and The Experiment Digital, World Learning helps equip individuals and institutions with fundamental and 21st-century skills, intercultural understanding, and networks worldwide to solve today’s most pressing and complex challenges. For more information, visit worldlearning.org or experiment.org.
The Stevens Initiative is an international leader in virtual exchange, which brings young people from diverse places together to collaborate and connect through everyday technology. Created in 2015 as a lasting tribute to Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, the Initiative invests in virtual exchange programs; shares research, resources, and promising practices to improve impact; and advocates for broader adoption. To learn more, visit www.stevensinitiative.org.
The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization committed to realizing a free, just, and equitable society. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve the most important challenges facing the United States and the world. Headquartered in Washington, DC, the Institute has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, and an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.
The Bezos Family Foundation supports rigorous, inspired learning environments for young people, from birth through high school, to put their education into action. Through investments in research, public awareness, systems building and programs, the foundation works to elevate the field of education and improve life outcomes for all children.
