The first ever youth-led, digital learning experience that uses design thinking, community journalism, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals to strengthen language learning and cross-cultural collaboration.
A new, groundbreaking opportunity for middle and high school students.
The Digital Exchange Program (DEP) is a free, fully online study abroad experience. Students are matched with a peer from a different country, and over 12 weeks, participate in weekly video calls and activities to simulate the exchange experience.
DEP pairs are grouped into “families” and matched with a college facilitator—mentors who help the group dig deeper and question/process what they’re learning! After the program, students will have increased cross-cultural understanding and are empowered to learn from and work with people who are different from them (culturally, geographically, ideologically, etc.) to tackle global issues.
DEP graduates can apply for Project Exchange’s Impact Incubator fellowship, where they will receive 1:1 mentorship, skill-building workshops, and mini-grants to implement a community action project to promote intercultural understanding. Students can even come back as DEP facilitators or join Project Exchange’s Executive Leadership team!
Program Overview
WHO: Students in grades 6-12 around the world.
WHEN: June 29 to September 18 (3 months; 12 weeks)
WHAT: An online cultural exchange program designed to equip students with knowledge, skills, attitudes, and resources to design community-action projects that promote intercultural understanding and global collaboration. Students will be matched with a peer from a different country (their DEP partner) and participate in a weekly video call, individual activity, language learning workshops, community reflections, and many more opportunities to interact with other DEP students.
WHERE: The program is hosted using a combination of Slack (asynchronous communication), Zoom (synchronous), and Google Suite tools.
COST: Free!
Additional Information
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Learn more about the Digital Exchange Program here.
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Apart from middle & high school students in the DEP, we are also looking for college facilitators (globally-minded college students) to help organize the DEP and work with students to deepen their exchange experience. Learn more about being a facilitator here.
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Sign up for our newsletter here.
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See and share the Project Exchange Outreach Toolkit here.
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Read and share the Digital Exchange Program brochure here.
Apply or Nominate
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Middle & High School Students: apply for the Digital Exchange Program here. The deadline is June 19, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
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College Students: apply to become a DEP Facilitator here. The deadline is June 12, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
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Teachers: if you are interested in registering a group of students for the DEP or incorporating the program as a classroom activity, please read this Teacher’s Guide and complete this form.
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Everyone: nominate a student for the Digital Exchange Program here.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Luna, Cohort 3
Luna, Cohort 3
DEP experience was one of the nicest experiences I've ever had, I gained more information about different topics, now I am more aware about many cultures than I was before, I've deleted all the stereotypes I had about someone else and I've became a new edition of myself.
Rebeka, Cohort 3
DEP was a really great experience. The DEP pushed me to think more critically and think more realistically and of more feasible solutions. Since I'm a more introverted person, the DEP gave me a platform and a reason to communicate with more people, it has helped me confront my social fears and in the process get to know more people personally and make new friends.
Ava, Cohort 2
Throughout the program, I learned a lot from my partner and had a lot of fun learning about his culture. I think that the DEP provided me with lots of valuable knowledge for my future as well as brought an impactful connection to the world around us. I truly loved the program.
