INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES

Bringing the World to Cleveland

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EXCHANGES

Our international exchanges convene students and emerging leaders from around the world and facilitate global conversations with Clevelanders about how to improve our communities through action, innovation and collaboration.

The Cleveland Council on World Affairs is a nationally recognized leader in creating meaningful international exchange experiences complete with engaging professional meetings, home hosting experiences, and memorable cultural activities. We welcome over 400 international visitors from around the world to Cleveland each year through various U.S. Department of State and custom exchange opportunities.

Hosting Opportunities

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Join us as a CCWA Citizen Diplomat to help welcome our exchange participants to Cleveland! CCWA’s Citizen Diplomat volunteers open up their homes to host a meal, welcome overnight visitors, or share their professional insights.

Dinner Hosting: Professional Fellows Program

CCWA is looking for internationally minded individuals and families to host international exchange fellows for dinner on May, May 18. The fellows are from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, and will be in Cleveland…

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Jóvenes en Acción: Mexico Youth Exchange Program

This summer CCWA is hosting a cohort of high school students from Mexico on a program called Jóvenes en Acción.  Each weekday the students are engaged in workshops and programming on leadership and social entrepreneurship….

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Updates & Information

HOSTING OPPORTUNITIES

Check for updates as we post additional opportunities throughout the year.

Volunteer as a home hospitality dinner host! For more information, please email Andrew Kovach at akovach@ccwa.org or Maria Garcia-Olalla at mgarciaolalla@ccwa.org


Hosting has been the most rewarding adventure we’ve had as a family. The people we’ve met have become like family, and each one of them has opened up our understanding of the world a little bit more. It’s an easy investment of time that yields profound rewards.

Marissa Siebert

CITIZEN DIPLOMAT

Become a Host Today

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Welcome international visitors to your home for an evening of dinner and conversation, open your home to international visitors or students for an overnight stay, or share your expertise and exchange ideas with the visitors in a professional setting. Click on the different Citizen Diplomat opportunities below to find the right way for you to engage with our exchange programs:

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Cleveland is bursting with energy. I found the people of Cleveland very grounded and realistic. There is a strong sense that political and civil participation matters ... and their community leaders (many of them young) are engaged in constant dialogue and activism. The community also prides itself on some very invigorating political mentors, who are making a difference.

CLAUDETTE BUTTIGIEG, PARLIAMENTARIAN FROM MALTA

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE PARTICIPANT


Citizen Diplomacy Stories

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Engaging in Citizen Diplomacy is a powerful experience for the visitors and the local Citizen Diplomats alike. Read below about the power of Citizen Diplomacy and get inspired for your own life changing experience as a CCWA Citizen Diplomat!


Working with the CCWA exchange participants was such an amazing experience! It is imperative for changes to be made in our world, and the only way to do that is to start a dialogue, answer difficult questions, and share in the progress that is being made! CCWA promotes these universal changes by fostering innovative thinking through introspective topics and teamwork.

Heather K. Pederson, Dean of Students

EDWIN'S LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE & RESTAURANT

INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES | WELCOMING THE WORLD TO CLEVELAND

Last year, we welcomed visitors from 121 countries:

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Contribute to Global Connections

SUPPORT THE CLEVELAND COUNCIL ON WORLD AFFAIRS

For a century, the CCWA has brought diverse perspectives on issues of international import to Cleveland. Much of our programming is made possible by the the support of our members and the generosity of our donors. Will you help us continue to create global connections?

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