Opinion Articles
Opinion pieces by Alliance staff.Au Pairs are Essential During Pandemic and Beyond
As published in Medium on September 14, 2020. Families are managing challenges with their children going back to school in a world that certainly looks different than it did last September. Many school districts have returned to classes virtually and parents continue...
We Can’t Afford to Weaken J-1 Cultural Exchange Programs
As published in Medium on August 5, 2020. As Congress debates another round of coronavirus relief legislation, American businesses and families continue to struggle while the coronavirus pandemic maintains its tireless chokehold on the economy. The Administration has...
Response to Inaccurate Article Regarding Au Pair Cultural Exchange Program
The HuffPost recently published, “Au Pairs Come To The U.S. Seeking Cultural Exchange, But The State Department Often Fails To Protect Them.” Unfortunately, this article does not accurately depict the au pair cultural exchange program satisfaction rates by...
IEW 2019 Spotlight: Gabrielle Cascio, Program Fellow, Alliance for International Exchange
Program Fellow Gabrielle Cascio shares her experience as an international educator in Romania, as part of the celebration of International Education Week.How did you decide to go abroad initially?Ever since I can remember, I have known that I wanted to...
Opinion/Commentary: International connections, lasting local impact
As published in the Daily Progress on September 15, 2019. At age 7, I attended summer camp for the first time. I don’t remember much else, but I vividly remember the camp counselors. They seemed impressively mature and exceedingly cool. To add to their impact, my...
International Camp Counselor Program Creates Connections, Supports American Economy
As the summer comes to a close, international camp counselors, who shape the experience of so many American campers, will be crossing over land and sea to return to their homes abroad. Not only does their experience infuse American camps with diverse cultures from...
Letter to the Editor: Baltimore Sun “U.S. summer work visa exploits foreigners”
Dear Editor: Rachel Micah-Jones’ opinion article, “U.S. summer work visa exploits foreigners,” (August 6) neglects to mention the strong evidence that the Summer Work Travel program (SWT) is both protecting participants and serving our national security interests....
Letter to the Editor: Guardian “Foreign Students Hired for Summer Jobs…”
Dear Editor: Legrain’s article, “Foreign students hired for summer jobs … ” (July 30) unfortunately disparages the U.S.’ Summer Work Travel (SWT) exchange program without an opportunity for supporters of the program to comment. The article’s focus is a poorly sourced...
Exchange programs are a two-way street when it comes to commerce and industry.
As published on the American Foreign Service Association's website in January 2019. By Marie Royce Economic diplomacy works because of people. And the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is in the people business. We are making the...
Ilir Zherka
As published on the StudyTravel Magazine of EnglishUSA on December 5, 2018. This week, we interview Ilir Zherka of the Alliance for International Exchange about the group's activities, useful resources for agents, and how it marked its 25th anniversary. Firstly, can...