On November 20th, 2022, CCI alumnus Moises Gomez (Colombia, Northern Virginia Community College-Annandale, Media, 2016-17) and his wife Victoria began their adventure of traveling the globe and experiencing life to the fullest. For Moises and Victoria, embarking on a gap year was a challenging decision, but their excitement to see […]
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Throughout the month of September, Community College Initiative (CCI) Program participants are honoring the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance through community service in their host communities. As a yearly tradition, CCI participants volunteer with local organizations, learn about the significance of September 11th, and build connections with […]
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Karla Nicole Barrera (Colombia, Northampton Community College, Early Childhood Education, 2022-23) knew she wanted a career in education ever since she was a child. When she was in elementary school, Karla played teacher to kids in her neighborhood, educating them about the things she learned in school and even sending […]
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During her program year, Louisa Addio (Ghana, Miami Dade College, Tourism and Hospitality, 2015-16) studied Culinary Arts and Catering. She received two certificates as a Chef’s Apprentice and Food & Beverage Specialist. Many of the classes that Louisa took provided her with the exposure, understanding, and knowledge of the culinary […]
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Community College Initiative (CCI) Program participants across the United States celebrated Exchange Day, which occurs every year on August 7th. This was the first year that the CCI Program commemorated the global holiday, which aims to raise awareness about the importance of exchange programs. This year, Exchange Day was centered […]
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During late July and early August, the Community College Initiative Program welcomed 142 participants from 16 countries to the United States. For the program’s 16th year, participants represent the countries of Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, South Africa, Tajikistan, Turkey, […]
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Luisa Tapasco (Colombia, Special Education, Northampton Community College, 2022-2023) is already working to give back to her local community since completing the CCI Program less than two months ago. She has also accomplished an impressive academic achievement; Luisa is currently a recipient of Harvard University’s Aspire Leaders Program, a fully […]
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In July 2022, the Community College Initiative (CCI) Program welcomed 157 students from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Cote D’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, South Africa, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Ukraine. Before arriving in the United States, participants took part in virtual pre-departure orientations, where they met […]
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Elfis Adu (Indonesia, Entrepreneurship, Northern Virginia Community College, 2018-2019) has been working in ocean conservation at Thrive Conservation since December 2021. As an education officer, he is entrusted with educating his local community about the importance of marine conservation. Currently, Elfis and his team at Thrive are monitoring and working […]
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Saffat Ahmed Bhuiyan (Bangladesh, Project Management, Kirkwood Community College, 2021-2022) began his career at GEIST International Foundation in 2018 as a Youth Volunteer Officer. GEIST is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing about change in communities by addressing various social constraints. In his position, he had the opportunity to organize […]
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