Last week, Community College Initiative (CCI) Program international exchange participants joined events at their host community colleges to celebrate International Education Week (IEW) 2018. International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education and is an opportunity to celebrate the […]
read moreSpreading the Value of Volunteerism
When Community College Initiative (CCI) participants fulfill their internship requirements, they often learn as much from their colleagues as they do from their hands-on work experience. For CCI alumnus Rajesh Shanmugan, a fellow intern’s selflessness opened his eyes to the power of serving one’s community, and Rajesh is now spreading […]
read moreThe 11th Year: Where Are They Now?
The CCI 2017-18 cohort departed only a few months ago in May 2018 but that hasn’t stopped these eager alumni from continuing to thrive and challenge themselves. Here are just a few examples of what the CCI Program’s newest alumni have already accomplished. Lorenzo Gomez (Colombia, Northampton Community College) After […]
read moreIntroducing the 2018-19 CCI Program Participants
Throughout July and August, the Community College Initiative (CCI) Program welcomed 146 participants from 12 countries to the United States to participate in the program’s 12th year of exchanges. This year, participants come from Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, South Africa, and Turkey. […]
read moreThe 2017-2018 Year in Review
2017-2018 Program Year Highlights In July 2017, the CCI Program welcomed 154 participants from 11 countries to the United States. During the 2017-18 program year, participants came from Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, South Africa, and Turkey. Throughout the year, they demonstrated their commitment […]
read moreHundreds of Alumni Continue to Learn and Grow Through CCI Alumni Certificate Programs
At the end of their 10 months in the United States, Community College Initiative (CCI) Program participants receive a certificate of completion to recognize their success in academics, volunteering, internships, and cross-cultural exchange. As they return home, however, participants know that their personal and professional growth is far from over. […]
read moreInspiring Future Engineers in Indonesia
One morning last November, Community College Initiative (CCI) alumna Bunga Yuniasari stood before a classroom of expectant school children, sporting a white hard hat and other safety apparel. Her neon reflective vest contrasted with the slate gray chalkboard behind her, and the pupils peered curiously at the red straps and […]
read morePast Meets Future at Photojournalist Visit
Sevilay Kelek, a 2017-2018 CCI participant from Turkey who studied media at Scottsdale Community College, wrote the following reflection. In it she shares her aspirations as a photojournalist, and explains how her CCI exchange year supported her experiences and future goals of becoming a female journalist. Many people have a […]
read moreCCI Alumna Strives to Improve Health Care Amid Humanitarian Crises in Cameroon
For Community College Initiative (CCI) Program alumna Mbanwei Prodencia Tifuh, the year she spent in the United States was just one step on a much longer journey to improve public health in her home country of Cameroon. Prodencia studied Applied Health at Northern Virginia Community College in 2011-12. A highlight […]
read moreCCI Alumni: Making a Difference in their Home Communities, Part III
This summer, the Community College Initiative (CCI) Program will release a series of videos that showcases the impact of CCI alumni projects and contributions in their home communities. Over the past several months, a small team of filmmakers from StoryCenter have been making their way around the world to film […]
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