German-US-American Youth Exchanges - USA Special 2022

Student Exchange

Countries 2011 – 2020

14.000

12.000

10.000

8.000

6.000

4.000

2.000

0

Hosting

Sending

Participant numbers of outbound (sending) and inbound (hosting) in the period 2010 - 2020 per country, Source: AJA

of the transatlantic exchange year with this full scholar- ship for around 300 young people from the US and Ger- many, who represent their country as Junior Ambassa- dors . The program also supports young professionals. Five of the AJA organizations have been carrying out the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program on behalf of the German Bundestag for many years. On the US side, AJA organizations work with partner organizations from their own network or with external partners, depending on the structure of their organiza- tion. They are responsible, among other things, for plac- ing guest students from Germany with host families and providing on-site support. The importance of this robust international network was demonstrated not least during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Given current global challenges such as the climate crisis and anti-democratic tendencies in numerous countries, it is becoming clear that the founding principle of the AJA organizations has lost none of its relevance. Long-term, individual student exchanges with the US continue to be an important element of international youth work.

Anna Wasielewski is a member of the management team of AJA (Arbeitskreis gemeinnütziger Jugendaustausch).

Web: aja-org.de

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