German-US-American Youth Exchanges – USA-Special 2022
Intercultural exchange and new perspectives for young people and host families In conversation with Bettina Wiedmann and Rüdiger Muermann from the non- profit exchange organizations Experiment and Partnership International
IJAB: Why are you so passionate about international student exchanges?
Over the years, these ex- periences triggered an in- terest in foreign cultures and political exchange. I have loved working with the non-profit Partnership International since 2005 and helping to promote peace and dialogue. There is nothing quite like attending school abroad or living with a host fami-
Rüdiger Muermann: I did a six-week reciprocal exchange in Johannesburg, South Africa, through Rotary Jugend- dienst Deutschland e. V. just as apartheid was coming to an end and the first democratic elections were happening in 1994. Even though this format was short compared to the one-year academic exchanges, it was really formative for me. Since then, various other exchanges and periods abroad have defined my life. I did language-learning stays in England, France, and Spain, was a host brother or class- mate to guests from South America, and then I ended up studying in Melbourne, Australia for a year, so I had some interesting experiences.
ly you initially know nothing about. My colleagues and I are always fascinated to see how young people flourish during and after an exchange. The AJA member organi- →
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