Applications are invited for the Digital Virtual Exchange Program 2021 (DEP) is a free, fully online study abroad experience. The first-ever youth-led, digital learning experience that uses design thinking, community journalism, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals to strengthen language learning and cross-cultural collaboration. Students are matched with a peer from a different country (called a DEP pair), and over the 12-week program, participate in weekly video calls and activities to simulate the authentic study abroad experience.
DEP pairs are grouped into DEP families and matched with a college facilitator—mentors who help the group dig deeper, build community, and make sense of what they’re learning! After the program, students will have increased cross-cultural understanding and have the tools they need to learn from and work with people who are different from them (culturally, geographically, ideologically, etc.) to tackle global issues.
DEP graduates can apply for Project Exchange’s Impact Incubator fellowship, where they will receive 1:1 mentorship, skill-building workshops, and mini-grants to implement a community action project to promote intercultural understanding and global collaboration for the SDGs. Students can even come back as DEP Country Representatives, DEP language guide, DEP facilitators, or join Project Exchange’s Executive Leadership team!
Exchange Program Detail:
- Organizer: Project Exchange
- Opportunity Type: Fully Funded (Free Online)
- Last Date: 01 January 2021
- Eligible Region: Open for All Countries
Duration: January 11 to April 5 (3 months; 12 weeks). Students should be able to commit 2-5 hours/week throughout the program.
Location: The program is hosted using a combination of Slack (asynchronous communication), Zoom (synchronous), and Google Suite tools.
Eligibility: Students who will be 12-18 years old by January 11th, 2021.
Exchange Program Benefits:
A free, 12-week online cultural exchange program designed to equip students with knowledge, skills, attitudes, and resources to design community-action projects that promote intercultural understanding and global collaboration. Students will be matched with a peer from a different country (their DEP partner) and participate in weekly activities with their DEP partner, online exchange “family,” language learning workshops, cross-cultural community building, and much more.
Exchange Program Theme:
3 main themes will be covered over 12 weeks.
Week 1-4: Community Journalism
Learn how to listen to, question, and tell the stories of your local community. Learn something new about your identity!
Week 5-8: UN SDGs
Connect the local issues you’ve observed through community journalism to your DEP partner’s observation and the greater global narrative.
Week 9-12: Design Thinking
Turn your cross-cultural understanding into action! Design a community-based initiative to promote cultural understanding and global collaboration for SDG’s.
Deadline:
The last date to apply for Digital Virtual Exchange Program 2021 is January 01, 2021.
How to Apply:
Please visit the link given below to apply for Digital Exchange Program 2021. It is in the interest of the applicants to study in detail and thoroughly observe the guidelines given on the official website before and while applying.
Middle & high school students can apply for the Digital Exchange Program.
Click Here for Online Application
Click Here for Official Website
- Become a DEP facilitator:
Learn more and apply here. The deadline is December 18, 2020 at 11:59 PM UTC.
- Become a DEP Language Guide:
High school seniors & college students! Learn more and apply here by December 25, 2020, at 11:59 PM UTC.
- Nominate a student for the DEP:
Anyone! Can you think of a student who would be a great fit for the DEP? Nominate them here!
