International Exchanges/St. Joseph County

Welcoming Michiana partners with a number of national organizations to provide valuable visitor exchanges between local residents and visitors from abroad. Welcoming Michiana facilitates international exchanges that bring people from around the world to experience life and learn new skills in Michiana.

We match delegates with local organizations and individuals to exchange ideas and learn from each other.

OPEN WORLD EXCHANGES

Funded by US Congress, Open World develops weeklong exchange programs between former Soviet countries and the US. The program is administered by FHI 360. Through 2020, Welcoming Michiana has hosted five delegations:

• Human Rights Activists from Kyrgyzstan (February, 2023)

• Nonprofit/NGOs in Romania Working with Displaced Ukrainians (Nov 2022)

• Interfaith Exchange and Women in Religious Leadership from Azerbaijan (March, 2020)

• Human Rights and Labor Leaders from Ukraine (September, 2019)

• Interfaith Exchange from the Republic of Georgia (October, 2018)

Young Leaders of the Americas

IREX is an NGO in Washington that is primarily funded by the US Department of State, provides expanded exchange opportunities between young adults in the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI). Originally slated for the summer of 2020 for an in-person, four week immersion, the project moved to be an online program. 12 young entrepreneurs from countries that include Chile, Colombia, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, and Venezuela participated in virtual placements with businesses in Indiana and the Midwest, from mid January through April, 2021.