Ein Mädchen in Jeans steht vor einem us-amerikanischen Schulbus. Ein Mädchen in Jeans steht vor einem us-amerikanischen Schulbus.
USA-Special 2022

“School exchanges with the US have a long tradition”

Student exchange

Long-term youth and student exchanges with the United States go back a long way at Arbeitskreis gemeinnütziger Jugendaustausch AJA (aja-org.de), the umbrella organization of non-profit youth exchange organizations, and its members. Driven by the idea that exchanges with the former enemy serve reconciliation and peaceful coexistence in a democratic society, the first transatlantic exchanges, most of them organized on a voluntary basis, took place over 80 years ago.

25.02.2022 / Anna Wasielewski

The former pioneers of non-profit student exchange programs have developed into globally networked organizations over the years. Today, AJA-organizations enable around 4,000 German high school students to take part in a long-term exchange (a full academic year or semester) in over 50 countries around the world.

Exchanges are not a one-way street. Around 2,000 students from around the globe also come to Germany through AJA organizations every year, enabling host families to enjoy intercultural experiences without spending time abroad themselves. The offices of the AJA organizations are supported by a network of around 10,000 volunteers.

AJA programs are designed as non-formal intercultural learning programs that teach the young participants numerous personal and intercultural skills. This is supported by intensive preparation and follow-up as well as pedagogical supervision during the exchange. The AJA organizations and their exchange programs have been making an important contribution towards international understanding and strengthening civil society as well as peace and democracy education for many years.

Although the program now spans a large number of countries, exchanges with the US continue to be the most popular in the AJA organizations. The US is the top-ranking exchange country for young people in Germany. The AJA data report, which was published for the first time in June 2021, shows that participant numbers have remained consistently high for years.

Every year, around 40 percent of all AJA exchange program participants complete their exchange year or semester in the US. Since 2010, almost 14,000 students from Germany have visited the US through AJA.

Teilnehmendenzahlen der Ausreise (Sending) und Aufnahme (Hosting) im Zeitraum von 2010 – 2020 pro Land.

The unique relationship between the two countries is also reflected in the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange. Since 1983, the German Bundestag and U.S. Congress have covered the costs of the transatlantic exchange year with this full scholarship for around 300 young people from the US and Germany, who represent their country as Junior Ambassadors. 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 organization. They are responsible, among other things, for placing 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.

AJA online
aja-org.de

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

 

USA Special 2022
German-US-American Youth exchange

The authors and interview partners in the IJAB USA Special show that a transatlantic exchange is worthwhile for everyone involved, especially for young people.

USA-Special 2022

With the "USA-Special", the first IJAB publication with a German-US-American focus was published this spring, presenting and highlighting existing partnerships, successful projects and topics in transatlantic exchange.

Contact persons
Elena Neu
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International Youth Policy Cooperation
Tel.: +49 (0)228 9506-105
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Julia Weber
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Tel.: +49 (0)228 9506-165