Alumni Gathering: South Korea

Alumni Gathering: South Korea

We Korean Global UGRADs had a Skype meeting. Actually, we tried to meet each other face-to-face, but everyone was too busy to find available time. So we finally made it on Skype. This meeting was for Global UGRAD 2016-17 and 2017-18 participants from Korea. Two members, Inho and Seongeun, from 2017-18 cohort joined the meeting, and four members, Chessy, Yunyi, …

Becoming an American Educational Ambassador in Ukraine

Becoming an American Educational Ambassador in Ukraine

Sitting on the beach by the light blue sea watching the sunset, I suddenly realize that this beautiful view does not inspire me as much as my Global UGRAD experience. As a Global UGRAD alumna, I can say that those ten months of volunteering, traveling, and exploring a new system of education were tremendously important for my personal growth. While …

Hello from Bowling Green, Kentucky!

Hello from Bowling Green, Kentucky!

My name is Blessing Phiri, and I’m a Mechatronics major from Zimbabwe. Coming into the U.S. has really been a dream come true, and I am seizing every opportunity to learn new things about American culture. Besides enhancing my leadership skills and learning about American culture, I really looked forward to learning about emerging technologies and how we can use …

Alumni Update: Cambodia

Alumni Update: Cambodia

I am very humbled and grateful to say that my life is not the only one that has changed after the Global UGRAD Program. Since June 2015 when I returned to my home country, Cambodia, I began to understand my purpose and my capability to make a substantial impact in my home community as a media practitioner. My academic experiences, …

Alumni Summit: Algeria

Alumni Summit: Algeria

Last month, the U.S. Embassy in Algiers hosted the DZ Alumni Summit. This one-day event provided exchange alumni from across Algeria with the opportunity to participate in various presentations, workshops, and leadership skills trainings. The Summit also provided participants the opportunity to network with each other and to brainstorm service initiatives for the future. Below, you can read the reflections of …

Alumni Reflections: Advocating for Inclusion

Alumni Reflections: Advocating for Inclusion

I am an alumnus of the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program where I attended the University of Southern Indiana in 2010. The Global UGRAD Program brought me out of my comfort zone. As a disabled person with limited independent living skills, I had to force myself to become self-reliant during the program. For instance, my first trip on my own, without …

Alumni Update: Sarah Najem, Jordan

Alumni Update: Sarah Najem, Jordan

Earlier this summer, I had the privilege to attend the International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS) in Singapore as part of the delegation representing the Ministry of Youth of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. It was a thrilling, enlightening, and a very rewarding experience where I got to gain a tremendous amount of knowledge on interfaith dialogue and social cohesion. …

Celebrating Inclusion on Campus

Celebrating Inclusion on Campus

As we prepare to celebrate Pride Week in June, World Learning is sharing students’ experiences throughout the semester observing inclusion on campus. World Learning’s Global UGRAD OPAL course module “Beyond Tolerance: Inclusion and Diversity Practices,” encourages students to attend an event or club meeting that serves as a space for minority students. Below are some welcoming spaces students discovered! Ali …

Alumni Update: Rosely Meredith, Guatemala

Alumni Update: Rosely Meredith, Guatemala

My name is Rosely Maurín Arana Meredith and I was a Global UGRAD participant in 2013. I had the amazing opportunity to study at Murray State University in Kentucky. Since that time, I feel part of a wonderful group of people whose values and desires have always been to help others in different areas with the tools learned through the …