CIEE Community Impact Initiative
Building bridges through the power of community
Our Commitment
CIEE’s founding purpose is to advance peace by building bridges of mutual understanding across national and cultural divides. We believe that cross-cultural understanding is forged through meaningful human connection.
CIEE Community Impact Initiative is a coordinated effort to embed community service within all CIEE programs. Through intentional collaboration with local service organizations, CIEE participants give back to their global neighbors and:
- Build authentic relationships with members of their host community,
- Better understand local perspectives and challenges, and
- Gain hands-on experience that equips and inspires them to continue community service after they return home.
CIEE Community Impact Initiatives
College Study Abroad
College Study Abroad, where students at every CIEE location around the world work alongside local partners to benefit their communities and participate in our Community Impact Orientation, Community Impact Week, and the CIEE Community Impact Global Student Poster Competition.
High School Study Abroad
High School Study Abroad, where students enroll in our service-focused summer study abroad programs in 12 global locations, including the Good Neighbor Kitchen and Good Neighbor Play Lab programs, and our Leadership & Service programs.
BridgeUSA
BridgeUSA, where participants engage in service through the Young Civic Leadership Summit, One World Café, and High School Community Engagement activities; our partners join us in serving communities across via our International Exchange Conference, Host Family Summit, and BridgeUSA Celebration Tour.
CIEE Community Impact Live
Follow CIEE on social media to see how we harness the power of community service to build enduring personal connections that strengthen global understanding and advance peace.
CIEE Community Impact Blogs
Good Neighbor Programs Bring CIEE’s Mission to Life in Mérida
As part of the CIEE Community Impact Initiative, CIEE launched two new High School Summer Study Abroad programs: Good Neighbor Kitchen and Good Neighbor PlayLab. These ten-day study abroad experiences... keep reading
Highlights of the Young Civic Leadership Summit
Last week in Wisconsin Dells, CIEE hosted the Young Civic Leadership Summit, bringing together 50 extraordinary young changemakers hailing from 26 countries who have spent the summer supporting the staffing... keep reading
CIEE Launches BridgeUSA Community Engagement Scholarship for Students from Latin America
CIEE to establish a cultural exchange program that builds bridges of mutual understanding and peace between the people of the United States and Latin America CIEE today announced a new... keep reading