CIEE Community Impact Initiative
Inspiring Community Engagement
At CIEE, we believe in contributing to long-term, sustainable projects in the local communities where we host our students. Community engagement opportunities enhance the academic and cultural experience for our students, while allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the local culture.
Through CIEE’s Community Impact Initiative, students can take part in projects that give them the opportunity to work alongside a variety of organizations, learning about their needs and engaging with locals.
Students have the opportunity to:
- Contribute to the needs of a local organization
- Gain practical experience that complements their academics
- Develop deeper connections to their host community
- Make an impact
Students return to campus as globally aware and equipped with practical skills, cross-cultural understanding, and a service mindset that enriches their studies and personal growth.
CIEE Community Impact Initiatives
Sample Food Insecurity Initiatives
- Prepare meals for those in need at a local soup kitchen, such as at Comedor Zarigüeyas in Mérida, Mexico
- Help out on a sustainable farm
- Redistribute leftover food from restaurants to shelters like in Singapore through Sharing Passion
Sample Community Health Initiatives
- Co-design public health education campaigns through CIEE programs in Botswana, Buenos Aires and Santiago, Dominican Republic
- Support mental health programs in schools or community centers
- Assist healthcare organizations with outreach or administration
Sample Youth Development Initiatives
- Deliver supplies to families in need
- Volunteer in childcare or tutoring centers
- Support community events focused on youth engagement, especially through our Community Development program in Cape Town
Community Impact Week
Every spring and fall semester, all CIEE Centers will host a week-long celebration highlighting the impact students make abroad.
During Community Impact week, students will:
- Share what they’ve learned about community needs and key takeaways
- Celebrate the connections they’ve made with local organizations and the community
- Showcase their stories of community impact across the whole CIEE network
CIEE Community Impact Global Poster Competition
Each year, CIEE hosts the Community Impact Global Poster Competition – a chance for students to highlight their projects and represent their region at the next annual CIEE Study Abroad Conference.
One finalist from each region will:
- Travel to the conference’s host city (round-trip airfare and lodging covered)
- Present their project on an international stage
- Compete for awards
- Earn a CIEE donation for their community organization – helping their impact continue long after they’ve returned home
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