CIEE Launches New Internship and High School Programs to Strengthen Ties Between the United States and the Baltic States

US-Baltic Bridge Internship and US-Baltic High School Innovation Academy to continue 15-year legacy of building bridges between America and the Baltic States

CIEE today announced new U.S.-Baltic exchange programs that will expand opportunities for young Americans and students from the Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania -  to develop critical career skills, international networks, and life-time connections in one another’s countries.

The US-Baltic Bridge Internship and US-Baltic High School Innovation Academy expand CIEE’s longstanding work in the region, which has produced more than 1,100 alumni through 15 years of internship program management, 10 years of high school leadership programming, and the establishment of a CIEE Center in Tallinn, Estonia. The Baltic region offers unique opportunities to deepen bonds with the United States. After five decades of Soviet occupation, the Baltic nations regained independence in 1990–1991 and launched a revolution in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

US-Baltic Bridge Internship

Beginning in 2027, CIEE will provide university-aged participants with professional and cultural experiences on both sides of the Atlantic. American Interns will complete internships in Tallinn, Estonia, while Baltic Interns will gain professional experience through internships in the United States. CIEE will provide financial support to help participants access these international experiences.

US-Baltic High School Innovation Academy

In summer 2027, the US-Baltic High School Innovation Academy will bring together American and Baltic high school students through simultaneous three-week programs in Boston and Tallinn, with all program costs fully covered for participants. Students will explore entrepreneurship and leadership through hands-on learning and collaboration while building connections and understanding across cultures.

“CIEE has always believed that peace begins when people cross borders, experience another culture, and learn to see the world through someone else’s eyes,” said James P. Pellow, Ed.D., President and CEO of CIEE. “By investing in the next generation of American and Baltic leaders, we are building bridges of mutual understanding that can strengthen communities and relationships for decades to come.”

Recruitment begins in fall 2026.