The Stevens Initiative helps institutions in the United States and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) connect with each other to expand virtual exchange programs. The programs listed here are interested in having new partners (educators along with schools, districts, postsecondary institutions, and nonprofit organizations) join their programs. Read the descriptions of their programs and what they are seeking, then fill out the form at the bottom of the page to indicate which program or programs you are interested in joining.
The Stevens Initiative will review each submission to determine whether there is an appropriate program for all individuals or institutions. Please note that the Initiative may not be able to identify a suitable program for all individuals or institutions.
Amideast – Qisasna
Amideast’s Qisasna facilitates cross-cultural exchange between young people in the United States and Yemen by providing them with the skills they need to produce podcasts on shared challenges and opportunities between youth. Learn more.
- Participant Age Group: High School/Grades 9-12 (Yemen), Undergraduate (Yemen and U.S.), Young adult (Yemen: Gap year students in particular)
- Partners: Faculty and administrators at higher education institutions, as well as program managers at organizations that engage with youth and young adults.
- Locations: United States, Yemen
- Time Frame: At least three hours/week over 12 weeks; February-May, September-December
iEARN-USA – Storytelling for Social Change
iEARN-USA’s Storytelling for Social Change builds global leaders by engaging Algerian, Tunisian, and American youth in global collaboration to tell stories about real world issues in their local communities. Learn more.
- Participant Age Group: High School/Grades 9-12
- Partners: Educators who work with high school-aged youth in schools or out-of-school programs.
- Locations: Algeria, Tunisia, United States (States located in U.S. Eastern Time and Central Time only)
- Time Frame: At least two hours/week over seven weeks; September-November, March-May
Institute of International Education – Harnessing Innovation through Virtual Exchange for Enhanced Results (HIVER)
IIE’s HIVER develops intercultural communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills among a diverse group of students at participating universities in the United States and Middle East and North Africa. Learn more.
- Participant Age Group: Undergraduate, Graduate
- Partners: Faculty at higher education institutions from any disciplines.
- Locations: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, United States
- Time Frame: Three-four hours/week over 12 weeks; fall 2023, spring 2024, fall 2024, spring 2025
IREX – Global Solutions
IREX’s Global Solutions places college students from the United States with peers in Iraq or Jordan in binational teams to collaborate on innovative solutions related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals through virtual exchange. Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge is an eight-week virtual business competition where participants develop and pitch an innovative business concept that addresses a UN SDG while building essential workforce and global citizenship skills. Global Solutions Conversations connects young people over six weeks for live discussions about their culture and global issues, which culminates in a joint session engaging all participants to celebrate their innovative ideas and share lessons learned. Learn more.
- Participant Age Group: Undergraduate, Graduate
- Partners: Faculty and administrators at higher education institutions from any disciplines.
- Locations: Iraq, Jordan, United States
- Time Frame: At least three hours/week over eight weeks; October-December, February- April (Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge), at least one and a half hours/week over six weeks; October-November, March-April (Global Solutions Conversations)
PATHWAYS Institute for Negotiation Education – Game Changers: Creative Negotiation Skills
PATHWAYS Institute for Negotiation Education’s Game Changers: Creative Negotiation Skills builds confidence and skills for creative negotiation, problem-solving, and leadership among university students coming together from Israel and the United States. Learn more.
- Participant Age Group: Undergraduate
- Partners: Faculty and administrators at higher education institutions, particularly from education, social sciences, and humanities.
- Locations: Israel, United States
- Time Frame: Two and a half hours a week, in two weekly sessions, over six to seven weeks. October-December; February-April
Plugged in Band Program – Peace Tracks
Plugged In Band Program’s Peace Tracks is a cross-cultural, music-focused online youth exchange that provides high school students with an unforgettable opportunity to connect with peers in other countries to get to know them, learn about their cultures, and collaborate over the course of a semester on an original song. Learn more.
- Participant Age Group: High School/Grades 9-12
- Partners: Educators who work with high-school students in schools; community-based organizations with instructors who work with high-school students in after- or out-of-school programs during weekday; or community-based organization specializing in virtual exchange.
- Locations: Jordan, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, United States
- Time Frame: Two hours/week over 14 weeks; February-April, September-January
Soliya – Connect Global
Soliya’s Connect Program, in partnership with colleges and universities in the United States and in the Middle East and North Africa, brings together students for four-to-eight weeks to discuss potentially divisive current global events and issues in the presence of facilitators trained in dialogue and conflict resolution. Learn more.
- Participant Age Group: Undergraduate, Graduate, Young adult
- Partners: Faculty and administrators at higher education institutions; and program managers at organizations that engage with youth and young adults for education. Learn about Soliya’s partners in the United States and Middle East and North Africa here.
- Locations: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, United States
- Time Frame: Four-, five-, and eight-week program options, with two hours face time allocated over each week; March-May, October-December.
Soliya – Global Circles
Soliya’s Global Circles bring together young adults and professionals for two-week discussions by facilitators trained in dialogue and conflict resolution, with a particular focus on the impact of globalized technologies on society, and is open to direct enrollment. Learn more.
- Participant Age Group: Undergraduate, Graduate, Young Adult
- Partners: Faculty and administrators at higher education institutions, as well as program managers at organizations that engage with youth and young professionals. Individuals also qualify to participate through open enrollment.
- Locations: Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestinian Territories, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, United States, Yemen
- Time Frame: Two and a half-hour live exchanges/week over two weeks; February, March, April, June, September, October, November