About us
Nature of the Programme
Global Xchange works with teams of up to 18 young people (aged 18-25), with equal numbers coming from the UK and from an overseas partner country. The participants are recruited, and the teams are formed, to reflect diversity in terms of geography, ethnicity, ability, education and gender.
Volunteers live with host families and work in host communities for 3 months in the UK and 3 months in the overseas country. They live and work in cross-cultural counterpart pairs, one from the UK, and one from the exchange country. Global Xchange is designed as a fully reciprocal volunteer programme, involving cross-cultural partnerships in every aspect of our work.
For participants of Global Xchange knowledge, learning and experience is derived from direct personal engagement and developed through structured reflection. The programme impacts most directly on the young people who volunteer, but its power extends to the families who host them, the community projects with which they work and the wider communities in which they live. For all of these participants in the programme, Global Xchange demonstrates the potential and promotes the values of active global citizenship.
Components of the Programme
The Global Xchange programme is structured around seven 'core components' that are the same for the UK and the overseas phase of the programme. They are:
- Counterpart Pairs
- Host Communities
- Host Homes
- Volunteer Placements
- Global Citizenship Days
- Community Action Days
- Exchange Themes
Programme Support
The team of volunteers is supported by 2 programme supervisors who are with them throughout the programme. One is recruited from the UK and one is recruited from the exchange country. Their role is to manage the logistics of the exchange, and find suitable volunteer placements and host homes. They also promote individual learning and personal development, as well as facilitating peer support and learning.