Transcending Cultures: A Digital Youth Exchange

Texas Partners of the Americas (TPOA) in partnership with the U.S. State Department is excited to announce a new initiative, “Transcending Cultures: A Digital Youth Exchange Program.” This digital youth exchange program is a virtual experience designed to connect middle and high school students from the U.S. with peer students from Viña Vieja, Peru.  TPOA is hosting this exchange to build intercultural ties between marginalized communities.

Viña Vieja is located in the township of El Carmen in the state of Chincha which has a  strong Afro-LatinX heritage. In this program we’re seeking to amplify and unite Black voices from across the diaspora in the United States with those in Peru. Program participants will communicate via various virtual platforms, such as Zoom, Google Hangout, Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media for the purpose of learning about each other’s culture. 

Program Eligibility 

  • You must be between the ages of 12-18 years old
  • You must be interested in connecting with students from Peru, learning about Peruvian culture and sharing your own culture 
  • You must be willing to meet on a bi-weekly basis with a peer student from Peru
  • Oral and written fluency in English is required (Spanish language fluency is not a requirement) 

How to Apply

The call for U.S. based applicants is now open. Students interested in participating in “Transcending Cultures: A Digital Youth Exchange Program” should complete the participation form linked in the button below.   The deadline for enrollment is January 22, 2022.  

Selected participants will be informed by January 28, 2022.  The digital exchange will take place between February 1 – April 30, 2022.