iEARN-USA’s Compañeros de Clase Globales Welcomes Students from Oaxaca Through New Stevens Initiative Partnership
iEARN-USA is proud to announce that Compañeros de Clase Globales, our dynamic virtual exchange program implemented with iEARN Mexico, will now include students from the State of Oaxaca, Mexico, as part of a new partnership between The Stevens Initiative at the Aspen Institute and the Ministry of Education of Oaxaca. This collaboration marks an exciting step forward in expanding access to transformative virtual exchange opportunities for young people in Mexico, the United States, and beyond.
The partnership, formalized through a Letter of Intent between the Stevens Initiative and the Ministry of Education of Oaxaca, underscores a shared commitment to fostering global leadership through virtual exchange. This initiative will enable students from Oaxaca to connect with their peers across the United States, engaging in meaningful cross-cultural collaboration and dialogue.
Expanding Virtual Exchange Opportunities
Through this partnership, 250 high school students in Oaxaca will participate in virtual exchange programs in spring 2025, including Compañeros de Clase Globales, a program that fosters language learning and mutual understanding among Spanish-speaking classrooms. The program integrates real-world projects aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), helping students explore topics such as robotics, environmental sustainability, and cultural exchange through literature.
Compañeros de Clase Globales provides an opportunity for students in Oaxaca to collaborate with peers in U.S. cities such as Bozeman, MT; Henderson, NC; Nashville, TN; Oconomowoc, WI; Santa Fe, NM; Riverside, CA; and Washington, DC. This exchange enables students to engage in global conversations, develop their language skills, and work on solutions to shared challenges.
A Commitment to Global Learning
The partnership was announced in Oaxaca in a ceremony chaired by Delfina Guzmán, Secretary of Education of the State of Oaxaca, and Christine Shiau, Executive Director of the Stevens Initiative. Both leaders emphasized the importance of international virtual exchange programs in preparing young people to become future leaders and problem solvers in an increasingly interconnected world.
“The Stevens Initiative is proud to support the expansion of opportunities for young people in Oaxaca and the United States to engage in transformative cross-cultural exchanges, preparing them to lead a more peaceful and prosperous world,” said Christine Shiau. “This partnership represents a shared commitment to building bridges of understanding and opportunity for rising generations of leaders.”
In addition to Compañeros de Clase Globales, the partnership will also support Global Nomads Group’s Building Understanding Through Language Learning, which promotes empathy and awareness through language learning by connecting people in Mexico and the United States. Students also join live conversations with their international peers where they can interact with each other, share aspects of their cultures, and practice English or Spanish with native speakers as they discuss the curriculum.
iEARN-USA’s Compañeros de Clase Globales virtual program is funded by the Stevens Initiative, which is housed at the Aspen Institute and is supported by the Bezos Family Foundation. To learn more about iEARN-USA and how to join this or other virtual exchange programs, visit https://projects.us.iearn.org/.
Looking Ahead
As iEARN-USA continues to expand its reach and impact through virtual exchange, we are honored to be part of this initiative that connects students across borders and empowers them with the tools to collaborate on global issues. This partnership is an important milestone in our mission to foster mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation among young people worldwide.
For more details on the Stevens Initiative’s partnership with the State of Oaxaca, visit the official announcement here.
