Office of Citizen Exchanges

CE cultural programs showcase American excellence and innovation by facilitating global exchanges with creative professionals and industry leaders. Our initiatives foster economic growth, build networks, and enhance U.S. influence around the world.

Global Leaders exchanges bring together professionals and community leaders both in the United States and abroad to build professional networks, share expertise, develop global leaders, and promote resilient information ecosystems and U.S. technological leadership. Participants come from a variety of professional backgrounds including civil society, local government, education, journalism and law.

These exchanges provide opportunities for U.S. businesses, organizations, and educational institutions to build lasting partnerships with emerging leaders from around the world.

The Sports Diplomacy (SD) Division supports ECA’s leadership role as the Coordinator for International Athletics and leads efforts across the Department to utilize sports as an effective tool of foreign policy, including implementing four sports-based exchange programs.

The Decade of Sport in America, which is highlighted by the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics and Paralympics in Los Angeles – and ends with the 2034 Salt Lake City Winter Games – will attract millions of live spectators from around the world, as well as capture the attention of billions of viewers across platforms, thereby providing the Department an unprecedented opportunity to champion American values in lasting and meaningful ways.

The Youth Programs Division is committed to empowering the next generation and establishing long-lasting ties between the United States and other countries through study abroad exchange programs. Programs focus primarily on secondary school students and promote mutual understanding, leadership development, language skills, and democratic ideals.

In partnership with organizations across the United States, international youth exchange students are placed throughout all 50 states and DC, providing the broadest possible reach at the local level through more than 1,600 host families and 1,200 schools and communities that support them.