Help 2000 students from US & Japan connect online!

In February we successfully wrapped up the 2023-24 Global Classmates program, connecting 2,190 students from 79 high schools across the US and Japan. 

Program Results

At Kizuna Across Cultures we strive to provide consistent, quality virtual exchange programming and we have continued our strong performance record with 95% of students indicating that they were satisfied with the program! Additionally, students shared that they had grown in a number of ways as a result of the Global Classmates program, including:

• 96% Became more open and curious about learning from and about people of different cultures.
• 96% Increased their awareness of diverse perspectives and experiences.
• 94% Enhanced their desire to collaborate with people from other cultures in the future.

In addition to the students, 96% of the teachers were satisfied with the program and many are looking forward to joining us for the next academic year. After participating in the Global Classmates program:

• 97% of teachers said that their students’ level of understanding of their partner classmates’ culture increased
• 99% of teachers agreed that their students' desire to explore other cultures increased as a result of participating in the Global Classmates program.
• 96% of teachers believe that their students' Intercultural Competence has improved through their participation in the program.

Discussions on Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging (DEIB)

This year, we offered schools the opportunity to incorporate the theme of "Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging (DEIB)" into their exchanges, providing every student with an opportunity to engage with this critical global issue. Here are some comments from students about this new topic. 

US Students’ Comments:

• It was a good experience for me to learn about the social struggles others have faced, especially in another country and helped me be more open minded of the struggles others go through. However, it was also somewhat of a reassuring experience because it helped me realize no matter what country someone is from, we can still share similar experiences and struggles. It makes others feel less alone in knowing that you aren't the only one who goes through tough times. It shows no matter where we come from, we are not so different after all. 
• The social issue topic was interesting and introduced me to new insight into people's backgrounds and such. It led me to sort of think of my own becoming and how it led me to be who I am today, and I found I wanted to express that to people.

Japanese Students’ Comments: 

• My pair discussed Diversity and Inclusion. Through this project, I was able to learn a few things. First, I learned that diversity is not just about differences in people's appearances or cultural background but also includes ways of thinking and experiences.  I realized that the key to more abundant solutions and innovations can come from each individual’s point of views and values. Also, I learned that inclusion is not only about accepting diversity but also making a safe environment. For organizations and society  to grow, I realized that creating a place for everyone to state their opinions and participate without fear is necessary. The most memorable moment was the change in my recognition and awareness by deepening my understanding of other people’s perspectives and experiences. I felt that by listening to other people’s stories and experiences, I was able to gain new perspectives and it had led me to grow and understand rapidly. As for my new ideas and perspectives, I think that it is important to not only accept other people’s perspectives but also think of ways in which we can make the best of these differences. In order to draw out the full potential of diversity, I thought it necessary to accept it as a positive and engage with it proactively. 
• In society, even though there are movements to respect individuality and diversity, there are people who say inconsiderate things. If I had seen this situation, I would not have known how to react but through this exchange, I was able to think “In this situation, I would do this!” It was an eye-opening experience and we had a good discussion during the project.

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