Virtual Exchange: Empowering the Next Generation of Global Leaders

Anne W
Jun 25
2 min read

Updated: Jun 26

U.S. and Yemeni students participate in a virtual exchange through MLI's Peace Through Sport (PTS) program, which is generously funded by the Aspen Institute.

In an increasingly interconnected yet divided world, virtual exchange offers a powerful tool for cultivating empathy, cross-cultural understanding, and leadership. It opens doors to parts of the world participants may never visit and creates a path for future change makers and global citizens. More than just a digital connection, virtual exchange provides a dynamic platform for youth to build relationships, explore different cultures and perspectives, and collaborate on addressing global challenges.

U.S. and Bosnian students virtually connect through MLI's Children Against Mines Program (CHAMPS) while U.S. Ambassador Murphy visits a school in Bosnia.

From a young age, students can begin this journey of connection. Children as young as seven years old have the opportunity to engage with peers from around the world—learning about their similarities and differences through everyday topics like weather, school, food, holidays, and hobbies. These early exchanges nurture curiosity and understanding, allowing young learners to see the world through others’ eyes while sharing their own experiences.

U.S. and Colombian students virtually connect to discuss community needs during MLI's Peace Makers and Problem Solvers (PMPS) program.

As children mature, these relationships deepen. They begin exploring pressing global issues such as those laid out through the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the humanitarian impact of landmines, and the resiliency of communities forced to endure and recover from conflict.

When facilitated thoughtfully, virtual exchange becomes a catalyst for young people to see themselves as change-makers and future community leaders.

For older youth and young adults, virtual exchange programs offer valuable opportunities to develop essential 21st-century skills—including communication, collaboration, respect for diversity, teamwork, civic engagement, and critical thinking. Through collaborative projects with peers from other countries, students learn to work across cultural and geographic boundaries to achieve shared goals. Guest speakers further enrich the experience by sharing stories that model integrity, hard work, perseverance, and resilience—helping students see what leadership looks like in action. These interactions not only inspire, but also empower students to embody leadership qualities in their own lives. Complementing these experiences, the leadership curriculum gives students concrete goals and deepens their understanding that the values they’re learning are universal building blocks for civic engagement and meaningful collaboration.

One example of this impact is the Peace Through Sport (PTS) program, implemented by the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI). This 8-week virtual exchange program has empowered youth in Lebanon, the United States, and Yemen to build friendships across borders, explore different cultures, and collaborate on service-learning projects designed to meet real needs in their communities. The program utilizes the unifying power of sport to emphasize that leadership begins with action. As students identify issues they care about, design projects, and implement solutions, they come to understand their ability to drive local and global change.

Virtual exchange is more than a program; it’s a movement preparing the next generation to build peace, lead with empathy, and create solutions for a better future.