Providing powerful international experiences to youth from diverse backgrounds
We foster a global mindset that embraces diverse perspectives and collaboration with individuals from different backgrounds through international exchange.
WHO WE AREThe world we want to create
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At Kizuna Across Cultures, we strongly believe that having the ability to collaborate with individuals from different backgrounds and engage in dialogue to find common ground expands the possibilities for one’s life and community.
Young people with such abilities are indispensable for solving increasingly complex global issues. The world is full of cultural and language barriers; however, young people, with their open and active minds, have the potential to transcend these barriers. What is overwhelmingly lacking are opportunities for real international (exchange) experiences that will bring out their potential.
Unfortunately, there is a great disparity in international opportunities based on region and socioeconomic status. To bridge this gap, Kizuna Across Cultures (KAC) has partnered with teachers to offer an international exchange program that utilizes online communication tools and innovative pedagogy to bring life-changing international experiences to a multitude of young people who would otherwise have limited access to international exchange.
KEY PROGRAMGlobal Classmates
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Fostering a global perspective in the classroom
KAC pairs a high school Japanese class in the U.S. with a high school English class in Japan to form a joint class. Over the course of six-months, students exchange messages, photos, and videos on a variety of topics in English and Japanese every week during class. Some pairs also incorporate a live video exchange. The curriculum is built on three pillars: ① cultural understanding, ② collaborative language learning, and ③ fostering international friendship, and customized to fit the needs of each pair. KAC’s bilingual coordinators collaborate with the teachers to facilitate the exchange.
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At Kizuna Across Cultures we strive to reach schools across the US and Japan with a particular focus on those communities where students would not typically have many international exchange opportunities. Shown above the approximately 700 schools in the United States and Japan that we have partnered with through Global Classmates.
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The Global Classmates program has grown from 136 student participants in the first cycle to now connecting over 2,000 students annually with a total of more than 16,000 participants since 2012. As we have scaled up we have continued to expand and improve our offerings to better support students and teachers and provide ways to stay connected with the community after program completion.
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Successful international exchange does not occur naturally, rather it is the result of strategic program design and robust implementation. We take pride in the high quality of programming and support we provide.
Teacher Testimonials
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Roswell High School (Georgia)Seiko Onuki Sensei
By taking on a big challenging topic, the students were able to feel that they are global citizens. I believe that the students developed such self-awareness and critical thinking as they discovered problems around them, conducted research, and exchanged opinions and ideas for solutions with students from the partner school.
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Hiro High School (Hiroshima)Chika Hiura Sensei
By interacting with the partner school students, I think the students have come to feel closer to the United States than ever before. There were also students from the partner school who seemed to have studied more about Japan than my students, and many of my students felt the need to learn more about their own country and work on their ability to communicate to people abroad.
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Student Testimonials
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Winston Churchill High School (Oregon)Sequoia Connell
Global Classmates has allowed me to have a profound experience, connecting with my peers in Japan. From both the topics about what we want to do in the future, and how we want to live our lives, to just sharing cute pictures of our pets. I have been able to use my study of Japanese, to actually connect with people.
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Rakuhoku High School (Kyoto)Rio Shiomi
I had never interacted with non-Japanese people before, and I never thought I could make
friends with people from other countries. However, I have come to believe that there are so many people in the world and we can be united as one human species regardless of national borders.
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OUR PROGRAMSGlobal Classmates Summit
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Cultivating the next generation of leaders
The Global Classmates Summit is a summer program that brings together outstanding Japanese and American high school students who are selected from the participants of the Global Classmates exchange program. We support the growth of the next generation of leaders with international perspectives through meetings with world leaders, workshops with experts, and discussions among the participants. They engage in high-level, in-depth discussions that are impressive for high school students to achieve.
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OUR PROGRAMSGlobal Classmates Community
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Take the first step alongside those who share your aspirations
KAC created this community to support students and young professionals who seek to enrich their lives and careers through international experiences and perspectives. We offer online events featuring engaging speakers from diverse fields. Please join the community!
Educators who share KAC’s vision are also welcome to join the community!
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Get involved with KAC
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For schools
We are looking for teachers who are passionate about providing international opportunities to their students. Please contact us for more information!
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For Corporations ＆ Foundations
Please consider supporting our efforts to provide exchange opportunities to students and schools in various environments through a donation or sponsorship. Help us unlock the potential for youth who will lead our future.
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For individuals
If you seek to enrich your life or career with international perspectives, regardless of your location, please join our community!
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