Sinclair Community College International CCI Participants Volunteer at The Foodbank, Inc. to Recognize National Exchange Day

Sinclair Community College is proud to welcome 15 international exchange participants for the 2023-2024 academic year as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Community College Initiative (CCI) Program. 

The participants are already making an impact in the Dayton region by participating in Exchange Day (August 7, 2023), a nationwide celebration of the power of international exchanges. The students volunteered at The Foodbank, Inc. in Dayton. Under the motto “Eat, Play, Give,” cities across the United States are holding similar events in honor of Exchange Day to provide international exchange program participants, alumni, and their hosts an opportunity to enjoy American cuisine, share cultural diversity and customs, and give back to their local communities. Participation in this event, either in person or virtually, helps spread the word about the breadth and impact of international exchange programs in the United States.

Sinclair’s 2023-24 CCI participants join dozens of other participants from underserved and underrepresented global communities who are gaining skills and experience at community colleges across the U.S. to prepare them to enter the workforce. This year’s CCI participants studying at Sinclair Community College are from Brazil, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, and South Africa.

“Sinclair College is honored to be a host site for this prestigious program,” said Deborah Gavlik, Director of International Education at Sinclair Community College.  “Through the CCI program, many of these participants are receiving a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience exceptional academic opportunities at Sinclair College.”

The CCI Program is a one-year, non-degree academic program designed to build participants’ technical skills, enhance leadership capabilities, and strengthen English language proficiency. 

The program also provides opportunities for professional internships, service learning, and community engagement activities to build relations between citizens of the United States and other countries. 

The participants also bring diverse, global perspectives to classrooms, campus life, and local organizations. The diversity of CCI participants helps internationalize U.S. campuses and provide domestic students with an opportunity to prepare for their role as global citizens.

After completing the CCI Program, participants return home with a deeper understanding of U.S. culture and with improved technical and vocational skills to contribute to the economic development of their home communities. 

This U.S. Department of State program is administered by Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) in cooperation with the NOVA-led Community College Consortium. For further information, please contact the NOVA CCI Team at CCCIP@nvcc.edu and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at eca-press@state.gov.

To learn more about the Sinclair Community College Office of International Education, visit www.Sinclair.edu/International.

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