“From Local to Global: The Ripple Effects of Exchange”
By Rory Newbery (UNC Global Studies ’26)
Summer 2025 AFE Blog Post Series
This summer, I had the opportunity to explore the other side of international exchange programming through my Applied Field Experience with WorldDenver – a non-profit based in Denver, Colorado. I was also able to continue my broader research on the future of exchange programs in Europe as a visiting researcher (virtually) at UNESCO’s Institute for Lifelong Learning.
Known for its work as a community-based member of the Global Ties network, WorldDenver plays a key role in welcoming participants from all over the world as part of U.S. State Department exchange programmes, as well as offering a broader portfolio of global engagement initiatives.
Before beginning the Peace Fellowship, my experience with State Department programs was largely centred on supporting participants going abroad – so this experience, working within an organisation that hosts and facilitates programmes in the U.S., offered a new and valuable perspective.
Rory at the WorldDenver office
Experiencing Exchange at the Community Level
My main role over the summer was supporting the exchanges team in shaping programmes that aligned with foreign policy priorities, embassy goals, and interests of the visiting participants.
While familiar with international exchanges in a broad sense, this was my first time seeing the day-to-day mechanics of this type of professional exchange program. I learned a lot from the WorldDenver team on how they draw on local expertise, community relationships, and its own dedicated team to deliver thoughtful, engaging, and high-impact experiences. They interweave professional programming with cultural exchange, homestays, and opportunities for personal connection.
The model of local engagement in global issues, building connections not just across borders, but between neighbourhoods and ideas, is something I’ll continue to reflect on in both my academic and professional work. I found it incredibly valuable to see how much global connection happens outside of traditional capital-to-capital channels.
Organisational Resilience and the Future of Exchange
In addition to gaining insight into programme design and delivery, I also had the chance to observe how WorldDenver, like similar organisations, navigates a complex and evolving funding landscape. This was particularly relevant to me, as my research focuses on the future of international exchange and how these initiatives are financed, sustained, and adapted to new realities.
WorldDenver has developed a resilient and thoughtful approach, while continuing to prioritise mission-driven work. Observing this up close helped me better understand how non-profit organizations maintain both financial health and programming quality, even amid global uncertainty.
Bridging Professional Experience and Research
While my academic and professional focus is primarily on Europe and its neighbouring regions, this U.S.-based placement offered lessons that are widely applicable. It helped me think critically about funding models, the role of sub-national diplomacy, and the practical considerations involved in managing complex, multi-stakeholder programmes across borders.
At the same time, I’ve also continued to build on these questions through a concurrent summer researchship with UNESCO’s Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL). This virtual placement allowed me to continue developing my research in parallel, exploring how best to support practitioners and researchers working on lifelong and intergenerational learning, intercultural exchange, and community engagement. The combination of both placements – one grounded in local practice, the other connected to global research – offered a unique and balanced summer experience.
Looking Forward
As I prepare for the next stage of the Rotary Peace Fellowship and begin a year of focused research, I carry with me new insights into how exchange programmes are structured, sustained, and adapted to evolving needs. I’m grateful to WorldDenver and UNESCO UIL for welcoming me into their work this summer, and to the Rotary Peace Fellowship for supporting this opportunity.
This experience affirmed something I’ve long believed: that small, consistent efforts to bring people together across cultures and contexts are at the heart of lasting peacebuilding. Whether through homestays, professional exchanges, or informal dialogue, these moments of connection – made possible by thoughtful infrastructure and committed global citizens – can have ripple effects far beyond a single visit or conversation.