Promoting Youth Empowerment through International Cultural Exchanges

Youth perceptions of the impact of the Marrakesh-Scottsdale Cultural Exchange Program.

Abstract

The present study explores the perceptions of a group of Moroccan students about the impact that an international Youth Ambassador program (the Marrakesh-Scottsdale Cultural Exchange Program) had on empowering them, promoting global understanding, and fostering their sense of citizen diplomacy. The study uses mixed methods to explore the participants’ perceived impact of the exchange experience on three individual-level constructs: empowerment, cultural competence, and citizen diplomacy. The results, which align with the literature, show mostly positive effects on the variables examined. Limitations and implications of the study are discussed.