The FIUTS blog is updated several times a week with stories and news from the FIUTS community of students, hosts, staff, alumni, and more.
For 75 years, the Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS) has provided a platform for students from all over the world to come together and share cultures, traditions, and perspectives with one another, to connect with members of our community, and to consider their impact on the world. Hear from a FIUTS student, Pei Zheng, on her involvement with the student community.
Read MoreWeek 3 recap with our wonderful SUSI on Civic Engagement participants..
Read MoreWe are halfway through the SUSI on Civic Engagement program! Check out the SUSI photo recap!
Read MoreFIUTS current visiting students had their own experience of volunteering at Seattle nonprofit, this time being the impressive Food Lifeline Hunger Solution Center in South Seattle.
Read MoreThis summer is full of engagement opportunities for individuals in the Seattle community looking to expand their global connections! Read on for upcoming day and homestay hosting options, events, and steps on how to get involved.
Read MoreSummer is around the corner and we have a lot of amazing opportunities to stay connected with FIUTS! Congratulations to all the upcoming graduates in the FIUTS Community! We're grateful for the impact you've made! We'll miss you, and we're excited to see what you do next.
The fun isn’t over! There are plenty of opportunities for recent grads, new and current students, and others to continue to build cross-cultural understanding in the coming months. Read on to learn about being a Facilitator, Student Ambassador, FIUTS Intern, and Work Study Opportunities!
Read MoreYou might have seen our recent posts about visiting programs and SUSI participants, both huge parts of what FIUTS does throughout the year. One of the people responsible for the success of visiting programs is FIUTS staff member Josef Cole. If you’ve visited the FIUTS office, you know that Josef is ready for funny quips and masterfully working on the FIUTS database. Keep reading to get to know Josef and his FIUTS story!
Read MoreHave you wanted to meet people from around the world AND enjoy fun activities? Read more about the FIUTS student ambassador program and sign up for one of the programs today!
Read MoreMeet our wonderful SUSI participants! The SUSI on Civic Engagement is a special program that brings together students who care about being involved in their communities and making a difference. They are leaders, activists, teachers, and incredible students. They all have the same goal: to learn more about being involved in their communities and find ways to make positive changes in their home countries.
Read MoreAnd that's a wrap on the FIUTS Blue Marble Bash 2023! We laughed, we gabbed, we ate delicious treats, and most importantly, we united in our passion for international community. It was a beautiful night at the Sunset Bay Lodge in Ballard, with the ocean, sky, and mountains creating a stunning backdrop.
Read MoreRenowned artist Alfredo Arreguin passed away last week in Seattle, and FIUTS joins so many in our community in remembering the talent and color Alfredo brought to our region.
Read MoreFIUTS was so excited to welcome the Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) participants and their mentors to Seattle this past week. FIUTS produces this program through a contract with Meridian International Center, and the program is fully funded by the U. S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Check out the photo recap of their adventures during their time in Seattle!
Read MoreDuring this program, 20 high school aged students and 5 adult mentors develop leadership and civic engagement skills, learn about U.S. history and culture, and build a network of Pan-African emerging leaders, forging bonds between youth from the African continent and Washington State. The participating countries are Angola, Botswana, South Africa, South Sudan, and Mauritius. U.S.-based Student Ambassadors will communicate with African students to learn about one another’s culture, discuss shared topics of interest, and build new international relations. The program begins in Atlanta, Georgia for the first few days (April 8-12) and concludes in Seattle (April 12-25).
FIUTS produces this program through a contract with Meridian International Center, and the program is fully funded by the U. S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Keep reading to get to know the participants and their mentors!
Read MoreFIUTS was honored to host a group of students from the Pan Africa Youth Leadership All-Stars Program with participants from African countries of Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, and Zambia.
As part of the program, all participants plan a Community Action Project that they then implement in their home communities after the conclusion of the program. Please see below for the posters they all created at the end of the program to share their projects!
Read MoreFIUTS was honored to host a group of students from the Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) program during Winter 2023. The participants came from Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe and spent 5 weeks in Seattle studying civic engagement and participating in volunteer activities, leadership workshops, and cultural excursions.
As part of the SUSI, all participants plan a Community Action Project that they then implement in their home communities after the conclusion of the program. Please see below for the posters they all created at the end of the program to share their projects! If you are interested in connecting with a specific participant about their project to learn more about their work, please contact Olena Vlasova.
Read MoreThis I Believe is a popular essay genre that allows the writer to share a personal belief and explain the belief’s origin or importance. This type of essay rose to popularity In the 1950s after being featured on a radio show with journalist Edward R. Murrow. NPR continued the radio show in 2004.
The executive producer of This I Believe on NPR, Dan Gediman, shares that “The goal is not to persuade Americans to agree on the same beliefs. Rather, the hope is to encourage people to begin the much more difficult task of developing respect for beliefs different from their own.”
The Study of the US Institute (SUSI) for Student Leaders on Civic Engagement includes 20 undergraduates from Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Each participant worked on a This I Believe Essay throughout their time in Seattle. Keep reading to hear what they believe!
Read MoreHappy International Women’s Day 2023! International Women's Day is celebrated annually on March 8th, and it is a time to recognize the achievements and challenges faced by women all around the world. This day serves as a reminder to celebrate women's progress, raise awareness about gender inequality, and advocate for gender parity.
Read MoreThe Diversity and Education Program with Ehime University, is a short-term visiting program for 6 undergraduate students from Ehime University in Japan from March 6th to March 19th. During the 2-week program, students will gain understanding of U.S. diversity and the U.S. education system. They will grow their leadership capacity, expand their English language skills, and become acquainted with people and places of interest in Seattle. Participants will take English classes during many of the mornings, followed by site visits to schools and organizations, cultural excursions, communication workshops, and more. Keep reading to learn more about the participants that will be landing in Seattle very soon!
Read MoreThank you to everyone who took the time to visit the FIUTS 2023 CulturalFest International Expo this past Saturday at Benaroya Hall. We hope you enjoyed learning about new cultures, whether it was through arts & crafts, sampling tasty snacks, or watching live performances by different student groups. No need to worry if you missed out: we’ve got a little photo recap of the expo, just keep scrolling!
Read More
