Background

In July of 2007, I met Candice McMurphy. We are both former Rotary Youth Exchange Students to Brazil (many years ago!). We instantly connected, as most FRYES (Former Rotary Youth Exchange Students) do. We talked non stop from noon Saturday until 5 am Sunday (ouch, we were tired little puppies). Our main thought was: this is cool: where are the other 500,000 FRYES?!? We should all be connected.

Then we thought: hey! we should do this! We can do so with an internet site where FRYES can sign up to be members for free. We all share the experience of having lived outside of our comfort zone, usually for one year, in another country and learning another culture and language. WOW. Those are life-altering circumstances for most 16 year olds. Just the experiences of culture shock and reverse culture shock are enough to zoom a youth into adult-level maturity.
Our non profit is called the International Cultural Exchange Foundation. Overall mission and vision:

ICEF Mission Statement:

The International Cultural Exchange Foundation will support all
participants in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program
to make their year abroad a more enriching experience:
before, during and for years after.

ICEF Vision Statement:

The International Cultural Exchange Foundation will
promote world cultural understanding and cooperation
through multinational relationship development

After our website was live, and we were incorporated and IRS-approved as a 501c3 came the worldwide speaking engagements - and Candice's tumor. After two surgeries and lots of scares, Candice is almost recovered. YEAH!

Here we are in September 2009, just after our two year anniversary. One thing all FRYES share is having LIVED "cultural education". We are 'experts in culture'. Obviously we are specialists in the cultures we have lived in (at length) and may possess some knowledge of other cultures where we have travelled.

We have many opportunities for growth, for income and giving back. One way to further world peace is through relationship building stemming from cultural education. Right now we have an opportunity to purchase a rural facility in Northeast Ohio where we can house the very first "Academy of Cultural Education" or ACE.

We are up to our ears in fundraising, spreading the word about ICEF and ACE, finding FRYES, contacting Rotary clubs, Contacting former host families, writing a book series, developing and marketing our cultural education classes, helping youth exchange students, revamping our website, etc....... wouldn't you like to volunteer?!?!

Off to my never-ending to do list.

Question of the day: What do you consider "cultural education"?

Kelly