Advocacy in Action
Advocacy is speaking up for what you believe in, specifically to people who have decision making power. On March 8th, World Learning participated in the Alliance for International Exchange’s annual Advocacy Day event, in which people from all aspects and organizations in international exchange come together to advocate for exchange programs to Congress.
The international affairs budget is less than 1% of the entire federal budget, with funding for the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) making up a fraction of that figure. Funds for ECA programs are almost entirely spent in the United States and bolster economies across the country. For example, in 2016, $270,602 were spent in North Carolina. This amount translated into almost a million dollars in economic activity. To find out the economic value of international students in your area, check out NAFSA’s ‘Economic Value Tool’ or contact the Alliance for International Exchange .
