ACSI Destinations is a uniquely Christian cross-cultural exchange program administered by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO. The program encourages cross-cultural learning and serving among ACSI member schools, their staff, students, and communities to the glory of God. Long-term and short-term opportunities are available for schools to host and to send middle and high school students through ACSI Destinations’ inbound and outbound programs.
Inbound
Long-term study opportunities: Participating ACSI member schools in the U.S. host international students from Southeast Asia for a semester or year. International students live with Christian host families or in school boarding facilities.
Outbound
Long-term study opportunities: Study abroad students from the U.S. and Canada attend participating ACSI member schools (international host schools) in Latin America and live with Spanish-speaking, Christian host families or in school boarding facilities for a semester or year.
Short-term mission trips: North American students and adults from ACSI member schools are sent out as school teams on trips ranging from 10 days to two weeks. Each team is led by a school team leader (STL), usually an administrator or teacher in the school. ACSI Destinations connects each school team to a member national school in one of ACSI’s five international regions. School teams have the opportunity to minister and serve in a variety of ways.
Best Practices and Standards for Programs
ACSI Destinations provides best practice recommendations to all ACSI member schools wishing to engage in cross-cultural exchange through hosting international students, sending students to study abroad, or sending school teams to minister in other countries.
ACSI Destinations itself is organized according to accepted practices in the exchange program industry. The program strives to abide by the standards established by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET),a non-profit that identifies, monitors, and evaluates reputable exchange organizations. Each host school has a host school coordinator (HSC) or trip coordinator (TC) who provides local, ongoing supervision and assistance throughout the program. HSCs and TCs are supported in their roles by the Destinations U.S. program coordinator who works out of ACSI headquarters in Colorado Springs, CO.
For more information please contact ACSI Destinations