The recently concluded International Partner’s Collaboration in Washington D.C. was a unique opportunity for scholarship recipient and Aspen NZ Marketing Manager, Pip Souness, to connect with Aspen U.S. colleagues from the Stevens Initiative to explore the potential of virtual youth exchange programmes to inspire, connect, and empower the next generation.

Bridging Divides:

How Virtual Exchange is Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders

Returning to New Zealand after ten immersive days in Washington, D.C., for the International Programme Collaboration (IPC), I find myself reflecting deeply on the opportunities and challenges facing our interconnected world. My visit coincided with the aftermath of the U.S. elections - a period of transition, uncertainty, and lively dialogue. Against this dynamic backdrop, I had the privilege of connecting with the Stevens Initiative, an Aspen Institute programme dedicated to virtual youth exchanges, and exploring its potential to inspire and connect the next generation of leaders in New Zealand with their global peers.

The Potential of Virtual Cross-Cultural Collaborative Learning

Virtual youth exchange offers a powerful means to foster cross-cultural understanding among young people, particularly in an era marked by polarisation and division. The Stevens Initiative’s work demonstrates how virtual youth exchange can break down barriers, build connections, and broaden perspectives. An example is one of their grantees’ programmes that connects youth from the Middle East and the U.S. to collaborate on addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This programme not only develops cultural understanding but also equips participants with critical skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and cross-cultural communication, all essential tools for navigating a diverse and inclusive future.

The collaborative ethos of the Stevens Initiative team left a strong impression on me. Their work shows how shared purpose, supported by robust systems and frameworks, can drive meaningful and scalable impact. In a world where the challenges we face increasingly transcend borders, cultivating this kind of connection and collaboration for future generations isn’t just beneficial, it’s imperative.

Opportunities for New Zealand

New Zealand’s unique position as a geographically isolated yet culturally rich nation provides both challenges and opportunities. Virtual exchanges present a way to bridge our physical distance and bring our rangatahi (youth) into global conversations. They offer a space where young people can safely explore diverse perspectives and build the skills needed to navigate an increasingly interconnected, yet complex, world.

The question, of course, is how we effectively translate these ideas into action. My time in Washington reaffirmed the importance of starting small - piloting initiatives tailored to local contexts - and scaling what works. Programmes could draw on the insights of local communities, educators, iwi, and youth organisations to ensure they are both inclusive and reflective of New Zealand’s muliti-cultural identity. Partnerships with global organisations like the Stevens Initiative and our International Partners network would be highly beneficial, not only to share knowledge and best practices but also to co-create initiatives that reflect the mutuality of cross-cultural exchange.

Access to technology will also play a pivotal role. Bridging the digital divide between New Zealand and potential partnering developing countries is essential if all rangatahi are to benefit from these opportunities, whether urban or rural based. By addressing this challenge, we can help ensure virtual exchange is a tool for inclusivity, not exclusivity.

Empowering Future Generations

The Stevens Initiative’s success offers an inspiring example of what is possible when collaboration is prioritised, yet it also prompts deeper reflection. How do we ensure that New Zealand’s youth are not only participants in global conversations but also shapers of those conversations? How can we effectively harness the power of virtual exchange to foster the cross-cultural understanding, critical thinking, and leadership our next generation will need?

These are not questions with straight-forward answers. However, a valuable lesson I’ve taken from this experience is the importance of asking them anyway. Thoughtful experimentation - grounded in listening, observation, and a willingness to adapt - can lead to extraordinary outcomes, as countless programmes at the Aspen Institute have demonstrated over the past 75 years.

In an era where global connectivity has grown alongside deepening divisions, the potential for virtual youth exchanges to foster understanding across cultures and empower future generations is immense. They remind us that, even in uncertain times, opportunities to learn, grow, and collaborate are all around us. If we can embrace these opportunities with intention, we can equip rangatahi with the skills required to shape a future that is not only inclusive and grounded in shared principles, but also resilient and capable of meeting the challenges ahead.

"By fostering global connections among youth, programmes like the Stevens Initiative do more than bridge cultures: they equip the next generation with the skills to lead in a world that demands collaboration across divides.
This experience has affirmed for me that solutions to our biggest challenges lie in empowering young people to think critically, connect meaningfully, and act collaboratively on a global stage."

Bridging Divides -How Virtual Exchange is Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders