About Us

Established in 1985, CCI is a non-profit international exchange organization dedicated to the promotion of cultural understanding, environmental consciousness, and world peace. Based in Chicago, Illinois, CCI organizes high school exchange, short-term group homestay, internship, volunteer, work & travel, and language study programs in the United States and in over 30 countries around the world. Through Greenheart’s environmental and social welfare initiatives, CCI offers opportunities to our American and international participants to contribute to conservation efforts through service, education and conscious living.

CCI is designated by the United States Department of State as a J-1 Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor for the Secondary School and Summer Work/Travel programs. CCI is currently granted full listing by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET). We are also a member of the World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation (WYSTC), NAFSA: Association of International Educators, GWEA: Global Work Experience Association, and The Alliance for International Educational and Cultural Exchange.

Over the years, we have been fortunate to expand CCI’s activities in spite of the uncertainties of international travel, and thereby do even more towards fulfilling our mission. CCI now receives over 7,000 students annually — a remarkable increase since our first seven students participated in CCI’s Academic Year Program in 1985.

GREENHEART

At CCI, we support the preservation of, and respect for, the health and welfare of the earth and its people by incorporating an ecological consciousness into all facets of our programs and business. CCI’s Greenheart programs embody this philosophy.

The ‘green’ heart

The Greenheart placed next to any of CCI’s programs indicates that participants have the ability to get involved in a volunteer environmental or social welfare project and make a difference in their community and the world.