Through staying with American host families, the students learned about American culture and daily life and said that their new experiences inspired them to go back to their communities and work for social change. "We couldn't wait to go back home and implement our new ideas and to try our best to make the world a better place," said Diana one of the participants. The students are now back in their hometowns, working together on new projects and initiatives inspired by their trip. "The most important thing we discovered is that nothing is impossible, no matter what color, race or religion you are, you can make a difference," added Diana. The students made many new friends and plan to keep in touch with the students they met in Washington.

Diana, one of the participants, wrote:

Through the Global Connection and Exchange Program (GCEP), we've been selected to participate in a 3-weeks exchange to the USA. First we, 7 students from different cities in Palestine, filled an application and then we've been interviewed and evaluated by RISOL staff.

When they told us that we've been chosen; we couldn't believe it, and we were so excited to go through this experience and show the world who we are, and the great changes we make in our community.

We went to Washington DC, CA SF. There, we participated in many activities, took different courses, and visited organizations, museums, governmental organizations and huge companies. We met great people and made new friendships, to share interests and work together on projects and keep in touch. We also experienced life with American hosting families. Now we know more about their culture and daily life.

We were amazed by the high level of technology, but every place we visited gave us kind of a push to move forward and think how we can do that back home; to use everything we gained and the more knowledge we have now in a useful way to benefit & affect people around us like this trip affected in us.

We couldn't wait to come back home and implement the ideas and projects, to carry everything we learned to others and to try our best to make the world a better place to live in. Now we are working together on our projects and action plans, which were inspired by things we saw & places we visited in America.

It was a dream that came true. This amazing trip changed something inside each one of us. All these things we learned will stay in our minds to carry wherever we go.

But most important we discovered that nothing is impossible & no matter what color, size, race, or religion you are… You can make a difference!