AIESEC is a youth-run, international non-governmental and non-profit organization. It helps young people develop leadership skills and fosters cross-cultural ties through its global volunteer exchange program.
When young people lead the movement for social change and development, it contributes significantly to the development of the entire community. Today’s youth are the leaders of tomorrow. The future is in their hands, and organizations like AIESEC provide them with the platform to make a change.
History of AIESEC
AIESEC was originally a French acronym which stood for International Association of Students in Economic and Commercial Sciences in English. The full name is no longer in use, as members now comprise of graduates and undergraduates from any university background. Its President is Alexandra Robinson. Headquarters are located in Montreal, Canada.
AIESEC was established in 1948 after World War II, when seven young people across seven countries dreamt of building cross-cultural understanding across nations. The organization grew exponentially in the following years. As of 2019, AIESEC is present in 120 countries. it is considered a success in terms of globalism implementation. To this date, more than 40,000 young people around the world have participated in a leadership development experience through AIESEC.
Purpose of AIESEC
The organization with the objective of empowering youth in order to make a progressive social impact. Through its internships and global exchange programs, it provide young people with diverse experiences and helps develop their full leadership potential.
Programs in AIESEC
1. Campus Involvement
AIESEC provides young people from various universities worldwide the opportunity to go on an international internship or join various local chapters of the organization. These young individuals can develop their leadership skills and gain work experience. Young people have the opportunity to work with various NGO partners of AIESEC. Participants can choose to work in areas of management, technology, education, or development, building their skills in the chosen field.
2. International Conferences
AIESEC hosts over 500 conferences every year. The purpose of these conferences is to bring the international community of AIESEC members together to enhance their professional skills and provide networking opportunities. Leadership, sustainable development, corporate social responsibility, entrepreneurship and impact of youth on society are the focus points.
3. Global Volunteer
AIESEC is an international network of people who are committed to the development of youth leadership. The Global Volunteering programs are short-term programs which provide young people with the opportunity to work for non-profit organizations with a particular focus on developing countries. Projects under the program include teaching, promoting HIV/AIDS awareness, environmental sustainability, working in human rights, leadership development, and many more.
Since AIESEC is a non-profit organization, the exchange participants must bear all expenses like airfare and medical needs. Some projects include food and accommodation.
4. Global Entrepreneur
Young people are given a chance to do a global internship at a startup in order to develop themselves and their careers. It involves working in startup projects. Youth unemployment is one of the topmost global challenges today. AIESEC seeks to solve this problem through its Global Entrepreneur program, where a young person works abroad with entrepreneurs in a startup with a chance to acquire new skills and expand one’s network to develop on a personal and professional level.
5. YouthSpeak
AIESEC believes in young people. It understands that society needs more young people worldwide to take action towards realizing the UN goals for 2030. To this end, it provides a platform for youth empowerment. The YouthSpeak Survey seeks to collect the common voices of the global youth and spread awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals. It recognizes that there are 1.8 million young people in the world and their voices must be heard.
Eligibility Criteria to Apply in AIESEC
If you are a young person who is passionate about the need to make a change, AIESEC is the best platform for you. Here’s the eligibility criteria you have to meet:
- Age should be in between 18-30 years.
- No previous volunteering experience is needed.
- The applicant should believe in AIESEC’s vision and support the mission of AIESEC as part of the youth leadership movement, and hence should be an AIESECer.
- Current enrollment in any Institute is not necessary.
