International Center University of Florida

This student-led virtual exchange is one of multiple projects organized by the Ukraine Rebuilding Initiative (URI), a UF student organization whose mission is to help rebuild and heal the city of Nizhyn, Ukraine. To prepare UF students to participate in this exchange, URI organized workshops in collaboration with UF’s English Language Institute (ELI) and the Counseling and Wellness Center (CWC). These sessions equipped UF participants with the skills to navigate sensitive and emotional topics, ensuring that discussions are mutually enriching and respectful. URI then paired up participants from both institutions, who committed to meeting for at least one hour each week during the second half of the semester. UF participants reported back on how their meetings were going through a Canvas shell, with support available from URI leaders and the CWC if needed.

• Support dialogue between UF and Nizhyn Gogol State University students
• Provide space for participants to share about their respective cultures and learn about each other's