The Better Understanding for a Better World (BUBW) virtual conference is a youth leadership and interfaith conference organized by Civilizations Exchange & Cooperation Foundation (CECF). BUBW gives international exchange students and American high school students of diverse cultural backgrounds and various faith traditions the opportunity to virtually meet and learn from one another. The goal is to facilitate dialogue that fosters mutual understanding and cooperation between youth from diverse economic, social, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
AFS and the FLEX, YES, and CBYX grants are happy to announce a scholarship opportunity for a select number of students to attend this year’s virtual conference.
Virtual BUBW Conference Dates: March 22 & 23*, 2025 (3-hour time commitment on each day)
*Date updated as of 1/10/25
Quote from a virtual BUBW participant 2024: “I am happy to say that I found BUBW has been much greater than I expected. When I applied, I didn’t really know what to expect, and I thought a lot of the things would be repeated. I want to add that the application essay questions were what made me realize how much I wanted to do this. It was very pleasant to find so many new perspectives, as there were students from a lot of countries, some that I knew very little about.”
To qualify, AFS-hosted FLEX, YES, and CBYX students must:
- Be in good academic and behavioral standing
- Be consistently engaged with the FLEX/YES/CBYX activities including participation in cluster activities and community service opportunities
- Have completed all AFS Monthly Surveys
- If selected, agree to write a story (or create a video) about your BUBW experience following the virtual conference and submit to AFS (instructions to follow).
Application Instructions
Apply for BUBW using this Google Form survey.
(For YES and FLEX students, the survey is also posted as an optional assignment on Google Classroom.)
The deadline to apply is Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 11:59PM EST (8:59PM PST)
Applications Format – Short biological information and two essay questions.
Tip: Please draft all essay answers outside of Jotform and copy them over when you are ready to submit. You are not able to save progress in Jotform. Applicants will receive email confirmation upon survey completion.
Essay Question #1:
BUBW aims to help high school students break down stereotypes and barriers that lead to fear or hate of the “other,” meaning people who are different from them.
Tell us how the FLEX, YES, or CBYX program has impacted your view of the “other.” What have you learned from your host community and what has your host community learned from you? (Limit response to 300 words.)
Essay Question #2:
As a participant in the BUBW Virtual Conference, you will participate in group discussions about how youth around the world can foster greater connections and promote collaboration. Describe what you have done or plan to do to contribute to a “better understanding for a better world.” (Limit response to 500 words.)
Scholarship recipients will be notified of their acceptance in late-February.
Best Regards,
AFS ECA Program Specialists
Nadia Rodela and Akemi Akaiwa – YES Participant Support Specialists
Apple Edelman – FLEX Specialist
Jon Meyer – CBYX Specialist