Non-Governmental Organizations

Link to Non-Governmental Organizations that are part of the Washington State Coalition for International Education.

  • AFS Global Educators Program AFS Greater Puget Sound is a regional volunteer organization supporting AFS USA’s intercultural learning programs for students and teachers. Once known as American Field Service, AFS is considered the second largest volunteer organization in the world with at least 50 countries participating in its programs.
  • AFS-USA AFS-USA works towards a more just and peaceful world by providing international and intercultural learning experiences to individuals, families, schools, and communities through a global volunteer partnership.
  • Alliance Française de Seattle The Alliance Française is an international network of non-profit associations whose central administration is in Paris. The mission of these associations is the propagation of the French language and culture.
  • American Cultural Exchange Service ACES is a not-for-profit organization that provides cultural and educational exchange opportunities and support to K-12 participants, educators, and American families and communities. ACES believes that world peace can be realized through international friendships and global understanding that result from personal interaction provided by exchange experiences.
  • American Red Cross Language Bank The Language Bank provides volunteer interpreters and translators to enable immigrants and refugees to communicate with non-profit agencies that are meeting basic human needs (food banks, shelters, children’s services, housing assistance agencies, refugee assistance programs, etc.) We have 435 bi- and multi-lingual volunteers who speak over 70 languages and dialects.
  • Around-n-Over Around-n-Over is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Seattle, WA. Our mission is to captivate the youth as they follow our human powered journeys around the world. Through relevant lesson plans, we will expand the horizons of our youth and give them an opportunity to interact with students in faraway lands.
  • Asia Society The Asia Society is America’s leading institution dedicated to fostering understanding of Asia and communication between Americans and the peoples of Asia and the Pacific.
  • Associates in Cultural Exchange For over 30 years, Associates in Cultural Exchange (A.C.E.) has been working to make the world your community by helping people and organizations around the world create new connections and build interpersonal networks with those of other language and cultural backgrounds.
  • Association for African American Historical Research and Preservation (AAAHRP) The mission of the Association for African American Historical Research and Preservation (AAAHRP), a nonprofit organization, is to locate, collect, preserve and disseminate historical and genealogical information related to the African American population. The Association supports activities which increase public awareness and understanding of African/African American history and culture, and sponsors activities including exhibitions, workshops, and conferences which support our goals and mission.
  • Bahia Street Bahia Street breaks cycles of poverty and violence by providing quality educational opportunities to young women and girls in Salvador, Brazil. In the US, Bahia Street promotes education of issues related to international development, race, class, and gender.
  • Bicultural/Bilingual Family Network The Bilingual/Bicultural Family Network is a Seattle forum for families raising their children bilingually and/or biculturally. The group offers support and resources through its website as well as a monthly multicultural playgroup, language-specific playgroups, presentation series and workshops.
  • Bridges to Understanding The mission of Bridges to Understanding is to empower and unite youth worldwide, enhance cross-cultural understanding and build global citizenship using digital technology and the art of storytelling. Bridges connect teachers and students in middle and high school classrooms around the world using curriculum-based programs that help break down barriers, prejudices and assumptions, allowing students to gain a sense of empowerment as they explore what they can do to change the world for the better. Learn more at bridges2understanding.org.
  • CARE CARE is a united force dedicated to helping the world’s poorest communities solve their most threatening problems.
  • Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) The Center for Applied Linguistics aims to promote and improve the teaching and learning of languages, identify and solve problems related to language and culture, and serve as a resource for information about language and culture.
  • Children’s Museum of Tacoma From the backyard to the moon, the Children’s Museum of Tacoma celebrates the power of play in the life-long journey of learning. Our imaginative environment reaches beyond home and school experiences, nurturing growth and development as young children and their adults explore the world together. Join us for Passport to Play program and participate in a play-packed exploration of Spanish and/or Chinese language and culture. Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday Noon – 5 p.m.
  • Choices for the 21st Century CHOICES for the 21st Century is an educational outreach program of the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University in Rhode Island. Through its curricular resources, professional development programs, and special projects, CHOICES engages secondary level students in current and historical international issues and contributes to a renewal of civic engagement among young people in the United States.
  • Circletime Kids Circletime Kids is a free multicultural World Library of bilingual children’s resources designed to help parents, caregivers and teachers introduce their children to the cultures and languages of the world through traditional children’s songs, food, activities and more!
  • City of Bellingham Libraries (We Share a Story) We Share A Story 2003 is an international literacy project originating in Bellingham, Washington (USA) through cooperative efforts of the Bellingham Children’s Library, the Bellingham School District and the Bellingham Sister City Committee.
  • Companion Flag The Companion Flag — A Symbol of All that Human Beings Have in Common.
  • Creative Connections Creative Connections is sponsored by the New York Foundation for the Arts and partners with WorldTeach of the Harvard Center for International Development, both non-profit organizations. We link predominantly US schools with schools in the Amazon Rain Forest, Africa, the Galapagos Islands, China and the Arctic through arts-based exchanges and the Internet. Our mission is to foster cross-cultural understanding and global community by linking classrooms from around the world, in a curriculum-based format, through the arts and technology.
  • Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project Densho’s urgent mission is to preserve the personal testimonies of Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated during World War II, before their memories are extinguished. These irreplaceable firsthand accounts, coupled with historical images, related interviews, and teacher resources, are provided on this website to explore principles of democracy and to promote tolerance and equal justice for all.
  • Dialogue Project The DIALOGUE (Developing International Alliances with Local Organizations for Global Understanding and Education) Project is a student organization developed by the Comparative History of Ideas Program at the University of Washington.
  • EarthCorps EarthCorps is a Seattle-based non-profit, conservation and educational organization. Our mission is to build global community through local environmental service. Our work engages the local community while teaching leadership, restoration and community development skills to youth from across the country and around the world (e.g., Philippines, Russia, Guatemala, Kenya).
  • Education About Asia When you subscribe to Education About Asia, you will join the thousands of educators who have found this magazine to be an exciting and highly practical teaching resource.
  • EF Foundation for Foreign Study EF Foundation for Foreign Study is a worldwide, non-profit organization which aims to promote international understanding and global awareness through international education and cultural exchange.
  • eLearning Chinese Studio Provide an engaging and supportive learning space. Create entertaining and interactive learning experiences. Encourage respect for all people. Instill pride for your own culture.
  • Enso Center Enso is an ancient, international symbol of inner strength, harmony, community, and peace. It symbolizes a commitment to personal growth through body and mind balance, discipline, and practice. Enso comes from the Japanese language and literally means an “open” circle.
  • Ethnic Heritage Council The Ethnic Heritage Council is dedicated to preserving the unique mix of cultural traditions that enrich our Northwest communities.
  • Facing the Future: People and Planet Facing the Future is a nonprofit organization that strives to educate people about critical global issues, including population growth, poverty, over-consumption, and environmental destruction. We believe there are just and sustainable solutions to all these issues, and that these problems are, in reality, opportunities to invoke positive change.
  • Foreign Language For Youth We teach Spanish, French, Japanese, and Mandarin to elementary and middle school students before and after school to more than 500 students in elementary schools in over 15 School Districts around the Puget Sound.
  • FIUTS (Foundation for International Understanding Through Students) FIUTS’ mission is to enhance international understanding and promote cultural exchanges between UW internationals and Americans. In our 55th year, FIUTS continues this tradition through programs that stimulate discussion and participation among the community, our members, and volunteers.
  • French Bilingual Association The French Bilingual Association of Seattle’s Eastside is partnering with the Bellevue School District and Tillicum Middle School to offer bilingual education suited for middle school children with native or near-native abilities in French.
  • Fulbright Association, Greater Puget Sound Chapter All past and present Fulbright Awardees who live in Washington State are invited to join the Association and become part of the Chapter. We sponsor a series of cultural and social events to welcome visiting Fulbright scholars, teachers and students from all parts of the world. Past events include tours of Tacoma museums, wine tasting in Yakima Valley, Fulbright night at a Mariners baseball game, a visit to Tillicum Village, and pot luck dinners.
  • Fulbright Exchanges The Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange arranges direct classroom exchanges for teachers of all levels. We also offer six-week observation exchanges for administrators in more than a dozen countries and eight-week classical seminars in Italy and Greece. The annual application deadline is October 15 for the following year’s program.
  • George Pocock Rowing Foundation The Mission of George Pocock Rowing Foundation is to support and develop the sport of rowing in the Pacific NW – including fostering National and International Competition between the nations around the Pacific Rim. The Foundation fosters international exchanges between athletes and coaches in the US and China, and is interested in any developments that make sense for it to become involved in.
  • Global Classroom Global Classroom – Opening students’ minds to “People and Places” around the globe. In-school or after-school programs share stories, photographs and global insights. Teachers can assign creative learning projects and students exchange photos and emails with other far-away classrooms.
  • Global Education Services Global Education Services (GES) was established to foster global understanding through education, study abroad, and language/cultural programs.
  • Global Scholar program The Global Scholar program is an intensive two-week seminar for high school students interested in international affairs.
  • Global Sound Smithsonian Global Sound is a network of international cultural institutions working to preserve and distribute music from archives worldwide, and to foster appreciation for traditional roots music.
  • Global Visionaries Global Visionaries programs educate young people on peace, justice, and environmental issues, foster cross-cultural understanding, and strengthen communities and families, uniting diverse local communities and building international ties, fostering the tangible hope of lasting peace.
  • Global Washington Global Washington works to strengthen the state’s global development sector by serving as an information resource, building capacity and
    facilitating opportunities for exchange.
  • Greater Puget Sound AFS Within the Greater Puget Sound AFS area are found active AFS volunteers, community AFS chapters and clubs, AFS returnees, AFS host families, and others. AFS is one of the world’s largest community-based volunteer organizations dedicated to building a more just and peaceful world through intercultural exchange. More than 10,000 students, young adults, and teachers participate in AFS programs each year in more than 50 countries.
  • Hyogo Business and Cultural CenterThe Hyogo Business & Cultural Center is committed to nurturing stronger governmental, business and cultural relations between Hyogo Prefecture and the United States.
  • International Children’s Art Foundation Mission: To prepare children for a creative and cooperative future. Publisher of ChildArt magazine, an ad-free publication for kids since 1998, which promotes creativity and global education through the arts. Organizer of the Arts Olympiad, the world’s largest and most prestigious arts initiative for children aged 8 to 12, launched every four years and culminating in the world’s largest international children’s festival, traditionally held on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
  • International Education & Resource Network iEARN is a non-profit global network that enables young people to use the Internet and other new technologies to engage in collaborative educational projects that both enhance learning and make a difference in the world.
  • International Trade Education Foundation The Washington Council on International Trade’s International Trade Education Foundation educates the next generation through in-service workshops for teachers, an innovative trade and economics curriculum package for the classroom, presentations at schools and by serving as an ongoing resource for educators.
  • International Rescue Committee IRC – Seattle The IRC is the world’s leading non-profit, non-sectarian, volunteer organization providing relief and resettlement services to refugees from around the world. The IRC Seattle office was established in 1976 to aid refugees in the Puget Sound. The IRC Voices program empowers refugee and immigrant high school students to share their life stories with other students in the community.
  • K-12 Study Canada K-12 STUDY CANADA represents the shared outreach efforts of the Centerfor Canadian-American Studies, Western Washington University, and the Canadian Studies Center, Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, University of Washington. We jointly form the Pacific Northwest National Resource Center for Canada funded by the U.S. Department of Education under Title VI with the mandate to provide education to students, educators and the community about Canada.
  • League of Education Voters The League of Education Voters is an organization made up of education advocates from across Washington, including parents, teachers, school board members, levy and bond committees, business leaders, school administrators, and concerned citizens.
  • Link-Up International Link-UP International is a 3-week summer short-term study-abroad program to learn English and the American culture. The program targets young people from around the world aged 17-25 who desire to learn to speak English, to improve English abilities, and to deepen the understanding of the American culture. Link-UP is ideal for students who want to study in the United States, but would like to try out a shorter program first to discover what it is like to live and study in America. Link-UP also invites English teachers from various countries to participate in the program as chaperones.
  • Maria Montessori Language and Cultural Center Montessori preschool with after-school Italian and Chinese language and culture programs for ages 5 and older. Both include geography, cooking projects, writing, dramatic play and math.
  • Middle East Peace Camp The Middle East Peace Camp is a grassroots Arab and Jewish coalition dedicated to embracing our common humanity by empowering children and youth through education, recreation and leadership development.
  • NAFSA NAFSA: Association of International Educators promotes the exchange of students and scholars to and from the United States. Our members sharea belief that international educational exchange advances learning and scholarship, builds respect among different peoples and encourages constructive leadership in a global community.
  • New Horizons for Learning Since 1980, New Horizons for Learning has served as a leading-edge resource for educational change.
  • Nordic Heritage Museum Visit a place where history comes alive and contemporary artists and community activities are celebrated with vibrant exhibits and events. Dedicated to collecting, preserving and educating since its founding in 1980, the Nordic Heritage Museum is the only museum in the United States to honor the legacy of immigrants from the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
  • Northwest Folklife Northwest Folklife promotes the cultural heritage ofPacific Northwest communities. It presents the annual Memorial Day weekend Northwest Folklife Festival, education programs and other public programs.
  • OneWorld Now! OneWorld Now! is a two-year global leadership program for high school youth that includes leadership and multicultural education, world language study in after school programs, summer study abroad, and international community service projects.
  • Open Institute of Law Open Institute of Law is an international institutionof distance learning with affordable courses, working mainly for students in Russia, China and Europe. Our main goal is the translation of American University courses and teaching our own students in their native languages.
  • Operation Smile Operation Smile is a nonprofit medical charity. We provide free reconstructive surgery to children world-wide primarily for cleft lip and cleft palate. We partner with local medical professionals and develop long-term relationships while teaching and learning. We also involve students in teaching and aiding our work in the US and overseas.
  • Pardada Pardadi Educational Society Pardada Pardadi Educational Society, Inc., based in Anupshahar in the Bulandshahar district of Uttar Pradesh, India is at the forefront of improving the lives of girls [by saying girls, we imply children] in this deprived region. Its mission is to uplift and empower girls from the poorest section of society by providing free education and vocational training to make them self-reliant and educated individuals. Pardada Pardadi translates directly into English as “great grand parents”. We are using the phrase Pardada Pardadi as an analogy for the ancient Indian wisdom of knowledge and education which helps in the full blossoming of an individual.
  • Peace Corps Peace Corps has been sending certified and future teachers overseas for over 42 years. Most continue the Peace Corps’ mission of cross-cultural and technical exchange after they return.
  • PeaceJam Northwest PeaceJam is an international education program built around leading Nobel Peace Laureates who work personally with youth to pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom they embody. The goal of PeaceJam is to inspire a new generation of peacemakers who will transform their local communities, themselves and the world.
  • Population Connection Washington Population Connection is the national grassroots population organization that educates young people and advocates progressive action to stabilize world population at a level that can be sustained by Earth’s resources. About Population Connection’s Education Program Population Connection’s Education Program is the only national, population education program with a strong emphasis on teacher training for educators of grades pre-K through 12.
  • Quantum Learning The Quantum Learning educational system includes training for administrators and teachers, plus learning and life skill programs for students including SuperCamp.
  • RESPECT Refugee Education Sponsorship Program USA affiliate of RESPECT International. Their main goals are to increase awareness of refugee issues worldwide, empowering refugee populations, and to encourage youth activism regarding refugee issues.
  • Seattle Asian Art Museum Students and the general public are welcome to explore the Seattle Asian Art Museum’s world-class permanent collection and frequent special exhibitions. Throughout the year, SAAM also organizes numerous exciting “hands-on” events, such as art demonstrations.
  • Seattle International Children’s Festival The Seattle International Children’s Festival began in1985 as a small arts event for children. The annual eight-day event, featuring artists from Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas, has introduced more than 500,000 young people to the sights, sounds, music, movement and theatre arts of cultures worldwide.
  • Seattle Symphony Seattle Symphony explores the roles of music and art in the transmission of history and culture. Festivals in recent years have focused on Pacific Rim and Silk Road cultures as well as music of the Americas.
  • Seattle YMCA Recognizing our global responsibility, the YMCA of Greater Seattle is active in the international community to promote long-term sustainable development. We organize international exchanges, partnerships with overseas YMCAs, and other special projects. This work enhances our mission of building strong kids, strong families, and strong communities.
  • Sister Island Project Sister Island Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering respectful international friendship and cultural, educational, and technical exchange. In addition, Sister Island Project promotes awareness of issues that challenge developing countries and collaborates with Dominicans on mutually beneficial humanitarian projects.\
  • Successful Schools in Action Successful Schools in Action is an educational nonprofit comprised of seven Seattle public schools, K-12. We work with the schools and community to promote and facilitate collaboration, active partnerships, and shared student programs.
  • TakingITGlobal for Educators TakingITGlobal for Educators provides rich, interactive global learning experiences by leveraging the resources of the world’s most popular online community for youth who want to make a difference.
  • The Center for the Teaching of International Relations The Center for Teaching International Relations (CTIR) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing public understanding of international affairs by strengthening international studies in K-12 classrooms. As part of the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver, CTIR is in a unique position to offer award-winning, innovative content and programs that help schools add a global dimension to their curricula.
  • The International Rescue Committee The IRC is the world’s leading non-profit, non-sectarian, volunteer organization providing relief and resettlement services to refugees from around the world. The IRC Seattle office was established in 1976 to aid refugees in the Puget Sound. The IRC Voices program empowers refugee and immigrant high school students to share their life stories with other students in the community.
  • U.S. Global Leadership Campaign The U.S. Global Leadership Campaign, a coalition of over 300 business and organizations, is dedicated to supporting a strong international affairs budget and promoting U.S. global engagement.
  • Washington Association for Language Teaching (WAFLT) Washington Association for Language Teaching (WAFLT) seeks to meet the needs of a profession dedicated to the teaching of world language skills and cultural awareness by providing information and sensitive global perspectives in an era of ever-increasing internationalization.
  • Washington Council on International Trade The Washington Council on International Trade is anon-profit association of trade interests supported by the state’s flourishing international trade sector. Its mandate is to educate and advocate on the importance of trade to the citizens and leaders of the state.
  • Washington State Association for Multicultural Education (WSAME) WSAME is a collaborative association of representatives from public and private school districts, colleges, universities, local and state governmental agencies, organizations, businesses, and other groups which advocate for and support the cause of multicultural, diversity and international education.
  • Washington State Holocaust Education Resource Center The Washington State Holocaust Resource Center’s mission is to inspire teaching and learning for humanity in the schools and communities of this state through study of the Holocaust. The Center trains and assists teachers in the public and private schools of Washington who want to introduce Holocaust studies into their curricula. The Center provides educational materials, including resources that preserve local connections to the Holocaust to grade levels from 5-12 through community colleges and university.
  • Washington State Peace Corps Association WSPCA is a group of former Peace Corps volunteers dedicated to improving international understanding at all levels. We aim to fulfill the 3rd goal of the Peace Corps: Bringing the World Back Home. We draw on the lessons we have learned from living in the two-thirds world to promote increased understanding of the social, political and economic circumstances, as well as the global interdependence, of people worldwide.
  • Washington State PTA The Washington State PTA (WSPTA) is a nonprofit, membership association which seeks to bring together the home, school
    and community on behalf of all children and youth.
  • Western Model UN Western Model United Nations is part of the International Affairs Association at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. As a club, we participate in collegiate Model United Nations Conferences around the country, as well as host High School Model United Nations Conferences at WWU.
  • White House Project The White House Project, a national, nonpartisan, non-for-profit organization, aims to advance women’s leadership in all communities and sectors, up to the U.S. presidency. By filling the leadership pipeline with a richly diverse, critical mass of women, we make American institutions, businesses and government truly representative. Through multi-platform programs, The White House Project creates a culture where America’s most valuable untapped resource — women – can succeed in all realms.
  • Woodland Park Zoo For more than 100 years, Woodland Park Zoo has been a cherished community resource and a unique urban oasis. Generations of Puget Sound families have come to the zoo and marvel at the animals and are inspired by the peaceful and beautiful surroundings. Woodland Park Zoo serves as a vital educational resource for teachers and students across the state.
  • World Affairs Council SeattleThe World Affairs Council of Seattle is a membership-based organization that creates forums for discussion of critical world issues. We invite you to get involved, educated, and informed through our many programs.
  • World Affairs Council Tacoma The World Affairs Council of Tacoma provides an awareness of the impact of international events on our lives. It also provides opportunities for a more informed public opinion on foreign policy and helps students prepare for more responsible roles as citizens in a global community. Business people and educators can use Council resources to broaden their knowledge of other countries important in the global community.
  • YES! Magazine YES! is an ad-free quarterly journal of hopeful news for shaping a just, compassionate and sustainable future. YES! is published by the Positive Futures Network, a local nonprofit, and offers teachers a free 1-year subscription.