Federation EIL

Federation EIL The worldwide network of The Experiment in International Living (EIL.) http://www.federationeil.org/

Members of Federation EIL offer educational travel programs in 15 countries around the world. Federation EIL is the worldwide network of The Experiment in International Living. It began in 1954 when Experiment national offices around the globe banded together to form an association to facilitate their common educational exchange programs.

09/15/2026

From Tanzania to Bilbao 🌍✈️🇪🇸

Some of the Federation EIL family are together this week at in Bilbao!

, Director of , and , Director of .ev., are joining youth and educational travel organisations from around the world to connect, learn and share ideas.

And joining them is Kaitin, a Pandora student who spent this summer in Tanzania! 💛

We love seeing the different sides of our network come together, from the people creating opportunities for intercultural exchange to the young people actually living those experiences.

Because behind every partnership, programme and conversation are experiences that help people discover another culture, another perspective and a little more about themselves. 🌏

Have a wonderful WYSTC, Ana, Bettina and Kaitin!

YouthTravel

08/11/2026

🌏 Looking Back on GYLP 2026

Next to share her final reflections is Annie Hughes from Ireland. 🇮🇪🇯🇵

For Annie, GYLP confirmed just how much she enjoys learning about different cultures and languages, and gave her some very special memories with her host family.

💬 Annie shared:
“On the trip to Okinawa, my biggest learning was about how I value learning about other cultures from around the world. I was also able to affirm how much I enjoy learning languages as it opens up my ability to communicate with people from all over. I hope to pursue this more when I enter third level education and to choose a course that will allow me to have more interactions with different cultures.

I made so many unforgettable memories during the trip but my favourite memory was definitely the weekend that I spent with my host family. They made such an effort to do things with me and to show me around.

I was really inspired by how welcoming and kind my host family were. Even though I was thousands of miles away from Ireland, they made me feel right at home in Japan. I will never forget the memories that I made with them. I will try my best to be as welcoming as I can to any visiting students in Ireland.”

From being welcomed into a home in Okinawa to wanting to offer that same welcome to others back in Ireland, that’s what cultural exchange is all about. 💚🌏

08/10/2026

🌏 Looking Back on GYLP 2026

As our delegates reflect on their time in Okinawa, they’re sharing the experiences and people that made the biggest impact.

Today we’re hearing from Annie Wu from the United States. 🇺🇸🇯🇵

💬 Here’s what Annie shared:

“My biggest takeaway from the trip is the lifestyle of the Okinawans. I never knew what Blue Zones were before coming here. It was cool to know that because of where they live, it helps them prosper in life. It was so interesting to hear how what they do in their daily lives, eating healthier, exercising and creating large communities, is what helps them have a long and happy life.

My favourite memory was meeting the students from Naha Kokusai. They were a lot of fun and I learned a lot about how Japanese schools work and how they are different from American schools. I loved listening to what the students had to say and they were so nice. I played volleyball with some of them and it was genuinely so fun.

Who inspired me was our leadership lecturer, Misa. Even though I knew most of the content she taught us, it was super interesting to hear more context around those topics and I still learned a lot. She has been travelling around the world for a long time and it’s inspiring to hear how she has adapted to other countries. She also speaks very good English, and I would love to be able to learn another language like her.”

The friendships we make, the lessons we learn and the people who inspire us are what make experiences like GYLP unforgettable. 🌏💙

08/07/2026

🌏 Looking Back on GYLP 2026

As our delegates reflect on their time in Okinawa, they’re sharing the experiences and people that made their journey unforgettable.

Today we’re hearing from Ximena Valentina Morales Soria from Mexico. 🇲🇽

💬 Here’s what Ximena shared:

“The programme so far has been incredible. We are on our last days. It’s sad, but if I have to take something with me back home, it will be all of our learning about the Blue Zones in Okinawa because I think that sometimes we really forget about the purpose of why we are here and our lives, and we don’t truly understand why. I learned about a word called ikigai, which basically means finding the purpose of your life. I think that has left a big mark on me.

My favourite memory was when my host family organised a Mexican party for me and my sisters. It was amazing because I had the opportunity to meet incredible people, make new friends, and play basketball, football and volleyball at the beach. The atmosphere was incredible.

The people who inspired me the most during my stay were the volleyball team because they played with so much passion and intensity that you could really feel it on the court. It was amazing to watch them play, but also to see the respect they have for their sport. That really moved me.”

The memories, friendships and lessons our delegates take home are what make GYLP such a special experience. 🌏💙

08/06/2026

🌏 Looking Back on GYLP 2026

As our delegates reflect on their time in Okinawa, they’re sharing the moments and people that made this experience so memorable.

Today we’re hearing from Paul from France. 🇫🇷

💬 Here’s what Paul shared:

“My biggest learning is a way to discover and have a deep reflection about new discoveries.

My favourite memory was my last day in Okinawa. All the participants wrote kind messages to each others and at the evening, my host family organize me a farewell party with cake and presents!

I think that during this program, everyone inspired me, even the people that I only see on the street: they’re so polite, respectful, kind and warm. It’s really different than others populations!”

It’s often the people we meet and the connections we make that leave the biggest impression. 💙🌏

🌿 Learning from Okinawa’s EnvironmentOur delegates have been reflecting on global environmental issues and what actions ...
08/04/2026

🌿 Learning from Okinawa’s Environment

Our delegates have been reflecting on global environmental issues and what actions they can take at home.

Today we’re hearing from Annie Wu from the United States. 🇺🇸

💬 Here’s what Annie shared:

“When we learned about “living with water” in one of our lectures, what really stood out to me is that the water sufficiency issue isn’t just one problem that some parts around the world don’t have water access, it’s more than that. There are so many areas in the world that don’t have access to enough water but also many places that don’t have access to usable and/or too much water. I always knew that having too much access to water can be bad but didn’t know exactly how, and that lecture taught me that having too much access to water can be natural disasters like floods. Also the fact that we don’t preserve enough of our usable water and that at some point, we would use too much water that we won’t have any reasonable amount left to use. Water isn’t just water, it’s something that we have to carefully think about how we use it because usable water is limited.

I also think what’s interesting is beach litter. Even though Japan is cleaner than where I live (NYC), the beach still has so much litter. There are so many plastic, nets, and cigarette butts all over the beach when we cleaned it up. I have a green team club at my school that do park clean ups. I hope that when I go back to NYC, I will do more park clean ups and in general cleaning the city. Because my difference can make a change.”

Small actions at home can add up to real global impact. 🌏💙

🌿 Learning from Okinawa’s EnvironmentThe environmental sessions in Okinawa encouraged our delegates to think about the c...
08/01/2026

🌿 Learning from Okinawa’s Environment

The environmental sessions in Okinawa encouraged our delegates to think about the challenges facing our planet, and the small changes we can all make at home.

Today we’re hearing from Paul from France. 🇫🇷

💬 Here’s what Paul shared:

“I think the environmental issue that has affected me the most is the global water shortage. I’m really worried about the future because water is essential to life, and it’s already running out in some countries. I think trying to reduce my water usage at home (for example, by taking fewer baths and not letting the sink run) could really help. On a more global scale, I think we should slow down non-essential technologies. I’m thinking in particular of AI, which consumes a lot of water to cool its numerous servers.”

From conserving water to thinking more carefully about our everyday choices, every action can contribute to a more sustainable future. 🌏💧

🌿 Learning from Okinawa’s EnvironmentOne of the most valuable parts of GYLP is learning about the environmental challeng...
07/31/2026

🌿 Learning from Okinawa’s Environment

One of the most valuable parts of GYLP is learning about the environmental challenges facing different parts of the world, and thinking about what we can do at home.

Today we’re hearing from Annie Hughes from Ireland. 🇮🇪🇯🇵

💬 Here’s what Annie shared:

“The environmental issue that stood out to me was coral bleaching and the loss of coral due to global warming. We learned that coral finds it hard to survive in water above 30°C and that this is becoming a big issue. When the water gets above 30°C, the coral loses its colour (coral bleaching), it then dies completely.

At home, I think it is important to take actions to combat global warming such by using public transport or renewable energy.”

Every small action counts, and learning from places like Okinawa inspires us to make positive changes at home. 🌏💙

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