International Travel & Cultural Exchange is a Jamaican-based BridgeUSA Agency, dedicated to sending university and college undergrad students (J-1) to the USA. The Summer Work Travel programme provides foreign students with an opportunity to live and work in the United States during their summer vacations, and to experience the different ethnicities and way of life in the United States. The programme affords full-time university students the opportunity to participate in various cultural activities while being given the opportunity to work.

Can you elaborate a little more on who you are and how your business started ?

I am a 37-year-old serial entrepreneur who believes in identifying issues within the community and providing the solutions from a business perspective. I was diagnosed with glaucoma at an early age and lost my sight in 2012 during my third year at the Caribbean Maritime University in Jamaica. I was determined to show that, in spite of my disability, I could still achieve success.

With the help of friends, ITCE commenced operations in 2012. My goal was to facilitate the opportunity for young people to travel and interact with others from across the world while earning an income that complements the experience.

What excites you the most about sending students to participate in summer work and travel programmes abroad?

A lot of students that we send on the programme each year are from rural areas, and they have never had the opportunity to travel. It is exciting to know that these students finally get the opportunity to travel outside of Jamaica, expand their horizons, make lifelong friends, and experience another culture. Nothing beats the joy that comes from the students when their visa has been issued and their travel plans are underway.

What support do you provide to students while they are in the USA, both in terms of work and cultural experiences?  

When the students are in the US, they become the responsibility of their programme sponsor. However, we liaise with their sponsor on their behalf if there is an issue and they can’t get through to the sponsor. We provide guidance on what cultural activities they can participate in, and whenever needed, we are there to provide advice.

What sets you and your business apart from its competitors?

We coach each student prior to their visa interview, so ITCE has the highest visa approval rate in Jamaica. Students feel a part of a family rather than just doing business with an entity. We are the only agency in Jamaica that hosts a pre-departure orientation social. Our students have direct contact with the CEO, and finally, ITCE is completely digital.

How does International Travel & Cultural Exchange maintain connections with alumni to continue promoting cultural exchange?

We created ITCE Connects, where we invite alumni to participate in voluntary and charitable initiatives throughout different communities. However, this initiative was put on pause due to the pandemic, and we are now looking into rekindling this vital part of our programme.