Made Impact is a global movement dedicated to amplifying the role of international exchange in peacebuilding, personal growth, and shared prosperity. Chris created Made Impact to prove—through storytelling, data collection, and strategic advocacy—that connection across cultures isn’t just powerful; it’s essential.

Over the next five years, Made Impact will drive a systematic shift in how the world understands the transformative power of international exchange. By increasing accessibility and intentionality, we aim to double its global impact within the next decade.

To capture this momentum, Chris and the Made Impact team are on a mission to collect one million stories of how international exchange has changed lives and strengthened communities.

What inspired the creation of Made Impact?

When I was young, I went on an exchange programme that changed the entire trajectory of my life. It opened my eyes to the world and led me to later found Camp Leaders and Smaller Earth, which have helped hundreds of thousands of young people experience international exchange. But today, international mobility is shifting, and the transformative power of exchange is being overlooked. I founded Made Impact to champion exchange as one of the world’s most powerful yet undervalued strategies for personal growth and peace.

In your vision, what does the world look like in 10 years if your mission is successful?

In ten years, I see a world where international exchange is no longer seen as a “nice-to-have” but as a proven strategy for building personal growth, peace and prosperity – and leadership. Millions more young people from all backgrounds will have access to opportunities that broaden horizons and break down barriers. Policymakers, educators, and employers will prioritise exchange because the evidence and stories are undeniable: exchange creates more empathetic, resilient, and connected global citizens who are better equipped to tackle our shared challenges.

For someone who has never participated in an international exchange, why should they consider it?

Exchange gives you something that no classroom, TikTok reel or textbook can: the lived experience of stepping into another culture, building friendships and networks across borders, and seeing the world from a new perspective. It challenges you, shapes your character, and equips you with skills you’ll use for the rest of your life – empathy, adaptability, resilience and confidence. They are also so much fun! Whether you’re a young student, a professional, or simply curious about the world, exchange has the power to transform your future in ways you simply cannot imagine.

How can everyday people, not just policymakers or programme organisers, support your movement?

Everyone has a role to play in elevating the impact of exchange. If you’ve ever participated, share your story – because stories are the most powerful way to show the world why these opportunities matter. Programmes can also get directly involved through our World Storyteller Project, which sends 250 young people on exchanges to gather stories and share their impact with the world. We’re looking for partners for this project now! Together, we can build a movement that ensures exchange is valued and protected for future generations.

What’s the single most important thing you want people to remember about Made Impact?

That international exchange is not just about travel – it’s about personal growth and, although it sounds lofty, peace – it is what happens when people connect, learn, and build something better together. Every story we collect, every life transformed, is evidence that these programmes create understanding in a world that too often feels divided. Made Impact exists to gather one million stories and make it impossible to ignore the truth: exchange is the best strategy we have for building a safer, more connected, and more hopeful world. If we forget that, we’re missing one of humanity’s greatest opportunities.