American Challenge is a Work and Travel USA agency based in Romania, dedicated to creating life-changing experiences for students who want to explore the world while gaining valuable work opportunities.

What inspired the founding of American Challenge back in 2014, and how has the vision evolved since then?

I was a Work and Travel USA participant back in 2008, and after my return, I worked for 6 years as a programme coordinator, where I learnt a lot about the programme, but also, I had a sense about how I wanted things to be done. So, in 2014 I started American Challenge – my main desire being to be able to offer a very personal touch, and that could only come from close and personal interaction with the students. Our vision remains the same: a more personal approach leads to a more successful programme for everybody involved.

What makes your personalised approach different from other work and travel agencies in Romania

American Challenge has kept the idea that students are not numbers – they are different individuals, with different desires and skills. So, we don’t try to fit them all into the same requirements but rather focus on finding what suits them best, based on our interactions with them. They are our friends – and that makes us work harder to make them happy. If the students are happy with their placements, they are more motivated to work hard and give back – and that helps the customers, the employers, and the sponsors.

How do you ensure students are matched with the right placements for their skills and goals?

It’s simple – we listen to the student! First, we find out what they know about the programme and what they expect from it. Then we evaluate their English, their previous work experience and studies, but also, we just talk about their life, their hobbies and their friends. We see what motivates them and what makes them excited. In the end, we re-evaluate what their expectations are, and we make a list of essential criteria. Then we go back to the jobs and, one by one, analyse which one will be a best match considering all the employer requirements.

What’s the most popular destination among your participants, and why do you think it resonates with Romanian youth?

Although we don’t get a lot of placements there, I can say without a doubt that the most asked-for destination is Hawaii! It is both exotic and exclusive, and that attracts them. But also, the placements we had there were really nice, and the students had very successful programmes, so they talk to their friends, and the word gets around. A close second is Estes Park, Colorado – for the mountain lovers – they love to explore the beauty of the area and living in that small community where they see what real life in America is.

How do you see American Challenge contributing to the future of Romanian youth mobility and cultural exchange?

I hope American Challenge stays on its course and continues to offer the same quality programmes as it does now (and we thank our sponsors for helping us ensure that). But we do want to expand our programmes and help the students explore the USA in different ways, even after they finish their studies. That’s why, starting this year, we will be offering both internship and professional career training programmes, and we will take the opportunity at the WYSTC conference to meet more potential partners.