Route J-1

DAS Lerner and Intel Trainees from China and the Philippines prepare materials for local classroom teachers.

What do you get when you cross semiconductor chips with American cultural diplomacy? Thirty engineers from China and the Philippines joining their American supervisors in some good old fashioned back to school volunteerism!

I visited Phoenix during the third leg of this summer’s Route J1, and stopped in at Intel to join their international trainees in a corporate volunteer activity. Intel is a long-standing J-1 Intern and Trainee host, and they have challenged themselves to create robust and diverse cultural offerings for their J-1 trainees. The Intel training program draws from individuals working at their locations in other countries. Through the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, they can bring engineers to various sites across the U.S. to receive training on specific technology. Knowing that a trainee’s program is more enriched through organized cultural exposure, they are encouraged to take part in Intel’s corporate volunteer activities alongside their American colleagues. During my visit, I participated in a community centered volunteering activity– preparing classroom materials to donate to local teachers. While assembling the supplies with the trainees, I had a chance to hear about their career experiences and perspectives on spending a year in the U.S. One common thread was a genuine appreciation for the extraordinary professional development opportunities they received through the program. One of Intel’s stated mottos is to use technology to “connect and enrich the life of every person on earth”. That sounds a lot like what happens through people-to-people exchange!

Categories: J-1 Visa, Participants, Program Spotlight