International exchange programmes: the reality behind the promises

Do you dream of travelling and working abroad? Are you ready to trade your cosy little room for a mattress on the floor with ten strangers in the same space? Advertising brochures paint a picture of the Garden of Eden, but the reality of international exchange and employment programmes often turns out to be an honest reality check – where the bet is your nerves, money and health.

We decided to conduct our own investigation and check the information about different international programmes: what are the real living conditions, where promises of mountains of gold turn out to be just talk, and where people are genuinely taken care of. We looked into reviews and spoke to participants of major international programmes.

WORK AND TRAVEL: THE PERFECT PART-TIME JOB AND A TRIP OF A LIFETIME, OR COCKROACHES AND FLOOR MATTRESSES?

Work and Travel is one of the most hyped student programmes out there. You head to the US, work over the summer, travel around, and improve your English. The websites are full of happy students posing in front of the Statue of Liberty. But the reality, according to thousands of participant reviews, often turns out to be shocking.

The biggest issue Work and Travel students run into when they arrive is accommodation. The official brochures promise “comfortable housing”, but in reality, people end up in wrecked trailers, cheap roadside motels, or even restaurant basements. An Associated Press investigation collected dozens of first-hand accounts.

What’s more, the working conditions were harsh. Hundreds of international students came to the U.S. under the Summer Work and Travel programme. Instead of a cultural exchange, they were put on night shifts at a Hershey’s plant. After deductions for rent, they were earning $40–$140 per week, while being charged double the market rate for housing. The students staged a walkout.

Godwin, a Nigerian student, said:

“We were tired of being exploitable labour for the Hershey’s Company. Every one of us paid $3,000 – $6,000 to come to America for what was supposed to be a cultural exchange. Instead we became captive workers at the Hershey’s plant.”

What’s more, as Godwin pointed out, the students were forced to live in company housing, for which they were charged twice the market rates paid by American tenants living in the same complexes.

Employers who take part in the programme often cut corners on everything. Workers are frequently underpaid. They have to pay for their own dishes and bedding. In some cases, accommodation isn’t provided at all – students are left to find a place themselves, and with US rental prices, that quickly becomes way too expensive.

On top of that – there’s no legal protection. There’s nowhere to complain: the programme coordinators just shrug, while your employer can cut your shifts or fire you with zero explanation. So instead of the so‑called “American Dream”, what you actually end up with is stress, debt, and ruined health.

You can find more stories here and here. The Associated Press report is available in the Web archive.