To cultivate a sense of community among cultural exchange enthusiasts, the State Department in October launched the U.S. government's first official social networking site, ExchangesConnect.  So far, the network has attracted more than 1,000 members, who use the site to share their experiences living abroad, seek advice about applying for exchange programs, and make friends with people around the world.  The network includes dozens of forums and exchange program groups and hundreds of member-posted photos, videos, and blogs. 

Roughly half of all members live in the United States, but membership growth has been particularly strong in South and Central Asia, including in Tajikistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India. 

Many members are current participants in State Department-sponsored programs.  The network permits them to compare notes on their experiences with their peers and keep in touch with each other when they return home.  Fulbright, FLEX, GCE, and YES program participants have been especially active in the community, posting stories and photos from their travels.

Other members, such as Munawar Ali Rind from Pakistan, say they joined the network because they are interested in participating in exchange programs.  Rind is applying for the Near East and South Asia Undergraduate Exchange Program, and he hopes to benefit from current students' knowledge of the program.  ExchangesConnect allows potential exchange students to read participants' first-hand accounts of their time abroad and ask them for guidance on program application processes. 

State Department staff members are also on hand to answer any questions.  Typically, the network's administrator forwards questions to program officers.  Oftentimes, however, program officers maintain their own pages on ExchangesConnect to both field inquiries and foster better communication with participants.  For example, the Youth Programs Division, which oversees seven exchange programs, has been a frequent contributor and boasts the largest group on the network, "Friends of ECA Youth Exchange Programs."

Through ExchangesConnect's forums, program directors can also start open discussions with alumni and seek their input on how to improve programs.

Beyond the network's practical information on cultural exchange programs, what makes ExchangesConnect so valuable for many members is the human connection it creates between intercultural exchange enthusiasts.  Salima Baltaqi, an iEARN participant and English as a Second Language teacher from Tunisia, says that she joined ExchangesConnect to have a dialogue with people from around the world.  She was surprised to discover so many commonalities amongst the members, "They share the same dreams, experiences and perspectives.  That's what makes it different from other social networking sites."