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AIESEC
AIESEC Logo.svg
Formation 1948
Type Not-for-profit
Legal status Active
Purpose Peace and fulfillment of humankind's potential
Headquarters Montreal, Canada
Location
  • 5605 Avenue de Gaspé, Suite 110, Montréal, QC H2T 2A4, Canada
Region served
 Worldwide
Membership
 40,000
Official language
 English
President of AIESEC International (PAI)
 Arfan Nazar
Main organ
 Global Plenary

AIESEC (pronounced: EYE-sek) is a big international group run by young people. It's a non-profit organization, which means it doesn't aim to make money. Instead, it helps young people get business experience through internships. AIESEC wants to help young people make a positive difference in the world. About 40,000 members are part of the AIESEC network in over 120 countries.

AIESEC works closely with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It is also recognized by UNESCO, which is the United Nations' group for education, science, and culture. AIESEC's main office is in Montreal, Canada.

What AIESEC's Name Means

The name AIESEC was originally a French acronym. It stood for "International Association of Students in Economics and Business." Today, the full French name is not used anymore. This is because AIESEC now welcomes students from all kinds of university backgrounds, not just business and economics.

AIESEC's Story

How AIESEC Started

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AIESEC in Estonia

The idea for AIESEC began after World War II. At that time, students from different schools in Europe wanted to share information. They were interested in programs about business and economics. Before the war, students often found internships in other countries on their own. But the war stopped this.

In 1944, some neutral countries in Scandinavia still exchanged students. Then, in 1948, Bertil Hedberg from the Stockholm School of Economics and two students, Jaroslav Zich and Stanislas Callens, officially started AIESEC. This happened on July 2, 1948. Jaroslav Zich became the first President.

After World War II, Europe was recovering. Factories needed new leaders and managers. Also, the war had damaged relationships between European nations. Many people felt something needed to be done to fix this. AIESEC was created to help with both problems.

In April 1948, students from 9 universities in 7 countries met in Liège (Belgium). This led to the first official meeting, called a congress, in 1949 in Stockholm. Students from seven nations, including Belgium, Denmark, and France, came together.

In 1949, AIESEC helped 89 students go on exchanges to other countries. The organization's goal was to "expand the understanding of a nation by expanding the understanding of the individuals, changing the world one person at a time." They also said AIESEC was an independent, non-political, and international group that wanted to build friendly relationships among its members.

Growing Around the World

AIESEC grew very quickly in the years that followed. By 1955, over 1,000 student exchanges happened in just one year. Soon after, AIESEC became truly global. The United States joined in 1957. Then, Colombia, Venezuela, and South Africa joined in 1958.

For its first few years, AIESEC didn't have one main leader. Instead, a group of leaders from each country managed it together. As the organization got bigger, they created a central group led by a Secretary General. Morris Wolff from the United States was chosen as the first Secretary General in 1960. He set up AIESEC's first permanent international office in Geneva, Switzerland.

Over the next ten years, AIESEC spread to East Asia, Australia, and more countries in Europe, Africa, North America, and South America. By 1969, AIESEC was active in 43 countries. In 2010, AIESEC helped over 10,000 young people go on exchanges in one year for the first time.

Global Volunteer Program

AIESEC believes that young people have a responsibility to be leaders. The "Global Volunteer" program is an international volunteer program. It lets young people aged 18–29 help with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. These goals are a plan to make the world a better place by 2030.

Global Volunteering programs are usually short, lasting 6–8 weeks. They give young people chances to travel and work for non-profit organizations. Many projects focus on developing countries. These projects can include teaching, raising awareness about HIV/AIDS, working on human rights, or helping with environmental sustainability.

Since AIESEC is a non-profit, volunteers usually pay for their own travel, flights, and medical insurance. However, some AIESEC projects might provide food and a place to stay. AIESEC works with the United Nations to help young people discover their potential. This way, they can make a lasting positive impact on the world.

Global Talent Program

"Global Talent" is another program that offers international internships. These internships are at companies like startups, small and medium-sized businesses, or large international companies. They are for young people who want to grow their skills and careers. These internships can last from 6 weeks to 1.5 years.

Awards and Recognition

In July 2015, AIESEC was recognized for the ninth time on the WorldBlu list. This list names "Most Freedom Centred Workplaces." Organizations get on this list after their employees complete a survey. The survey checks how much freedom and trust there is in the workplace.

Countries with AIESEC Members

As of 2023, AIESEC is active in over 100 countries and territories around the world. Some of these include:

Famous People Who Were in AIESEC

Many notable people were once part of AIESEC. Here are a few examples:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: AIESEC para niños

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