From strangers to lifelong friends: Inside the YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange
A summer of firsts
Every choice can impact your life, whether it’s learning a new language, applying for your first job, or spending time away from home in a new community.
For youth participating in the YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange (SWSE) program, summer often means saying yes to all three and stepping into a chapter of growth they didn’t expect.
Each summer, youth aged 16 and 17 from communities across Canada leave home to live and work in a new city. They practise one of Canada’s official languages, gain full-time job experience, and learn to navigate new environments independently. But somewhere between first shifts, shared meals with host families, and weekend outings, connections grow.
Friendship found in unexpected places
For four participants from Hamilton, St. Thomas, Guelph, and Calgary, respectively, friendship became one of the most meaningful parts of their exchange.
Diyala was curious and enthusiastic when she first arrived, but she wasn’t focused on forming deep relationships. "I just wanted to get a better sense of people," she shares. "I didn’t expect to make extremely close friends. I was open and optimistic about the journey, not the end."
That openness made space for connection.
Although SWSE is an exchange for individuals, participants quickly discover they are part of something bigger. From coordinators and host families to employers and fellow youth, the program creates a network of support that helps young people feel welcome and seen in their new communities.
For Kayla, those connections began at a simple icebreaker event. "We had to guess chip flavours and write them down," she recalls. "It was really awkward at first, but as time went on, the ice melted slowly." Small talk turned to shared laughter and friendships she didn’t expect to find.
Growing together
Over six weeks, routines form. Participants explore their host cities together, encourage each other through new challenges, and create memories they’ll recall long after summer ends.
Aurora and Jaya were in the same cohort, and spending nearly every day together made returning home bittersweet. "It was difficult going from seeing each other daily to being far apart," Aurora shares. "But we are closer than ever and still text every day." Jaya adds, "You don’t need to be close in distance to be friends."
Their friendship did not end when the program did; it simply evolved.
Embracing new experiences
Travelling to a new place meant leaving their comfort zones, and Kayla admits she didn’t expect to make friends at first — but she was pleasantly surprised. "Going outside of my comfort zone allowed me to be myself and meet amazing new people," she says.
Diyala also discovered we are all more alike than we realize. "People are just as crazy as I am," she says. "It made me feel more comfortable to express my true self and just enjoy things." That sense of belonging helped her fully embrace the experience.
Advice for future participants
Kayla says it’s completely normal to feel nervous about making friends on an exchange. "I was, too, but everyone is in the same position. These friendships will occur naturally over time." Aurora agrees. "Don’t be! Everybody I know made lifelong friends through this program. Just be yourself, and you will have an amazing time."
Jaya reminds future participants that they’re not alone. "You’re so valid for feeling that way, but remember, you all chose to come out here for similar reasons."
Diyala’s message is simple and heartfelt: "Don’t be scared! You’ll make lots of friends."
More than work. More than language.
Although the four youth joined the program in different summers and from different communities, their reflections share a common thread — an appreciation for the friendships they made along the way.
They applied to learn a new language.
They applied to gain work experience.
They applied to try something new.
They left with all of that, and with friendships that continue to grow long after summer ends.
And that’s the power of community.
"[It’s] something I’m really grateful for and would not have gotten by staying at home," says Jaya. "My exchange friendship made me feel alive. The best kind of feeling," Diyala agrees. Sometimes the most meaningful relationships are the ones you never plan for.
If you’re ready to experience it for yourself, explore the YMCA Youth Exchange Programs and begin your journey today:
Summer Work Student Exchange (SWSE) program at ymcagta.org/swse
Youth Exchanges Canada (YEC) program at ymcagta.org/yec
Article written by Benita Ngwela
