About Crossing Borders Education
Crossing Borders Education is a non-profit organization for cross-cultural education developed in response to the current world political situation. The main activities of the international organization include: inter-cultural and academic Morocco Exchange programs, interactive materials, and a feature documentary film. Since 2003, CB-Education has organized over 280 intercultural Morocco Exchange programs and introduced more than 4000 students and faculty to the culture. The feature film Crossing Borders was selected in 2010 at 12 International Film Festivals and is used to initiate intercultural student dialogues on campuses across the US, the Middle East and North Africa with thousands of students.
Crossing Borders Education works in collaboration with Michigan State University, the International Beliefs and Values Intstitute (IBAVI), Search for Common Ground, the Langcom Institute in Rabat, the Asociación de Programas Universitarios Norteamericanos en España (APUNE), the University Hassan II in Rabat, the Moroccan Association of Teachers of English (MATE), the Dutch Institue for higher education in Morocco (NIMAR), the Ecole Superieure Roi Fahd de Traduction in Tangier, and with NGOs such as the DARNA womens center in Tanger, the Masal youth project in Salé, the Chaouen Rural, the World Womens Banking (WWB), and the High Atlas Foundation (HAF).
Some of the American study abroad programs in Spain (organized by APUNE) that are participating in the Morocco Exchange programs of Crossing Borders Education: Arcadia, Boston College, Boston University, Central College, CIEE in Sevilla, IES in Granada, New York University, Syracuse University, University of California.
Key Staff
Managing Director
ARND WÄCHTER is the Founder and Managing Director. Arnd completed his MA and Post-Graduate Certificate in Education at Brunel and London University. He has over fifteen years experience of living abroad, and has taught Cross Cultural Education, World Religions and German for the past twelve years in the UK, Japan, USA, New Zealand Morocco and Spain. Arnd's fascination for foreign cultures and for the transformative power of journeys has led him to explore a wide range of travel destinations on six continents. In 2008/9 Arnd produced the feature-length documentary Crossing Borders which won several awards. Currently he is facilitating faculty programs for American universities, is presenting regularly at intercultural conferences, and is developing an intercultural film series in which CB-Education is partnering with Michigan State University.
Associate Director
ALLEN HOPPES, started traveling in his teens. He has visited over 30 countries in Africa, Europe, SE Asia, the South Pacific and North America. He has worked in conservation and was a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali, West Africa. He speaks English, Spanish, French, rusty Bambara and is improving his Moroccan Arabic. He has lived in Spain for the past five years, originally as an English teacher and now organizing and facilitating Morocco Exchange programs. In his free time, he travels to World Music festivals. As Associate Director of Morocco Exchange, Allen maintains personal connections with colleagues and host families in Morocco and handles all program logistics. He also frequently facilitates groups as a Program Leader.
Administration Manager
CHRISTINE HARTMANN was networking for different NGO’s and worked as an editor/writer for a local newspaper and magazine in Germany. Through work and private engagement supporting sustainability for people in so called ‘developing countries’ she discovered how important it is to create circumstances which enable humans to live in peace with each other as well as in harmony with nature. This has become a prime motivation in her life. Christine loves travelling and has been in many countries, especially focussing on Africa and Europe. Now having settled in Scotland she took on the role of Development Coordinator EU/US for Crossing Borders Education and Morocco Exchange. In her spare time she likes being in nature and writing poems.
Development Coordinator US
DARREN GROSCH served as a Peace Corps volunteer for over four years in Chad and Morocco and had colorful experiences such as milking camels in starlit dessert nights, teaching English in a Chadian village, and working at a Moroccan youth centre. Darren has over seven years of experience concentrating on development, organization, and assessment of community development projects. In addition he trained local community leaders who are serving culturally diverse populations in the US and abroad. Darren received his B.A. in Environmental Education from San Jose State University and speaks English, Moroccan Arabic and French. Darren joined the Morocco Exchange team in 2008 as a program leader until he returned to the US in August 2009. Currently he is involved with Crossing Borders Education as our Development Coordinator US and is pursuing his M.A. in International Education from Antioch University.
Facilitator for Post-Screening Discussions
NOOR DARWAZEH was born in Dallas, Texas but was mostly raised in Amman, Jordan where she also got her education and graduating with a BA in Graphic Design from Yarmouk University before moving back to the states, aside from her passion to the arts she always believed in the power of communication, celebrating diversity and learning along the way, all of that was truly realized when she got introduced to an inter-cultural and inter-faith NGO in Jordan seeking common ground, over the years that turned out to be the most amazing and nourishing experience, and it was through her volunteering work three years ago that Noor met and was introduced to the inspiring work and founder of Morocco Exchange and the documentary Crossing Borders, Noor loves reading a good book, listening to beautiful music and sketching whenever she gets a chance.
Project Manager
KATY ROSENBAUM's love of exploring cultures and language stemmed from an early age. While in college, she studied abroad with the School for International Training in Yunnan Province, China, and took a short trip to Cuba for a religion and politics class. After working with immigrants and refugees in Atlanta at a women's health clinic, Katy joined the Peace Corps Morocco as a Health volunteer, teaching lessons on hygiene, safe home birth practices, HIV/AIDS, and working with local associations. Katy is conversant in Spanish, French, and Tamazight Berber. In her free time, she enjoys dreaming of where to go next, foreign and indie movies, and experimenting with various artistic outlets to express herself.
Program Leader
JUAN CAMILO MENDEZ GUZMAN is a Colombian-American who loves to travel as much as possible. That may or may not be the reason he applied to work with Morocco Exchange upon completing his service with the Peace Corps. Though mainly working as a Youth Development volunteer, he also gave assistance to a local artist who went on to be featured in “Video Postcards,” a Peace Corps 50th anniversary project. A graduate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Juan Ca is fluent in Spanish, proficient in Moroccan Arabic, simple conversational in French and thinks he remembers a couple of words of Modern Greek from a semester in Athens. His English is alright. A rabid sports fan, Juan Ca one day hopes to fund season tickets to the New York Yankees with a law degree.
Program Leader
JESS STEPHENS has lived in the Fez region of Morocco since 2007. Before this enriching experience Barcelona, Spain was her home-base for 8 years. Originally from Wales , U.K. she studied Fine Art at BA and MA level. Interested in cultural exchange, rich visuals and the theatre of everyday life in Morocco Jess believes that (all-be-it often a challenge,) being a Moroccan resident is never dull, always enriching and constantly rewarding. The desire to share her encounters with Moroccan people, it's culture and landscape is what draws Jess to become a program leader. A practicing visual artist and natural nomad she thrives on making new discoveries and leading a creative and exploratory life. Jess speaks English, Spanish, Dariija and some French as well as the language of images.
Program Leader
LINDSEY LUDWIG holds a B.A. in Biological Anthropology from the University of Illinois and a M.A. in Environmental Conservation Education from New York University. Lindsey Ludwig loves drinking coffee; she learned to perfect the latte while spending her Junior year in Australia. After studying primates in Nicaragua, she soon joined the ranks of Peace Corps Morocco. There, in the Middle Atlas Mountains, she managed to branch out to mint tea. She also learned the true meaning of culture shock, kindness of strangers and unforgettable memories. After 27 months of speaking Moroccan Arabic, teaching environmental education and empowering women, she joined the Morocco Exchange team as a program leader.
Program Leader
KATHERINE MCCONNELL , Newhouse School of Public Communications, B.A. Mass Communications, Syracuse University. Kate thrives on travel to exotic places, from Mexico to Maui, Belfast to France. Inspired by her work with Green Team Advertising, she was possessed to give sustainable development work a stab and get down and dirty in the Peace Corps. She served two years as an environment volunteer in the middle of nowhere, Morocco, drinking mint tea, speaking in Berber tongues, and establishing income generating crafts projects with the women in Toubkal National Park. In her spare time, she waxes poetic, rides bikes, and talks to strangers.
Advisory Board
KATHRYN MILLER is an Assistant Professor for the History Department of Stanford University. She received her Doctorate in History from Yale University in 1998. Her teaching experience includes courses in religion, medieval cultures, Islamic Law, and Mediterranean routes. She has published numerous articles on Muslim History in Spain and continues to study the historical relationship between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
DWIGHT F. REYNOLDS is professor of Arabic language & literature in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Over the past twenty years he has conducted fieldwork on musical, folk, and literary traditions of the Middle East in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. Recent publications include
WILFORD H. WELCH, former US diplomat, chairman Cross Cultural Journeys Foundation. Wilford received his BA from Yale University, a Law Degree from the University of California at Berkeley, and a PMD degree from the Harvard Business School. For over forty years Wilford's professional career has been devoted to understanding and interpreting global trends. This includes six years as a U.S. diplomat in Asia. He currently serves on the board of Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs where he serves as board liaison to The Center for International Conflict Resolution. He is on the board of the World Affairs Council and a member of the Explorers Club.
ALI AZERIAH is professor of English and Head of the English Department of L'Ecole Superior du Traduction in Tangier, Morocco. Professor Azeriah will assist in program development and provide students with an introduction to cultural diversity in Morocco.
ALMUDENA ARIZA is an adjunct history professor for both New York University and Syracuse University in their study abroad programs in Madrid, Spain.
REINHARD HAUSER, Ph.D., is a psychologist and psychotherapist in private practice in Zurich, Switzerland and international trainer and founder of process work training programs.