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Milestones

FUSIA’s BridgeUSA-CCIP Internships have achieved both organizational and cultural success. Each year, the program continues to reach new milestones.

In the first year after its launch, 78 students from Asia participated in CCIP. The students attended internships at 11 hosts in New York and New Jersey.

CCIP grew to 100 participants and 29 host organizations. FUSIA organized the Taste of Harlem, providing students a glimpse of the diverse history, literature, music, cuisine, and dance rooted in Harlem.

The number of partner universities expanded to seven, represented by 130 participants. FUSIA organized the first annual Recognition Ceremony at the Cornell Club, connecting participants with the local community.

CCIP participation expanded to 135 students and 37 host organizations. The Recognition Ceremony grew into a more widely attended event. Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer declared August 16, 2011, “Cross Cultural Internship Day” in Manhattan.

As the internship program grew in popularity, CCIP participation climbed even higher to 142 students. The program received its first federal-level proclamation from Sen. Charles E. Schumer, marking a milestone in the organization’s recognition not only by the NYC business community, but from the US government.

FUSIA was awarded the New York Mets’ Spirit Award in recognition of its accomplishments. Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer declared August 26 “Cross Cultural Internship Day” in Manhattan. FUSIA officially became a designated visa sponsor in the J-1 Intern category later in 2013.

In its first year as a designated sponsor, FUSIA accepted 69 exchange visitors with a reduced quota control number. These students were carefully selected from a pool of 1079 applicants. Despite the challenges of operating with a reduced quota control number, FUSIA remained committed to providing a valuable and enriching experience for all participants.

CCIP continued to grow in popularity, with participation increasing from 69 to 71 students. These students were carefully selected from a pool of 1058 applicants, demonstrating the high level of interest in the program. FUSIA remained committed to providing a valuable and enriching experience for all participants.

Participation grew to 75 students out of 985 applicants. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer declared July 5, 2016 “CCIP Appreciation Day.” Founder Elizabeth Kay was awarded a commendation for her decade of facilitating cultural exchange in NYC.

Proclaiming July 17, 2017 “CCIP Appreciation Day,” Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer recognized CCIP for the fourth time for its dedication to building bridges between cultures. CCIP had another record year for applications, selecting 74 interns from an all-time high of 1355 applicants.

CCIP celebrates its 10th anniversary at Citi Field with 130 guests. Students, alumni, hosts, and US and foreign government officials joined the celebration. Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer declares CCIP Appreciation Day for the fifth time in New York City.

For the sixth year in a row, CCIP Appreciation Day is declared by former Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, in recognition of the program’s continued dedication to cultural exchange. With over 70 high-caliber interns across two sessions, CCIP also boasts the highest number of participating host organizations to date.

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, CCIP demonstrated resilience by continuing the program with participants from HKU. NYEP was also conducted at the beginning of the year, showcasing FUSIA’s determination to continue its mission during challenging times.

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, FUSIA made the difficult decision to pause its program for the year. However, this time was used to revamp the website and copy. A new website was launched at the end of the year, reflecting FUSIA’s commitment to innovation and improvement.

With reopening in some countries, self-paced programs that carry CCIP intermediate culture were introduced. Participants had more flexibility to choose their hosts and activities they would like to join. This new approach allowed for a more personalized experience and demonstrated FUSIA’s adaptability in changing circumstances.

While self-paced programs began to gain popularity, FUSIA decided to start running full-paced programs again in NYC during both summers and winters. This decision reflects FUSIA’s dedication to providing a range of options for participants and its commitment to its mission.