Are you a student looking for volunteer opportunities?

From international sporting events to historic anniversaries, 2026 is set to bring the world to Philadelphia like never before. Students who sign up for our Youth Diplomats program will have the opportunity to volunteer at special events across the city. Youth Diplomats will receive training on cultural diplomacy, Philadelphia history, and volunteer engagement to ensure Philly puts our best foot forward this year!

If you are hosting an event in 2026, let us bring our team of Youth Diplomats to ensure your team has time and energy to focus on delivering a strong impression for your visitors.

This program is free to participate, thanks to the generous support from and partnerships with the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, America250PA, the City of Philadelphia, the School District of Philadelphia, Firstrust Bank, and PromoShop. This program is funded in part by the Philadelphia City Fund’s 2026 Milestone Grant Fund, supported by PECO.

Visit the link below for more information on how to become a Youth Diplomat or how to host them at your event!

LEARN MORE

This free certificate program is designed to highlight any student who has exemplified cross-cultural awareness and understanding through a combination of globally focused coursework, a world language proficiency, and participation in related extracurricular activities. 

Global Scholars Benefits:     

• Official letter and certificate
• Capstone presentation & evaluation
• Graduation cord
• Media recognition

Learn more and apply by December 31.

The Education Coordinator is a temporary position with hybrid work environment that will be responsible for assisting with the administration of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia’s Global Smarts Mentoring Program, a rigorous global literacy tutoring program that pairs college-level student mentors with middle school students participating in the Jr. Model UN program. The position also includes additional administrative duties related to the Council’s global education program for high school and middle school students. This position reports to the Vice President of Education and works both in-person at the Council’s office in Center City Philadelphia and remotely, with occasional visits to partner schools and participation in all Council education programs.

Key Functions/Responsibilities

•  Co-leads a group of student mentors (undergraduate students) during weekly professional development meetings
• Assists with planning and facilitation of Council education programs for middle and high school students
• Visits Global Smarts Mentoring Program partner schools and assists with on-site observations of mentors
• Provides pre- and post-event support • Researches and prepares program-related curriculum for middle and high school programs
• Assists with distribution of evaluations, forms, and prepares detailed reports
• Manages and prepares program-specific correspondence and documents
• Assists in content creation for the website and social media, including proof reading
• Provides proofreading support on both digital and hard copy materials as needed
• Provides data entry support

Learn more and apply.

Full job description.

The Membership Manager is responsible for all activities related to the growth and management of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia’s membership programs, which includes individual, corporate, partners, and schools. In this role, the Manager cultivates and stewards relationships with the Council’s diverse membership base and corporate partners; develops and implements retention and growth strategies to expand membership and enhance the membership experience; and serves as an important representative of the Council and its mission of bringing international affairs education to the Philadelphia region. This position is overseen by the Vice President of Development & Membership.

Learn more and apply.

The application deadline is August 31, 2021.

The World Affairs Council (WAC) of Philadelphia is a +70-year-old private, nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization dedicated to informing and engaging people of all ages on matters of national and international significance. The Council provides its members and the greater Philadelphia community with access to influential figures in the global arena though speaker events as well as opportunities to visit fascinating destinations through its unique travel program. The Council offers professional development to enhance global fluency skills and leaders’ confidence when working cross-culturally through its Global Leadership Institute. With the support of individual and corporate members, the Council’s global education serves an annual average of 2,500 area students across 85 schools who are the citizens, workforce, and leaders of the future. More information.

Scope of Work for Independent Contractor: Outreach and Relationship Development in Philadelphia Schools

The independent contractor will be responsible for expanding and sustaining the participation of partner middle and high schools with Council’s education programming and initiatives. Responsibilities include but are not limited to coordinating outreach efforts to school districts, schools, and partner institutions, primarily located in and around the greater Philadelphia region, with an emphasis on federally designated “Title 1” and/or under resourced schools. The contractor will recruit, secure, onboard, and sustain engagement with new schools while supporting program delivery and engagement efforts with existing partners. The contractor will also plan and implement outreach activities in collaboration with schools and community partners which includes (but is not limited to) site visits, presentations, assemblies, club meetings, and conferences. This contractor may be required to travel to schools, school district agencies, and community partner institutions. Additionally, the contractor will help to gather data to prepare and deliver reports and presentations related to both school, student, and program enrollment and outreach activities.

Learn more and apply.

Apply by August 27.

We would like to invite you to join us for this important conversation—tickets to the program are only $20. Topics will include student debt, free college, vocational schools, and an overall discussion on the trajectory of the United States’ higher education system. We would also love to invite any students you work with to join us, as we have a special student ticket price of just $5 for the event.

LOCATION: Penn State Abington, 1600 Woodland Road, Abington, PA 19001

SCHEDULE:
5 p.m. Registration opens
5-6 p.m. Reception (for those ticket holders)
6 p.m. Program
7:30 p.m. Conclusion

It seems that one of the hottest topics leading up to the 2020 Presidential Election is the United States’ higher education system—particularly what we should do about ballooning costs for students and families and how we should tackle the $1.5 trillion crisis that is student debt (the second-highest consumer debt category, beaten only by mortgage debt).

But the answer to the question on how, specifically, to address these issues remains elusive.

The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia and Penn State Abington are partnering to bring together a panel of experts who will focus on the many proposals that have been “floated” by campaigning politicians and organizations seeking to alleviate these problems and whether or not those ideas are realistic—and if not, how our country can solve them.

For more information and to register, click here.

The World Affairs Council of Philadelphia will host The American Healthcare Debate – a panel discussion focused on our healthcare system, what needs to be fixed (and according to whom?), and whether bipartisan efforts can lead to a solution.

With the extraordinary growth of America’s health spending, an aging population of Baby Boomers to care for, and a heightened debate on whether universal healthcare is right or wrong for the United States, it’s no wonder this topic has become one of the leading political issues.

Our panelists-including representatives from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Independence Blue Cross, the CATO Institute and more-will help shed light on this complex issue. Registration here.

https://www.wacphila.org/calendar/speakers_events/the_american_healthcare_debate