Press release -
Nordic exchange alumna brings creative workshops to Gambian classrooms for second consecutive year
(GOTHENBURG, June 12, 2025) Anne Håkanes, a former Educatius exchange student from Norway, will travel to The Gambia this month as part of the 2025 Aiducatius Creativity Internship team. She’ll lead storytelling and theater-based workshops at St. Martin’s School in rural Kartong, supporting young students in creative expression and collaborative learning.
Educatius, headquartered in Gothenburg, has supported St. Martin’s School since 2009 through its not-for-profit arm, Aiducatius. In 2024 alone, 620 students—nearly half the school—received support. The annual internship builds on this relationship by sending students, educators, and staff from across the Educatius global exchange programs to co-create unique classroom projects with local teachers.
Anne’s approach to creativity was shaped by personal and international experiences. During a family crisis, she performed in multiple shows daily, pushing herself beyond limits. “Exhaustion made me better,” she said. “It stripped away perfection and made my performances real.”
She also credits her exchange year in Australia for broadening her creative lens. “Being immersed in a new culture, hearing different languages, and seeing the world through a new perspective made me realize how limitless creative expression can be,” she said.
Now a senior ambassador for Educatius across all Nordic countries, Anne's application was by Nordic staff who praise her ability to mentor exchange students, her passion for education, and her talent for turning challenges into growth. She joins three other interns: Fednike Nozistene, a performing arts teacher from the USA; Sylvi Jones, an American exchange student studying in the UK; and Margaret Pettersen, a host mother and local coordinator in Ireland.
They will work alongside four experienced Educatius colleagues. Together, the team brings a wide range of perspectives—representing nationalities including Norwegian, Italian, Haitian, Bulgarian, Irish, and American—and experience across countries such as Spain, Colombia, Australia, and the UK.
Anne follows in the footsteps of Norwegian alumna Norun Igeltjorn Braend, who completed an exchange in the USA and won a place on the 2024 internship. For the second year in a row, a Nordic student will help lead this unique cross-continental exchange.
From Norway to Australia to The Gambia, Anne’s path reflects Educatius’ commitment to empowering young people and creating a positive impact through cultural exchange. Students and alumni from any Educatius high school program will be eligible to apply for the 2026 Aiducatius Creativity Internship.
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With 21 years of experience, Educatius is selected by students, trusted by parents, and preferred by high schools as the number one choice for high school abroad. We enrich the lives of over 8,000 high school students from 60 nations each year, offering unparalleled student exchange opportunities in the USA, UK, Ireland, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and online. We are dedicated to making a positive global impact through initiatives like Aiducatius, tree planting in Tanzania, the Global Youth Resilience Initiative. At Educatius, we believe that education can change the world.
