Acquaint: A Foundation for a More Collaborative World

At Acquaint, we believe that collaboration across cultures is vital to addressing humanity's greatest challenges. From war and poverty to climate change, the world needs united efforts to bring positive impact. Unfortunately, we often let our differences hinder progress at all levels of society. That's why we have created a platform where you can help build collaborative capacity and create a better future for all.

The Acquaint platform combines intercultural communication training and interactive virtual activities that inspire people to connect, learn, and share across all walks of life. Currently, over 1500 volunteers have joined Acquaint from over 100 countries. By training and engaging in one-on-one conversations with each other on the platform, volunteers learn perspectives and build skills that impact their communities both locally and globally. Imagine if millions of people had a fun way to practice collaborative skills that they bring back to their families, offices, and communities.

Acquaint: A Foundation for a More Collaborative World

At Acquaint, we believe that collaboration across cultures is vital to addressing humanity's greatest challenges. From war and poverty to climate change, the world needs united efforts to bring positive impact. Unfortunately, we often let our differences hinder progress at all levels of society. That's why we have created a platform where you can help build collaborative capacity and create a better future for all.

The Acquaint platform combines intercultural communication training and interactive virtual activities that inspire people to connect, learn, and share across all walks of life. Currently, over 1500 volunteers have joined Acquaint from over 100 countries. By training and engaging in one-on-one conversations with each other on the platform, volunteers learn perspectives and build skills that impact their communities both locally and globally. Imagine if millions of people had a fun way to practice collaborative skills that they bring back to their families, offices, and communities.

What We Offer

Global Community and One-on-One Connections:

First and foremost, Acquaint is a volunteer opportunity for people to engage in impactful intercultural dialogue. When you join Acquaint, you become part of this global network, gaining access to diverse perspectives and experiences. Our platform facilitates one-on-one conversations between volunteers, enabling deep connections and fostering meaningful exchanges.

Intercultural Communication Training:

Our platform includes a library of interactive intercultural communication training that equips individuals with the skills to bridge cultural gaps and navigate diverse environments effectively. Volunteers can unlock new training modules by participating in the intercultural dialogue sessions. The modules cover essential topics such as cultural awareness, active listening, empathy, and conflict transformation.

Practical Application:

We believe that true learning happens through practice and application. Acquaint empowers volunteers to take their skills beyond the virtual realm and make a tangible impact in their communities. By applying their newfound collaborative skills locally and globally, our volunteers become catalysts for change, inspiring others to follow suit.

Partnerships:

Acquaint partners with corporations, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other types of organizations to offer meaningful engagement to their members. In addition to the intercultural dialogue and communication training elements, we can also provide workshops and impact data collection to our partners.

Locations Acquaint volunteers have joined from.

What We Offer

Global Community and One-on-One Connections:

First and foremost, Acquaint is a volunteer opportunity for people to engage in impactful intercultural dialogue. When you join Acquaint, you become part of this global network, gaining access to diverse perspectives and experiences. Our platform facilitates one-on-one conversations between volunteers, enabling deep connections and fostering meaningful exchanges.

Intercultural Communication Training:

Our platform includes a library of interactive intercultural communication training that equips individuals with the skills to bridge cultural gaps and navigate diverse environments effectively. Volunteers can unlock new training modules by participating in the intercultural dialogue sessions. The modules cover essential topics such as cultural awareness, active listening, empathy, and conflict transformation.

Practical Application:

We believe that true learning happens through practice and application. Acquaint empowers volunteers to take their skills beyond the virtual realm and make a tangible impact in their communities. By applying their newfound collaborative skills locally and globally, our volunteers become catalysts for change, inspiring others to follow suit.

Partnerships:

Acquaint partners with corporations, educational institutions, nonprofits, and other types of organizations to offer meaningful engagement to their members. In addition to the intercultural dialogue and communication training elements, we can also provide workshops and impact data collection to our partners.

Locations Acquaint volunteers have joined from.

Our History

Before Acquaint was founded in 2021, its predecessor was an intergenerational program. The program focused on connecting younger and older people to address the effects of isolation, particularly during the height of the pandemic. It recruited younger “volunteers” to connect for conversations with “participants” living in care homes. However, Co-founders Katherine Mahon and Alex Szebenyi started noticing a problem with this dynamic. Dividing people into two groups created an othering effect, where the “volunteers” felt a stronger sense of purpose than the “participants” – the group we were supposedly serving. It didn’t seem right. If everyone in the program was taking time to connect and talk with each other, shouldn’t they all feel like contributors?

The solution to this dynamic was simple: Make everyone a volunteer and put the focus on human connection, rather than one group serving another. Furthermore, a lack of connection was far from just a generational problem. Wanting to create a program that bridged cultural divides as well, the founders opened Acquaint to all countries and restructured the platform for meaningful intercultural dialogue.

Within three years, the Acquaint community has expanded to include over 1500 volunteers from more than 100 countries. We still retain our roots as an intergenerational program, as volunteers currently range from teenagers to (at least) ninety-somethings. The exchange of ideas, wisdom, and life experiences is integral to every volunteer’s journey with Acquaint regardless of age or background.

Our History

Before Acquaint was founded in 2021, its predecessor was an intergenerational program. The program focused on connecting younger and older people to address the effects of isolation, particularly during the height of the pandemic. It recruited younger “volunteers” to connect for conversations with “participants” living in care homes. However, Co-founders Katherine Mahon and Alex Szebenyi started noticing a problem with this dynamic. Dividing people into two groups created an othering effect, where the “volunteers” felt a stronger sense of purpose than the “participants” – the group we were supposedly serving. It didn’t seem right. If everyone in the program was taking time to connect and talk with each other, shouldn’t they all feel like contributors?

The solution to this dynamic was simple: Make everyone a volunteer and put the focus on human connection, rather than one group serving another. Furthermore, a lack of connection was far from just a generational problem. Wanting to create a program that bridged cultural divides as well, the founders opened Acquaint to all countries and restructured the platform for meaningful intercultural dialogue.

Within three years, the Acquaint community has expanded to include over 1500 volunteers from more than 100 countries. We still retain our roots as an intergenerational program, as volunteers currently range from teenagers to (at least) ninety-somethings. The exchange of ideas, wisdom, and life experiences is integral to every volunteer’s journey with Acquaint regardless of age or background.