South Bend is going global. The city is one of a select few in the nation handpicked by the state department to host international  students for a work study program.

All of them are from Latin America and the Caribbean, participating in the US State Departments Young Leaders of The America's Initiative.

 Led by Notre Dame, the students are in South Bend learning from their U.S counterparts, essentially doing work study and job shadowing local business leaders. 

South Bend is one of only 21 cities handpicked by the Obama administration for this. And the international students say they are learning a lot.

"Things are really so different from what I'm doing so I have increased my spectrum of things," said Andrea Donoso from Chile. 

Their goal is to take what they learn from us here and devise a plan to implement in their respective countries. In that sense, it's a cultural exchange and partnership. 

"It kind of reminds me of my country, but much bigger. The life you're living," said Dominican participant Linworth Mitchell. 

The program lasts 4 weeks and wraps up next week.