Naheed Afridi is an alumna of the International Visitor Leadership Program and a 2023 recipient of the IVLP Impact Awards for her project Enhancing Women’s Access to Public Services through Developing Women Leadership. Meridian International Center, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, implements the IVLP Impact Awards Initiative. IVLP Impact Awardees from across the world administer community impact projects that build on their experiences and promote innovative solutions to shared challenges. The IVLP Impact Awards Initiative aims to engage alumni, strengthen global networks, and support lasting community impact.   Shaping Our Collective Future...

By Julia Koski, Program Officer, Meridian International Center For over a century, celebrating International Women’s Day has served a dual purpose: celebrating the trailblazing people who have advanced women’s rights and reflecting on the remaining work needed to deliver full equality and opportunity to women and girls worldwide. The U.S. Department of State denotes this day of importance through the International Women of Courage (IWOC) Award, an annual recognition of international women leaders who have demonstrated tremendous courage and leadership to advance peace, equality, and human rights.  For over ten years, Meridian International Center has partnered with the U.S....

Oksana Kovalenko is an alumna of the International Visitor Leadership Program and a 2023 recipient of the IVLP Impact Awards for her project The School for Future Leaders. Meridian International Center, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, implements the IVLP Impact Awards Initiative. IVLP Impact Awardees from across the world administer community impact projects that build on their experiences and promote innovative solutions to shared challenges. The IVLP Impact Awards Initiative aims to engage alumni, strengthen global networks, and support lasting community impact. Collaborating with Like-Minded People I work as the Deputy Dean...

By Oko Khosbayar, Senior Associate, Meridian International Center   Civil society, also known as the “third sector,” is essential to democracy and development as they not only hold governments accountable, but in many instances, they can deliver to the underserved and underprivileged. With the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project “Strengthening Minority Civil Society Organizations”, Meridian International Center hosted a group of experts in nonprofit and civil society organizations from the Republic of Kosovo with the goal of examining federal, state, and local best practices of the United States to advance minority issues and expose...

Dr. Reham Mahmoud Zaky El Sayed is an alumna of the International Visitor Leadership Program and a 2023 recipient of the IVLP Impact Awards for her project Enhancing Management of Egyptian Cultural Heritage Sites: A Capacity Building Program. Meridian International Center, in partnership with the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, implements the IVLP Impact Awards Initiative. IVLP Impact Awardees from across the world administer community impact projects that build on their experiences and promote innovative solutions to shared challenges. The IVLP Impact Awards Initiative aims to engage alumni, strengthen global networks, and support lasting...