The Power of International Collaboration and Best Practices On June 15, 2023, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented eight anti-trafficking in persons (TIP) activists with the 2023 TIP Report Heroes Award. Despite differences in age, language, background, and country of origin, these awardees are committed to holding perpetrators accountable, supporting trafficking survivors, and eliminating the factors contributing to the practices. Meridian International Center designed and implemented an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for six of these awardees for the 8th year — connecting them with their professional counterparts in Washington, DC; Boston, Massachusetts; and Miami, Florida, in connection...

By Evy Vannoy, Program Associate, Meridian International Center Climate change is a pressing and intricate problem that transcends geographical boundaries. It requires a collaborative effort from the global community as we share the responsibility to tackle this crisis, which has far-reaching consequences for the environment, economic progress, public health, and various other aspects of society. “The Climate Crisis: Working Together for Future Generations” Initative embodies the core principle of collaboration, gathering 66 climate advocates from over 57 nations to foster a worldwide network of knowledgeable individuals, facilitate the exchange of inventive solutions and concepts, and acquaint the participants with...

The following post was written by Ronaldo Andres Gomes an IVLP alumnus and recipient of the IVLP Impact Award. My name is Ronaldo and I am a Maya-Chuj person from a small town called San Mateo Ixtatán, Guatemala. My passion for life has driven me to provide educational support to disadvantaged young people in rural Guatemala. I believe that education has the power to transform the lives of children, giving them hope and a better future. Currently, I am the chief executive officer of the Ixtatán Foundation. The goal of the Ixtatán Foundation is to help the people of...