Anti-trafficking experts from around the world convened in Washington last week to mark the publication of the U.S. Department of State’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report. On June 20th, Secretary of State John Kerry presented the report and honored ten heroes who have risked their lives to expose modern slavery. Continue
When Past Forward artists Zeinab Al Hashemi and Khalid Mezaina, and co-curator Noor al Suwaidi, were in Washington, DC to celebrate the launch of the groundbreaking exhibition, they also had the opportunity to connect with the DC community by meeting with school groups and other organizations. One of the highlights was visiting young patients at Children’s National Medical Center (CNMC), where the artists described their work and hosted an interactive workshop. “The visit to Children’s was a special experience for the Emirati artists and myself. We were excited to see the level of creativity and enthusiasm shown by the...
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Alumni of the 2013 Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program reconnected this winter in Erbil. Alums from both the High School and Undergraduate programs gathered to reflect on their experiences and participate in workshops and panel discussions that built upon the skills students developed last summer in the U.S. Meridian invited IYLEP alumni to submit a blog post describing their personal experience and growth with the program. We selected the winning entries to post on The LEAD. Sana Aras, featured here, was the winner for the IYLEP Undergraduate group. Here I want to talk about my cross-cultural experience with the Iraqi...
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The international exchange of culture has existed since the dawn of time. However, most of the events that created international exchanges, as we know them now, happened in the 20th century.
With the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) approaching its 75th year, this article highlights a few of the events in history that pre-date, and played a part in, the creation of this important cultural exchange program.
Alumni of the 2013 Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program reconnected this winter in Erbil. Alums from both the High School and Undergraduate programs gathered to reflect on their experiences and participate in workshops and panel discussions that built upon the skills students developed last summer in the U.S. Meridian invited IYLEP alumni to submit a blog post describing their personal experience and growth with the program. We selected the winning entries to post on The LEAD.
The land of dreams. That’s what goes through anyone’s mind when he or she arrives in the USA. The IYLEP was our own, unique experience in the USA. To be there as one hundred students in an exchange program was the most wonderful chance in our lives. Everyone told me that I was so lucky because I was accepted from the first time I applied. I took my acceptance as a great opportunity to see a new world, to know, learn, and participate in teamwork one way or another. From the first time we met our friends, professors, and mentors, I was so happy because I had a lot of American people around us so I could communicate with them all the time in English, learn from them, and tell them about our amazing culture. The thing that I really loved about Americans is that they are kind, helpful, and really open-minded so they can accept any person from any culture.
