IVLP Impact Awards Perspectives: Cultural Heritage Part I

Dr. Otabek Aripdjanov is an alumnus of the International Visitor Leadership Program and a 2023 recipient of the IVLP Impact Awards for his project The Protection and Preservation of Archaeological Collections. 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. Building bridges through museums I...

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From Pakistan to Peru: How IVLP TIP Heroes Are Shaping the Fight Against Human Trafficking

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...

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IVLP 2022: A Wonderful Experience Between Leaders Across the Globe

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...

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IVLP: New Experiences, New Friends & New Perspectives

This post was submitted by Navjeev Singh, IVLP alum from Singapore. When I first found out that I was invited to an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), I was chuffed. After all, a quick Google search tells you it is the U.S. State Department’s premier professional exchange program. It is invite-only. It has been around for over 80 years. Over 500 current or former Chiefs of State or Heads of Government had attended an IVLP. My expectations for this program were set very high as a result.   I was invited to represent Singapore at the IVLP on Advancing an Open, Reliable, and Secure Digital...

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Women in Science: From IVLP to Opportunities in STEM

To celebrate International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we are highlighting Sotheavy At, Strategic Communications Specialist at DAI Global/USAID Digital Asia Accelerator and alumna of the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).   How has participating in international exchange for STEM issues transformed your life, career, or education? Did any new opportunities arise from this experience? Before the visit, I thought that only women and girls in developing countries like Cambodia faced barriers to pursue STEM-education and STEM-related work. From my visit, I quickly learned that most women and girls share the same journey...

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