Memorializing the Khmer Rouge: Genocide Museum Receives a Big Donation

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Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia (Photo from G.S. Matthews via Flickr)

On October 14, 2017 Meridian International Center and the U.S. Department of State opened an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) with six participants from Cambodia. These staff members of the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum had arrived in Washington, DC for a professional program on museum curation and the intellectual approach to memorializing history’s darkest moments. Only a few months later, the project takes on new meaning after William Heidt, the U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia, announced a $55,500 donation from the American embassy to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. Continue  

Program Theme Spotlight: Energy Security

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An IVLP Energy Security group from Europe surveys solar panels installed by students atop a school in Anacostia, District of Columbia

The issue of energy security is defined by the International Energy Association as “the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.” A U.S. foreign policy priority and a key topic for the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), projects on energy security and related topics will be coming through the programming pipeline with increasing frequency.

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IVLP Alumni Spotlight: Renewable Energy Studied in Iraq

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Dr. Firas Albadran examines Nextera Energy wind turbines in Oklahoma on his IVLP project

IVLP Alumni Spotlight features U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) alumni as they reflect on the impact of the program and how it has affected their work and lives. Here we feature one alumnus who participated in a multi-regional project examining energy security. The participant spent three weeks in the United States exploring the roles and work of energy suppliers, technology developers, and university researchers. The program also introduced visitors to multiple sides of the energy debate including advocates for increased use of fossil fuels, renewably sourced energy, or “all of the above.”
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IVLP Alumni Partner with Santa Fe Council on International Relations to Host Virtual Conference for Indigenous Students

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U.S. Society, Culture, and Education IVLP Participants in a group photo

An International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) typically lasts three weeks, but the connections forged can lead to inspired ongoing collaborations that multiply the impact well-beyond the actual participants. One recent example demonstrates this beautifully featuring creative use of technology, teleconference-based exchange between schoolchildren in five countries, and spotlighting dance, music and art from indigenous communities. Continue  

Home Hospitality in an Internationally-Minded American Family

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IVLP Participant from Cameroon shares a picture with his home hospitality hosts in Washington, DC

This post is being published on behalf of Ms. Sandi Duverneuil, Founder of AllThingsRelax.com and former home hospitality host for Meridian’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). In the text below, Ms. Duverneuil speaks about her experiences hosting participants from Armenia, Germany, Indonesia, and the Philippines. If you are interested in hosting future visitors, you can find more information here.  Continue