International Education Week 2014: Building Bridges for All

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International Education Week 2014 focused on subjects such as public diplomacy, international students, diversity and inclusion.

Every year, the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education collaborate to bring us International Education Week (IEW), celebrating the importance and benefits international education and exchange around the world. Schools, colleges, universities, community organizations, embassies, and businesses are all encouraged to promote and honor international education in their own way. International Education Week 2014 was held from November 17 to 21 and is celebrated in more than 100 countries worldwide. Continue  

Mural Arts Exchange Launches in Democratic Republic of Congo

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Artworks Terry Harvey, Meridian’s Director of Exhibitions, viewed during an exhibition opening at Texaf Bilembo Cultural Centre in Kinshasa.

There is no denying it: art and culture are social drivers in the community. Using art for community engagement exists as a means for reaching not only artists, but also the youth and marginalized communities. Through a cooperative agreement, Meridian and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the U.S. Department of State have selected four American artists to travel to Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to participate in a cultural exchange.

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Democracy in Action: Int’l Visitors Observe Election Day 2014

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International visitors observed elections across the United States during the November 4th mid-term elections.

On Tuesday, November 4th, visitors from around the world participating in a variety of our programs gathered at various polling stations across the United States to witness democracy in action. These visitors were on both the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and our GlobalConnect projects. Visitors observed elections in 10 cities: Sacramento, California, Manchester, New Hampshire, Raleigh, North Carolina, Louisville, Kentucky, Minneapolis, Minnesota, San Antonio, Texas, New York, New York, Annapolis, Maryland, Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, DC.

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18 Inspiring Messages From Young African Leaders

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Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Program participants spell out their vision for Africa.

Listen up. Young African leaders have a few things to say about youth leadership.   These 24 incredible changemakers from Togo, Senegal, Chad and Mauritania traveled to the United States to learn and discuss social entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and community building.   The leaders were here last month as part of our second cohort of Pan-African Youth Leadership Program, a program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.   Each student developed a community service project or small enterprise to implement upon their return home. Projects ranged from jewelry-making ventures to new libraries to school clean-up initiatives. We’re excited...

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U.S. Speaker Program in India Focuses on Variety of Opportune Topics

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David Waskow Director of the International Climate Action Signature Initiative at the World Resources Institute meeting with officials in India as part of his U.S. Speaker Program on the impact of climate change.

Meridian International Center, in conjunction with the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi (NDPAS), has created the U.S. Speaker and Specialist Program in India. The program, which started in November of 2013, has already sent eight representatives from the United States to different locations around India to speak on various policy-related topics. To ensure topics were discussed as competently and fully as possible, speakers chosen are U.S. citizens with the best expertise and qualifications in their respective fields. The program was organized by Meridian Program Officer Bogdan Banu and Program Associate Tai Ford, and will include two additional speakers in the next month. Continue