1. Showcase Your Exchange Experience, Be Named the Best Citizen Diplomat

   The new Citizen Diplomacy Challenge provides U.S.-based exchange alumni with the opportunity to showcase how U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs benefit us all, from how they advance U.S. foreign policies to how they strengthen the relationship between the people of the United States and foreign citizens.

2. Building Bridges by Building Telescopes

   Through the Virtual Communities Connect initiative, the ECA Collaboratory funded a series of pilot projects that allowed U.S. Embassies around the world to develop meaningful virtual programming with American communities and institutions that help advance American foreign policy goals.

3. Cultural Heritage Coordinating Committee Gathers in Washington

   On March 2, 2023, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Policy, Rafik Mansour, convened the 16 member agencies of the Cultural Heritage Coordinating Committee (CHCC).

4. Professional Fellows Programs

   

   We're building a network of professional leaders around the world.

5. Protecting Cultural Patrimony: Pueblo of Acoma

   

   The State Department opposes the sale of Cultural Patrimony.

6. ‘Start Strong Bauska’ Founder Connects with Counterparts on Return IVLP Exchange

   ​​​​​​​Five years after her first International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) experience, Solvita Jirgensone will return to the United States as an IVLP alumna.

7. Malak Al Akiely

   First Name

   Malak

   Participant Headshot

   

   Short Biography

   ivlp_profiles_al_akiely.png

   

   Content created by Virtual Intern Nayantara Arora

   Malak Al Akiely is a leader who has inspired Jordanian women through her entrepreneurial spirit and abundant energy. She is the founder and managing director of Golden Wheat for Grain Trading, Ltd., a company which markets grains across the Middle East, Africa, and the U.S. As owner of this agricultural trading company she is focused on food security issues in the MENA region.

   Al Akiely is a co-founder of Golden Kayan for Oil & Energy, a consultant to oil and petroleum trading companies, a co-founder and board member in the Jordan Economic Forum, and a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum. She was selected as one of the top ten young persons of the world by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) in August 2019, and is a sought after speaker at events to motivate women and youth.

   During her International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in 2015, she spent time in Chicago, Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and D.C. and explored economic opportunities, gained international exposure, and opened professional channels with other participants focused on women's economic stability, prosperity, and entrepreneurship.

   Following her IVLP in the United States, Al Akiely used a small grant from the U.S. Department of State to launch a social entrepreneurship initiative called “Women BeeBuzzers,” which enabled rural Jordanian women to earn income and gain new skills.

   Her passion for economic security and entrepreneurial innovation have taken her across the world, not only returning to the U.S. but also taking part in an Arctic Expedition with 100 people from all sectors and all continents.

   Malak Al Akiely sets the standard for business leaders and changemakers across the MENA region. In addition to upholding values of integrity within her business initiatives, Al Akiely’s advocacy for cross-cultural communication, women, and economic development, is changing the world.

   Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams

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   Home Country

   Jordan

   Last name

   Al Akiely

   IVLP Alumni

8. José Aguilar Berrocal

   First Name

   José

   Participant Headshot

   

   Short Biography

   

    

   Content created by Virtual Intern  Radha Varadan

   “Solidarity cures us,” says José Aguilar Berrocal, a former International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) participant from Costa Rica and Founder and President of the Board of the Youth Action Foundation. His tireless work tackling the educational and emotional issues that at-risk youth in Costa Rica face stems from his own challenges growing up. The support of mentors put him on the path to success and instilled in him the desire to serve others.

   Aguilar founded the Youth Action Foundation in 2006, an organization that works hand-in-hand with the Costa Rican Ministry of Education to connect at-risk students with mentors and tutors while requiring the students to volunteer in their communities. Through its programs, the Foundation has engaged more than 22,400 students and teachers in community service. “The most wonderful feeling that a person can experience is to bring hope,” Aguilar says. He credits the IVLP with showing him the significance of civic engagement and community service in others, and the benefits it brings.

   Aguilar previously led Public Horizons, a collective that tackles the human development gap by building partnerships. He also founded Strategic Human Development (Desarrollo Humano Estratégico), which aims to provide food to unemployed families in rural Costa Rica in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

   Through his work to mitigate the challenges faced by vulnerable populations in Costa Rica, José Aguilar Berrocal brings hope and support to those in need.

   Edited by Virtual Interns Regina Navarro-Gomez and Kristin Mitra

    

   Media Links

   Domino effect: Jose Aguilar at TEDxLSE

   Fundación Acción Joven

   Home Country

   Costa Rica

   Last name

   Aguilar Berrocal

   IVLP Alumni

9. Group Study/ Research

   Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, the Fulbright-Hays--Group Projects Abroad Program, provides support for overseas projects in training, research, and curriculum development in modern foreign languages and area studies for U.S. teachers, students, and faculty engaged in a common endeavor.

10. Office of Academic Exchanges

    The Office of Academic Programs oversees all academic programs sponsored by the Department of State, including the Fulbright Program for students, teachers, scholars and mid-career professionals in the Humphrey program, teacher exchange programs, English language programs, Study of the United States programs, and programs for undergraduate students.

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