1. 2022 TIP Report Heroes Connect with U.S. Community Leaders Through the IVLP

   Human trafficking is a pervasive global issue that affects every country in the world, and the Department of State has made combating human trafficking a top priority.

2. Unpublished

   Dr. Martin Luther King’s Legacy Lives on in Gandhi-King Scholars Initiative

   Last week, the Gandhi-King Scholars convened in India for the second portion of this people-to-people exchange.

3. Launch of New Young Women Leaders Program Honors Former Sec. of State Madeleine Albright

   Program to engage new generation of future young women leaders from around the world.

4. Black History Month: Diplomats in Public Diplomacy

   In honor of Black History month, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs continues to highlight and pay homage to the Black Americans who have contributed to the world of public diplomacy.

5. U.S. Partners are the Powerhouse of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)

   The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program.

6. Crowd-sourcing Diplomacy

   Middle school children may seem like unlikely ambassadors, and even less likely global health advocates. However, an international, collaborative interagency initiative, called the Zika Education and Prevention Project, is empowering school children around the world to combat disease outbreaks.

7. Runcie Chidebe, Global Health Innovator

   First Name

   Runcie

   Participant Headshot

   

   Short Biography

   Content created by Virtual Intern Anne Pratt

   Through his nonprofit, Project PINK BLUE, Runcie Chidebe is changing the narrative about cancer in Nigeria. By engaging government, nonprofit, and private sector partners he provides advanced support to cancer patients.

   Since his return home as an IVLP alumnus, Chidebe applies leadership strategies gained during his project to facilitate social empowerment and justice for underserved communities. As an active member of the Abuja Alumni Chapter, Chidebe uses his connections to organize events at U.S. Mission Nigeria’s network of 11 American corners. He seizes every opportunity to educate, inspire, and empower Nigerian youth.

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

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   Blog Post

   Blog

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   Washington D.C. 10th April, 2016, "I HAVE A DREAM" by Runcie C.W. Chidebe

   Today, I stepped my FEET in the same point where MARTIN LURTHER KING JNR delivered the "I Have A Dream" public speech during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963, in which he called for an end to racism in the United State and called for Civil and Economic Rights. This speech shaped the American History for forever.

   SELF-HATRED

   I was in tears when I stepped my feet on the spot and I dropped my U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) tag. And I reminiscence three most significant dreams that I have for my beloved country Nigeria.

   I have a DREAM that one day my beloved country Nigeria will be a country of model for Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress [as enshrined in our Coat of Arms] and NOT a model for describing hopelessness, self-hatred, tribalism & religious, poverty, corruption, pains, fear, insecurity and agony.

   I have a dream that one day my beloved country will have leaders who would take the path of class suicide to save Nigeria and the weakened belief in a nation. LEADERSHIP is an absolute term, "IF IT IS NOT GOOD, then it NOT LEADERSHIP [there is nothing on earth like bad leadership, it's either leadership or something else]".

   I have a dream that someday I will live in a country where our successes will NOT be defined by the number of cars, houses abroad and number of properties but, defined by the number of people who have been liberated from poverty, uplifted from the shackles of infliction, lives saved and positive impacts.

   I stood on the Feet of MARTIN LUTHER KING JNR for a while and pray HEAVENLY Father you made this happen for Americans, I believe that you can make it happen for Nigerians. I remember South African how they suffered and battled Apartheid, which an external based conflict. But, today the pains of my country are NOT external, it is SELF-HATRED and SELF-INFLICTED PAINS caused by people who we willingly handed over our lives to take control of. Someone said me "it will take Nigeria over 100years to get to where South Africa is". Well, a critical look to this assertion gives me pathetic national thought crisis.

   Today, we are now living like prisoners in our country, refugees in our country, fighting self and inflicting pains on self, corruption has defined our success, our justice system is now defined by pockets and not by standards, OUR LAWS are NOT MEANT FOR THE POOR, our cherished value system is now histories, young Nigerians are more interested to jump out of the country with their lofty dreams to contribute to other countries - where their talents will be appreciated, we have giving up on ourselves, we have become our own enemies and have grown to victimized ourselves on tribal lines.

   I may NOT clearly understand what I AM SAYING nor how to go about this, or how to make this thunderous positive REVOLUTION, but, one thing I am sure - which is crystal; is that I didn't write this SCRIPT, neither was I consulted during the ART. HEAVENLY Father called me to ACT it and I shall give it my entire LIFE. I cannot do alone, I am yet to see greatness without shared glory. Search yourself and you would sincerely find that SCRIPT which is meant for you for our beloved country. Come on board and let's make it happen. Don't allow your past to victimize your present nor mar your future; STAND UP and Let's make this DREAM a REALITY for our children children.

   Thanks to U.S. Government, U.S. Department of State , and U.S. Embassy Nigeria for inviting me to Washington D.C. for this INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE- International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) entitled "American Youth: Inspiring Leadership & Civic Participation".

   Runcie C.W. Chidebe

   Photo

   

   

   Home Country

   Ethiopia

   Last name

   Chidebe

   IVLP Alumni

8. A Road to Civic Education in Bangladesh

   After returning from the program, he transformed the focus of his organization towards youth civic education and is a dynamic advocate for the issue throughout his country.

9. A New Path to Corporate Social Responsibility

   Since returning to Georgia, Lia has applied her expertise in CSR in working with Ardza, a division of Georgia’s prominent Alliance Group Holding company.

10. Soccer Envoys in Brazil: Getting More Women and Girls Involved in Soccer

    

    Brazil is a nation of soccer, but when it comes to women and girls’ participation in soccer, the numbers tell a different story.

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