1. Exchange Students Meet Domesticated Dogs for the First Time

   

   During their Youth Exchange and Study (YES) exchange program orientation, these students participated in a dog meet-and-greet.

2. Vered Cohen-Barzilay

   First Name

   Vered

   Participant Headshot

   

   Short Biography

   Vered Cohen-Barzilay" src="https://eca.state.gov/files/bureau/Participant-headshot/ivlp_profiles_barzilay.png" width="1126" height="1164" />

   Content created by Virtual Intern Bridget Raymundo

   Vered Cohen-Barzilay is an Israeli-born social entrepreneur and tenacious advocate for aviation, space and science education. The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) inspired Cohen-Barzilay, a journalist and women’s rights activist, to change career paths and focus on building religious and cultural bridges through innovation and education. Upon her return to Israel, she founded the nonprofit “Out of the Box” to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), space education, and entrepreneurship for youth in Israel.

   Cohen-Barzilay runs the Science Accelerator, a program that has had over 350 student participants. The program is a partnership between many stakeholders, including American iLEAD Charter Schools, the NASA Ames Research Center, U.S. Embassy Jerusalem, the Israeli Ministry of Science, and the Israeli Space Agency. Through lectures and interactive lessons, Israeli and American students interact with space and science experts and entrepreneurs, acquiring the skills to effectively utilize high-tech tools and to pitch and promote their innovative ideas.

   Vered Cohen-Barzilay’s passionate promotion of STEM and space education inspires youth in Israel to reach for the stars.

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

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   Photo

   

   

   Media Links

   Participant OP-Ed

   Home Country

   Israel

   Last name

   Cohen-Barzilay

   IVLP Alumni

3. David Ríos Duran

   First Name

   David

   Participant Headshot

   

   Short Biography

   

    

   Content created by Virtual Intern Regina Navarro-Gomez

   Working in the law enforcement field in Panamá, David Ríos Duran has been an advocate for building relationships across Latin America and the United States. Ríos Duran's leadership is built on the foundations of interpersonal relationships and communication as he works to maintain the security and well-being of Panamanians.

   Ríos Duran says, "there is a before, during, and after an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)." In 2012, Ríos Duran participated in the "Administration of Justice" IVLP, during which he attended workshops and court hearings focused on human trafficking, money laundering, and the rule of law.

   Following his IVLP, Ríos Duran built a strong relationship with other IVLP participants. "There was a richness of connections that were made after the program," says Ríos Duran, noting that some of those contacts had been useful in the resolution of several important cases he handled while managing a regional immigration office. Years later, in 2018, he traveled back to Washington D.C. and completed a one-year-long Master's of Science in Inter-American Defense and Security at the Inter American Defense College. He attributes his IVLP to his acceptance into the Master's program and says, "my IVLP project opened the doors to millions of opportunities."

   David Ríos Duran brings his enthusiasm, drive, and leadership to law enforcement initiatives in Panamá.

   Edited by Virtual Interns Regina Navarro-Gomez and Kristin Mitra

    

   Home Country

   Panama

   Last name

   Ríos Duran

   IVLP Alumni

4. Mongolian Leaders Visit U.S. to Learn About Disability Rights

   

   A delegation of 8 Mongolian disability rights advocates, including the Minister of Population and Development, Members of Parliament, and representatives of civil society, visited the U.S. on a Professional Fellows On-Demand exchange program to learn about the Americans With Disabilities Act.

5. Expand Your World

   

   Expand your world! Learn about short-term hosting opportunities.

6. YES ABROAD: South Africa with Jack

   

   Visit Jack, on his year abroad in South Africa as part of the YES Abroad program.

7. DanceMotion USA, 2013 Tour

   

   DanceMotion USA 2013 Cultural Diplomacy tour.

8. Celebrating Exchange Day 2019

   Monday, August 5, 2019 marks Exchange Day, a nationwide celebration of the power of international exchanges!

9. Celebrating 20 Years of the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation

   Two decades ago, the U.S. Department of State created a new initiative to preserve cultural heritage around the globe.

10. Building India’s Environmental Awareness

    Pursuing her passion for nature, Dr. Shubhalaxmi participated in two U.S. Department of State exchange programs.

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