Search
-
University of Montana: FUSALMO – El Salvador
The University of Montana partnered with in-country partner FUSALMO to conduct a two-way sports exchange between Montana and El Salvador focusing on youth who are susceptible to gangs and crime.
-
Alain Akouala Atipault
First Name
Alain AkoualaParticipant Headshot
Short Biography
Content created by Virtual Intern Melanie Ourhaan
Alain Akouala Atipault, a proud son of Africa has served as a politician in the government of the Republic of Congo for 15 years. In his current role as communications advisor for the National Council of Dialogue, he directs public and diplomatic relations for his government. As a founding member of a French think tank, he simultaneously works to improve relations between France and Africa.
In 1997, Akouala Atipault participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) with a group of young African professionals. On that visit to the United States, he discovered new possibilities for advancement of his country and was inspired to be a leader for positive change in the Congo.
Akouala Atipault recalls his group's discussion with U.S. Representative John Lewis, the renowned civil rights leader and former companion of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. That exchange was an epiphany for him, and he remembers sharing with Representative Lewis the myriad difficulties he faced trying to establish himself as a young entrepreneur, only to have Representative Lewis encourage him to drop everything and invest himself heavily in politics if he wanted to profoundly effect change in his country.
Today, after a decade and a half of active political involvement, Alain Akouala Atipault is still working to end entrenched poverty and create opportunities for Congolese youth and ensure a brighter future for his African homeland.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
Photo
Home Country
Last name
AtipaultIVLP Alumni
-
Dr. Valeria Klitsounova
First Name
ValeriaParticipant Headshot
Short Biography
Content created by Virtual Intern Shayna Canty
Raised by her aunt and grandmother, Dr. Valeria Klitsounova grew up thinking critically and developed her independence and leadership skills at a young age. As a board member for a museum of history and rural culture in Belarus that she and her husband owned, she was passionate about sharing Belarusian history. After the selling the museum, she looked for other opportunities to bring information about Belarus to the world. In 2002, Dr. Klitsounova introduced the idea of agritourism to Belarus and has been working to provide more income opportunities to rural communities throughout the country. She founded the Belarusian Association of Rural and Ecotourism “Country Escape,” a nonprofit dedicated to promoting Belarus as a tourist destination. Dr. Klitsounova traveled to the United States in 2003 to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) that was focused on NGO management. During her exchange she discovered many concepts that she could use to support entrepreneurs who were members of her nonprofit. She directly credits the IVLP for improving her negotiating skills that, in turn, persuaded the Belarusian government to increase funding and expand programming in other villages.
Today “Country Escape” has more than 800 members and is shaping the rural tourism sector in Belarus. Between running her nonprofit, teaching and developing courses about ecotourism, and publishing books, Dr. Valeria Klitsounova has become the “mother of agritourism” in Belarus!
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
Home Country
Last name
KlitsounovaIVLP Alumni
-
Veronica Corchado Espinoza, Director, Municipal Institute for Women
First Name
Veronica CorchadoParticipant Headshot
Short Biography
Content created by Callan McCormick
Veronica Corchado Espinoza is an avid defender of women's rights and has spent her career working to reduce violence against women in her hometown of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Dedicated to social change and motivated by her IVLP, Corchado established "The Collective for Arts, Community, and Equality," a civil society organization in Ciudad Juarez to empower at-risk youth through education, sports, and the arts. The center stimulates local interest in art but more importantly provides a safe zone for girls and women in some of the city’s most historically violent communities.
Through the "Safe Corridor" initiative, Corchado is helping women living or working downtown recover their public spaces. She is globally-minded in her endeavors, actively collaborating with international organizations to reach her goals. During her 2010 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), Corchado became inspired by initiatives to deter violence in Los Angeles and implemented similar ideas at home.
Veronica Corchado Espinoza is a life-long advocate for women’s rights using arts and advocacy to inspire women to bring about changes within their community.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
Photo
Home Country
Last name
EspinozaIVLP Alumni
-
Mohamed Amine Zariat, Community Organizer
First Name
Mohamed AmineParticipant Headshot
Short Biography
Content created by Virtual Intern Eden Davenport
A former player on the Moroccan National Basketball Team, Mohamed Amine Zariat took his passion for team sports and developed a nonprofit. TIBU started as a basketball tournament for at-risk youth in a low-income neighborhood in Morocco and has evolved to provide Moroccan youth leadership and social skills at 18 community centers. TIBU also provides opportunities for physically disabled youth to build their confidence through inclusive sports.
Zariat returned from his IVLP inspired with new ideas to expand TIBU's programming. TIBU is now supported by the Moroccan Ministry of Education, and Zariat plans to implement programs throughout Morocco. By providing opportunities for Moroccan youth to become community leaders, Zariat is changing the world in which they live.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
Blog Post
Quote
The whole experience has enriched my life not only professionally but also personally. Meeting people from different sports organisations as NBA, NCAA, Vita Sports, Lebron James Family Foundation, etc. from the mainstream to smaller and community-based or specialised ones in different cities and states, has given me the opportunity to deepen my leadership skills, particularly through the diverse range of youth empowerment practices through sports in the US, by learning their stories, business, management and operation models. IVLP experience helps me everyday to impact more, to innovate more and to scale more." - Mr. Amine Zariat
Photo
Home Country
Last name
ZariatIVLP Alumni
-
Arina Araratian
First Name
ArinaParticipant Headshot
Short Biography
Content created by Virtual Intern Erick Bonne
Arina Araratian is an Armenian choreographer and founder of the professional dance studio Pictures from Exhibition. She has organized masterclasses for professional dancers and produced international dance projects. In 2008, Araratian participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on a "Performance Arts Management" project where she and five other participants traveled throughout the United States to view American productions, learn about intellectual property rights protections, and study the challenges of producing, organizing, and securing sponsorship for the arts.
After her experience with IVLP, Araratian gained a new perspective on art production strategies and an expanded network. She returned to Armenia to create two exceptional works—Girl on the Moon and Unlimited Movement. Both projects featured performers with disabilities to raise awareness of inclusion in Armenian society. Next year, Araratian hopes to create a new project focusing on the theme of Women, Peace, and Security.
Arina Araratian demonstrates the cultural traditions of Armenia and showcases the integration of people with disabilities in everyday activities and particularly through the performing arts.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
Photo
Home Country
Last name
AraratianIVLP Alumni
-
Eva Truuverk
First Name
EvaParticipant Headshot
Short Biography
Content created by Virtual Intern Ingrid Liu
Eva Truuverk spearheaded the 2008 clean-up campaign “Let’s Do It!” in Estonia, and the national cleanup event engaged over 50,000 people in a country of 1.3 million. They cleaned up 10,000 tons of illegal waste. In 2010, Truuverk participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) entitled "Volunteerism: United We Serve." Inspired by the other participants and volunteers, Truuverk decided to expand her initiative and take it global. Her IVLP connections helped recruit others for a worldwide cleanup, and a fellow IVLP alumnus still leads the “Let’s Do It World” team in their country today. On September 15th 2018, 17.8 million people from 157 countries participated in The World Cleanup Day. The movement received several awards, including the 2018 UNESCO - Japan Prize.
Eva Truuverk received Estonia’s Citizen of the Year Award in 2018. After 13 years she estimates that more than 56 million people from 180 countries have participated in the “Let's Do It!” movement. Truuverk is has stepped away from her leadership role in "Let's Do It!" to focus on a new project called Rohetiiger (Green Tiger), an economic concept that promotes cooperation among various sectors to achieve effective resource consumption in Estonia.
Eva Truuverk is a leading advocate for environmental awareness, and her legacy continues to positively affect communities and support global activism.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
Photo
Media Links
Home Country
Last name
TruuverkIVLP Alumni
-
Chunlei Liu
First Name
ChunleiParticipant Headshot
Short Biography
Content created by Virtual Intern Chhim SokkuntheaAfter working in the telecommunications industry for nine years, Chunlei Liu became interested in reducing environmental pollution in China. He planned to use technology to collect and analyze information that could lead to environmental improvements.
Liu created Shanghai Qingyue Environmental Protection Center, a non-governmental organization that reviews and collects data on the environmental impact of existing policies. The Center uses the data to create policy recommendations that give governmental entities information so they can improve current policies and reduce overall pollution.
In 2015, Liu traveled to the United States as part of an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) focused on climate change, the environment, and clean energy. During his IVLP, Liu learned how various government entities in the United States work together to reduce pollution in their communities. Based on his experience, he has integrated new ideas into his work.
The Center’s suggestions on environmental credit, green finance, and emissions disclosure have been well-received and have led to some policy changes.
Chunlei Liu is a forward-thinking environmentalist who is taking steps to bring cleaner air and healthier communities to China. He proves on a daily basis that the actions of one person can improve the quality of life for millions of people.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
Photo
Home Country
Last name
LiuIVLP Alumni
-
Sunitha Krishnan
First Name
SunithaParticipant Headshot
Short Biography
Content created by Virtual Intern Adelle BarkhuizenSunitha Krishnan is an Indian social activist whose work combating human trafficking and protecting victims has saved lives and motivated people around the world to build a safer world for women and children.
After founding Prajwala in 1996, which rescues and protects victims of human trafficking, Krishnan has built the nonprofit from a small initiative to prevent inter-generational prostitution to an organization that has worked with survivors on a comprehensive Anti- Trafficking Bill, launched a “#ShameTheRapist” campaign - the first of its kind in the world, trained police officers, and built more than a dozen transition and learning centers for survivors.
Krishnan visited the United States in 1999 through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), and her convictions were strengthened when she met with U.S. organizations combating trafficking and with people from other parts of the world working on the same issues.
Krishnan noted that through the IVLP she learned how to view the issue of trafficking from the perspective of the victim, and to consider the impact of demand on her anti-trafficking initiatives. She returned to India with new ideas and techniques in mind, adapting them to the local context.
With more than 500 organizations joining her cause, Sunitha Krishnan's work is an inspiration as she attempts to reach her goal of ending sex slavery across the globe!
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
Photo
Home Country
Last name
KrishnanIVLP Alumni
-
Pawan Ghimire
First Name
PawanParticipant Headshot
Short Biography
Content created by Virtual Intern Christopher Belden
Pawan Ghimire is a pioneer in Nepal for people with disabilities. Blinded by Maoist insurgents during a military operation in 2003, Ghimire discovered cricket as a rehabilitation therapy. He now serves as the chair of the Cricket Association of the Blind - Nepal, helping blind men and women in Nepal find strength through the game of cricket.
In 2016, he participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) titled "Access for All: Enhancing the Lives of People with Disabilities." While in the United States, Ghimire had several valuable experiences he took back to Nepal. He was inspired by the opportunities for people with disabilities to support themselves in the United States and shared the message with several organizations in Nepal.
Shortly after returning to Nepal, he assisted in establishing an all-female sporting event for athletes with disabilities, promoting the idea that disabilities are not barriers, but opportunities.
Ghimire helps children with disabilities view themselves as more than their disabilities and to strive for success. Through the association, Ghimire has made blind cricket players more visible in Nepali society. The men’s blind cricket team participated in a World Cup, and the women’s team defeated Pakistan in a tournament.
Through his work with the Cricket Association of the Blind-Nepal, Pawan Ghimire has improved the perception of people with disabilities in Nepal and works to ensure that people with disabilities can enjoy fundamental rights.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
Photo
Home Country
Last name
Ghimire
