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Historic Church Bells Return to the Philippines
The historic Bells of Balangiga are returning after more than a century to their home in a church in the province of Eastern Samar, Philippines.
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Unpublished
Nisha Ayub
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Content created by Virtual Intern Richard Gray
Nisha Ayub is a prominent advocate for transgender rights and has co-founded two nonprofits in Malaysia that advocate for social justice. Justice for Sisters raises public awareness about issues surrounding violence and persecution against the transgender community in Malaysia and provides legal defense funds to assist those facing prosecution. Seed’s mission is to empower people who are socially excluded in Malaysia by providing access to a safe space and linking people to resources that will improve quality of life for all.
Ayub has received several awards for her activism, including Human Rights Watch's Alison Des Forges Award for Extraordinary Activism in 2015, for her opposition to discriminatory Malaysian laws, and the U.S. Secretary of State’s 2016 International Women of Courage Award. Ayub gives credit to the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for enabling her to engage with Malaysian politicians and inspiring her to advocate more publicly for human rights.
Following her visit to the United States, Ayub founded the first support home in Malaysia specifically for individuals who identify as transgender, funded with donations.
During her visit to San Diego as part of the IVLP, the city proclaimed April 5 “Nisha Ayub Day.” The proclamation by San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer stated: "Nisha Ayub continues to fight for the equality and protection of all people in her country and beyond its borders."
As one of Malaysia’s most prominent transgender activists, Nisha Ayub is changing the world with her advocacy and continues her steadfast fight for equality.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
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AyubIVLP Alumni
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Saad Abid
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Content created by Virtual Intern Brandon Lee
Saad Abid is a national surfing champion who went on to become an environmental activist whose initiatives have local and international impact. In 2016, Abid participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) “Galvanizing Youth for Environmental Protection.” During the project he developed a deeper understanding of environmental issues, learned about recycling campaigns, and saw how to better use social networks and digital platforms to encourage youth activism to protect the environment.
Abid was particularly inspired by an organization he visited in Washington, D.C. that leveraged partnerships to improve community health through activities in public parks in the District of Columbia. Abid returned to Morocco and launched a smaller initiative for public beaches. He has now organized 67 beach cleanups all over Morocco involving more than 40,000 participants. One cleanup included more than 5,400 participants, a national record.
Abid took part in the creation of the Founders Group of the Climate Action Leadership Network, a group of 25 leading decision-makers working on climate change mitigation. He is currently president of the Bahri Association, which he founded in 2010. He is also a prominent inspirational speaker and content creator, who encourages his 400,000 social media followers to take action to protect the environment and practice sustainable tourism.
Saad Abid is an internationally recognized leader in community response to climate change and a prominent social media influencer encouraging young people to take action to protect the environment.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
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Malak Al Akiely
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Content created by Virtual Intern Nayantara AroraMalak 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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Al AkielyIVLP Alumni
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Danae Bezantakou
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Content created by Virtual Intern Radha VaradanDanae Bezantakou is a prominent Greek leader who exemplifies the impact of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). As CEO of Navigator Shipping Consultants, co-founder of a business think tank designed to support women in entrepreneurship, and appointee as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum (2015-2020), Bezantakou has pursued equality for women entrepreneurs through mentorships in areas disproportionately affected by a country-wide economic crisis.
When asked about her 2011 IVLP project on "Women in Leadership," Bezantakou said she realized "anything can happen, even in a small country like Greece… I could not stop thinking about ways, initiatives, and actions that could help Greece overcome discrimination."
After her IVLP, Bezantakou created the iforU Greek mentoring network, supporting over 150 female entrepreneurs and the Young Executives Shipping (YES) Forum, to create an open dialogue between principal executives, recent graduates, and university students. Bezantakou's leadership transcends borders as she has been involved with several international projects. She served as the first president of the Hellenic-U.S. Alumni Association, and has received international recognition for her groundbreaking initiatives. She was chosen for Greece's 40 under 40 List and the 2014 Purpose Economy Europe List.
"You should follow your passion and do what you can, with what you have, where you are!" says Bezantakou to aspiring young leaders. As an embodiment of her words, Danae Bezantakou continues to fight discrimination in the business world while inspiring countless leaders of tomorrow.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
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BezantakouIVLP Alumni
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Alexander Shmidt
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Content created by Virtual Intern Helen Zeidman
Alexander Shmidt is a social entrepreneur and leader who works to provide opportunities for communities in Israel and overseas. As a social business specialist, consultant, and lecturer, Shmidt is a connector of people.
In 2013, Shmidt participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), focusing on Community Leadership Development. Shmidt gained an appreciation for creating partnerships with other people by visiting four different states and meeting with over 60 socially responsible organizations. Shmidt says, "I came back from the IVLP as a different person... changed by witnessing the power of diverse teams in changing the world."
Shmidt uses knowledge of team-building gained during IVLP in his work today. Through facilitating incubators, he encourages the development of socially conscious businesses and non-profit organizations. His human-centered approach focuses on promoting people before businesses. Shmidt teaches project managers how to think like designers and build business models that will build community.
Shmidt currently serves as the Representative of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) in Belarus. JDC has been on the ground in the former Soviet Union for decades, caring for the region’s elderly Jews when the majority of the world didn’t even know they existed. Alex and his team, through JDC network of Hesed Social Welfare Centers, works on a massive scale to ensure that the former Soviet Union’s Jews in need are able to not only to survive, but age with dignity and with support of a caring Jewish community.
As a socially-oriented entrepreneur, Alexander Shmidt helps aspiring businesses and community organizations develop plans to change the world one community at a time.
Edited by Virtual Interns Regina Navarro-Gomez and Kristin Mitra
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ShmidtIVLP Alumni
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Dr. Katrine Camilleri
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Content created by Virtual Intern Bridget Raymundo
Dr. Katrine Camilleri is a Maltese lawyer and Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Malta. She advocates for migrants, often at personal risk and is known for her work with boat refugees. Dr. Camilleri was awarded the United Nations Nansen Refugee Award in 2007 and the Roland Berger Human Dignity Award in 2015. This year, she was awarded the Julia Taft Refugee Fund award by the U.S. Embassy in Malta. She is often sought-after as a tough yet compassionate voice on migration and her work provides professional services, including information, legal assistance, and psychosocial support to migrants and asylum seekers arriving in Malta.
In 2008, Dr. Camilleri participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project "Managing Integration of Refugees and Asylum Seekers with Emphasis on African Migrants." During the exchange, she noted that "Beyond and in spite of the huge differences between the United States, and my country Malta, which is a tiny island in the Mediterranean, public and political discourse on immigration could sound eerily similar.”
Dr. Camilleri found that public opinion, law, and policy are shaped not just by objective considerations like the availability of resources, but by fear. This is why she steadfastly continues her work to counter negative stereotypes about migration. As mentioned in her Politico highlight, Dr. Katrine Camilleri is "a longtime advocate of creating safe routes of passage for those fleeing war zones and hardship, and seeking a better life in Europe."
Edited by Virtual Interns Regina Navarro-Gomez and Kristin Mitra
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CamilleriIVLP Alumni
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Rodrigo Alejandro Yáñez Benítez
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Content created by Virtual Intern Celeste Lan
Rodrigo Yáñez Benítez serves as the Vice Minister of Trade in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Chile. In 2008, while working as a researcher for the Instituto Libertad, Yáñez Benítez participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) focusing on U.S. foreign policy. During his IVLP, he learned about the collaborative nexus between policies, public interest groups, and government institutions. Thanks in part to the knowledge he acquired through his IVLP, Yáñez Benítez became an advisor to congressional leaders in the Foreign Relations Committee in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
Yáñez Benítez further contributed to Chile's foreign affairs by working on a peacekeeping law, which enabled Chile to contribute to global peacekeeping efforts, and on efforts to modernize the Foreign Ministry, which created progressive reforms in the Ministry's structure and operations. He also served as Senior Advisor to President Piñera on international and regulatory affairs, where he developed foreign policy proposals and oversaw the implementation of domestic policy initiatives for different Ministries. In 2011, Yáñez Benítez was involved in creating the Pacific Alliance group, a trade bloc between Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, to facilitate regional integration. As Vice Minister of Trade, he leads Chile’s intense bilateral and multilateral trade agenda, including active participation in multilateral trade fora such as APEC, Pacific Alliance, and WTO.
When asked about the impact of his IVLP, Yáñez Benítez says, "I believe it strengthened my longstanding commitment to contribute to my country from the international perspective. Having met people with so many different backgrounds, all connected around a strong commitment to international understanding and cultural exchange, has been of great inspiration."
Rodrigo Yáñez Benítez is a trade policy expert who has strengthened Chile's international trading policies and bolstered Chile's economy by diversifying its regional exports and creating new international agreements.
Edited by Virtual Interns Regina Navarro-Gomez and Kristin Mitra
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Dr. Sara Al-Reefy
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Content created by Virtual Intern Nayantara Arora
Dr. Sara Al-Reefy is a breast and oncoplastic surgeon who owns and leads the London Breast Care Centre located in Bahrain. As a general surgery resident in Bahrain, Dr. Al-Reefy observed firsthand the shockingly high mortality rate of young women to breast cancer due to cultural norms and shame surrounding cancer diagnosis and treatment. In November 2007, Dr. Al-Reefy traveled to the United States on an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) titled “Breast Cancer Awareness and Community Outreach.” Her visit to the MD Anderson Hospital and the Susan G. Komen Charity opened her eyes to the importance of yearly breast cancer screening and oncoplastic breast surgery. Inspired, Dr. Al-Reefy traveled to London to specialize in breast cancer surgery at St. George’s University Hospital. Three years later, she returned to Bahrain equipped with “advanced oncoplastic surgery techniques.” Reflecting on her IVLP experience, Dr. Al-Reefy writes, “it was that trip that saved the lives of so many women in my kingdom.”
Over the next five years, Dr. Al-Reefy established the first One-Stop Breast Clinic within the Gulf Cooperation Council and the first private medical center specializing in breast cancer screening and treatment. In 2016, she was awarded a $100,000 grant by the Crown Prince of Bahrain that allowed her to purchase her clinic's first 3D Hologic Mammogram. Since then, Dr. Al-Reefy has launched the first mobile breast screening unit, making breast cancer screening accessible to women in Bahrain's villages, and established a clinical branch in Kuwait.
Dr. Sara Al-Reefy’s tireless efforts and innovative initiatives have resulted in the diagnosis and treatment of 3,000 women with breast cancer in the region. She is changing the current management of breast cancer in the Arab world.
Edited by Virtual Interns Regina Navarro-Gomez and Kristin Mitra
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Al-ReefyIVLP Alumni
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Patricia Spadaro
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Content created by Virtual Intern Nini Vo
Patricia Spadaro, a courageous journalist, was the editor in chief for El Nacional, Venezuela's largest national newspaper, until its final printed edition in 2018. The paper stopped issuing a printed edition due to the high cost of supplies. Referring to the media situation in her home country, Spadaro says, "Social media has now taken the place of traditional news outlets due to the current information blackout."
In 2000, Spadaro joined a group of Latin American journalists to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project titled "The Role of the Media in a Free and Democratic Society." During her IVLP, Spadaro visited several newsrooms, including the Washington Post, the Oregonian, and CNN, and discussed the importance of local journalism, the decline of printed media, and the evolving digital era.
Spadaro says, "The exchange between the U.S and Latin American colleagues enriched our understanding of the challenges journalism was facing at the moment." In 2018, Spadaro returned to the United States through an invitation from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) to share direct experiences of oppression and limitations on press freedom in Venezuela.
As an advocate for freedom of the press and speech, Patricia Spadaro continues her efforts to keep Venezuelans informed through her current work with Reporte Ya, a prominent citizen-based journalism network.
Edited by Virtual Interns Regina Navarro-Gomez and Kristin Mitra
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