1. Kamel Daoud

   First Name

   Kamel

   Participant Headshot

   

   Short Biography

   

    

   Content created by Virtual Intern  Kristin Mitra

   An Algerian journalist and writer, Kamel Daoud's contributions to literature and journalism have made a significant impact on Algerian cultural awareness. In 1996, Daoud began writing for Le Quotidien d'Oran, a French-language Algerian daily paper, and has also contributed to the New York Times.

   Daoud's 2005 visit to the United States for the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) changed the way he looked at journalism. "This trip made me think about how I write and how to change things in my country." As a current affairs reporter, he realized that he needed to consider all points of view in his reporting. He became more aware of the distinction between opinion and information, which liberated him as a columnist and allowed him to distinguish, at times, the challenges of journalism in Algeria.

   During his IVLP Daoud also learned more about the American political system; it was much more complex that he had realized. Being from a generation directly influenced by the propaganda and ideology of pan-Arabism, his IVLP experience taught him to conceptualize the idea of "the Other," a point of view that he had not previously incorporated into his work. When he arrived to the United States, he realized that his preconceived notions of what an American looked like were false. Daoud describes his prior worldview as being distinctly Franco-Algerian: "Algerians perceive the West through France and decipher it through French culture or colonial trauma." In his current work as an opinion columnist, he helps Algerians try to understand the world from all perspectives.

   Kamel Daoud is a popular columnist who works to break down stereotypes and expand the worldview of the Algerian public.

   Edited by Virtual Interns Regina Navarro-Gomez and Kristin Mitra

    

   Home Country

   Algeria

   Last name

   Daoud

   IVLP Alumni

2. Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board September 2011 Meeting

   

   The 252nd quarterly meeting of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board was held on September 15th and 16th in Washington, D.C.

3. Study Abroad, Make a Difference

   

   National Security Language Initiative for Youth alumni talk about their exchange experiences.

4. Human Rights Clubs in Rwanda (Youth Leadership Program)

   

   Alumni of U.S. Department of State's Youth Leadership Program, started Peace Clubs for local high school students in Rwanda.

5. Paying it Forward: Fortune/U.S. State Department Global Women's Mentoring Partnership

   

   The Fortune/U.S. State Department Global Women's Mentoring Partnership connects talented, emerging women leaders from all over the world, with members of Fortune's Most Powerful Women Leaders for a month-long program.

6. TechWomen Exchange Expertise to Excel

   TechWomen pairs the next generation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with their professional counterparts in the United States.

7. 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.

8. The Community College Initiative Program Commemorates First 10 Years

   The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) is commemorating the Community College Initiative (CCI) program’s 10th anniversary (2007-2017) through the publication of Community College Initiative Program: The First Ten Years.

9. Delegation from Serbia Seeks to Boost Serbia’s Economy Through Bankruptcy

   The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) hosted four delegates from Serbia in hopes of boosting the country’s financial infrastructure through bankruptcy.

10. 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

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