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May Al Mahayni
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Content created by Virtual Intern Nora MoestThe Syrian civil war has resulted in suboptimal oncology care in most of Syria, but Dr. May Al Mahayni, a Syrian doctor and co-founder of the Breast Cancer Protection Society is passionate about her mission to raise awareness of breast cancer and encourage early detection.
She participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in October 2007 and during her program she learned about current cancer research from other participants and doctors and staff at cancer centers throughout the United States. She brought what she learned back to Syria and applied it to workshops and events organized by the Breast Cancer Protection Society. She organized a walk through the streets of Damascus imitating the walk she saw in San Diego where everyone was wearing a pink shirt with the Breast Cancer logo to bring attention to the disease and call for early detection.
Through the society, Dr. Al Mahayni and other doctors collected donations and took a mammogram machine to rural areas in Syria to test women for breast cancer. Thanks to her knowledge and networking, Dr. May Al Mahayni is spreading the word in Syria about early detection of breast cancer.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
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Al MahayniIVLP Alumni
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Magdalena Waleska Aldana Segura
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Short Biography
Content created by Virtual Intern Radha VaradanGrowing up in Guatemala, Magdalena Waleska Aldana Segura was often the only female in her physics class. She took her love of science and built a successful career as a university professor teaching physics and mentoring students interested in science-related careers.
Through workshops that have been attended by more than 4,000 high school students and 350 professors, she encourages women’s involvement in fields where they are underrepresented. Aldana Segura credits the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) as a driving force behind her recent activism. She took part in the 2017 #HiddenNoMore IVLP project that connected her with nearly 50 like-minded women in STEAM fields. These contacts from her IVLP have helped take her workshops to the next level, allowed her to organize conferences for children, and provided an opportunity to speak at a prestigious STEAM conference in Chicago.
Her involvement in the Guatemalan Women in Science association (GWSA), the Association for American Advancement of Science (AAAS), and her long career as a university professor ensures that Magdalena Waleska Aldana Segura is illuminating the future of STEAM education by empowering one woman at a time.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
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Aldana SeguraIVLP Alumni
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Madiha Saad
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Content created by Virtual Intern Nayantara Arora
Madiha Saad is a Pakistani leader, activist, and educator who fights against patriarchal injustices through journalism and digital media. As a journalist, she primarily freelances for newspapers and writes articles focused on women and education. Saad is also an alumnus of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, an examiner and teacher for the International Baccalaureate diploma program, and has served as a journalism instructor at a leading university in Karachi.
In March 2016, Saad traveled to the United States for an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), focused on "Media Literacy- Promoting Civil Society through New Media." Her time spent in diverse cities allowed her to understand the impact of new social media trends and explore the role that digital technologies play in activism, campaigning, and promoting the development of civil society. "Our collective experience of foreign culture and our enriching exposure to the state-of-art innovations in media and technology...made our IVLP journey extraordinary," said Saad.
After her IVLP, Saad used her knowledge of digital technologies to host workshops for teachers, plan campaigns, and write articles on the social inequalities faced by women in Pakistan. She has helped introduce the concept of "solutions journalism" to her colleagues in Pakistan.
Madiha Saad's continuous dedication to promoting women's education through journalism in Pakistan has made her an equality and education leader.
Content edited by Sallie Bestul, Regina Navarro-Gomez, and Jenna Williams
Blog Post
Blog
IVLP Media Literacy: a truly enriching and unforgettable experience by Madiha Saad
My selection and participation in IVLP Media Literacy: Promoting Civil Society through New Media marks an important milestone in my life. The experience was phenomenal and enriching as it brought together participants from 21 countries and set them on a journey of exploration and evolution in terms of their perception of civil society and ways in which it can possibly benefit from the rapidly changing digital landscape.
It is because of this diversity of backgrounds that we all hailed from, our collective experience of a foreign culture, and our enriching exposure to the state-of-art innovations in media and technology, that made our IVLP journey extraordinary.
The three-week program started with our arrival at Washington D.C and focused on multimedia approaches to journalism and digital activism; the highlight of which was our enlightening sessions with Lily Ciric Hofman (award-winning multimedia journalist) and Nick DeSarno (Director of Digital and Policy Communications) centered around multimedia storytelling, political campaigning and federal approaches to utilizing new media. I remember being awestruck after these sessions that gave me insights that not only helped shape my understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the digital landscape in the US but also the challenges back at home.
Then, as we traveled across the country, from New York to Boston, Boston to Indianapolis (some groups also traveled to Utah and Kansas City), we continued to explore how digital media was used to build authentic news experiences, efficient government transparency, and active public advocacy. It was exciting to witness the media and civil institutions relentlessly exploring ways to use new media to build a stronger and more active society, empowering people to make informed decisions regarding their social and political choices, and mustering their collective strength to work for the benefit of the entire nation.In terms of exposure to novel experiences, our time at MIT (Center for Civic Media) with Ethan Zuckerman, and RYOT, Huffington post was most fascinating and enriching. It educated us on ways to assess media impact on civil society and showcased advancements in immersive journalism, something which was then unheard of in Pakistan.
Apart from our academic and practical learnings, there’s a lot more we learned about operating in a different culture, interacting with each other and the local communities.It also brought to focus the commonality of human emotions and shared experiences instead of aspects that divide us. With respect to this, our visit to the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites was remarkable; it was a walk through the history of the US, its agrarian past, its native cultures and freedom struggles. I believe the experience strengthened my bond with the culture and history of the US more than anything as I felt connected to the country’s past which greatly helped me understand its present hopes and fears.
The home hospitality was another memorable highlight of the visit. It was for the first time that we were invited into a local household, where the hosts had made generous arrangements to indulge and entertain us. More than their generosity, the intimacy of the experience made it all so delightful. As a group, we were most comfortable with each other, celebrating our differences and cherishing the similarities; and in a short time, became lifelong friends. These humbling and exciting experiences will forever remain a part of me and I will continue to use them as a means to promote the idea of global citizenship and peace.
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SaadIVLP Alumni
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U.S. Embassy Launches Academy for Women Entrepreneurs
SUVA – The United States Ambassador Joseph Cella welcomed over 70 Fijian women entrepreneurs today at the U.S. Embassy to celebrate the launch of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), a program designed to further enhance their business prowess.
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“Museums in a Suitcase” Photo Gallery
Due to the ongoing conflict, museums across Libya remain closed to protect their collections from looting and other damage. As a result, many communities in Libya have lost a vital link to their country’s rich past that museums and public programming create.
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“Museums in a Suitcase” Foster Understanding and Counter Violent Extremism in Libya
Due to the ongoing conflict, museums across Libya remain closed to protect their collections from looting and other damage. As a result, many communities in Libya have lost a vital link to their country’s rich past that museums and public programming create.
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U.S. Embassy, WEAC Zambia Launch Expanded Training for Women Entrepreneurs
LUSAKA—The U.S. Embassy and Women’s Entrepreneurship Access Center (WEAC) Zambia have launched applications for phase two for the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) until Monday, August 31, 2020.
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U.S., Bahamas salvage hurricane-damaged artifacts
Almost a year after Hurricane Dorian battered The Bahamas, a partnership between Bahamian and U.S. museum officials continues to save damaged cultural objects.
