Soliya’s Connect Global: US-MENA alumna Nicole Leonard made a life decision to change her major after participating in virtual exchange, impacting her career trajectory. Now, as a digital organizer, Nicole assists low-income households in getting access to publicly funded health and food assistance programs.
Through her participation in Connect Global: US-MENA in 2017, 22-year-old Nicole Leonard gained clarity around her career goals and realized she could be an effective champion for public policy if she changed her major to political science. So that is exactly what she did. Today, the Western Kentucky University alumna supports lawyers and lobbyists working with policymakers to improve and expand access to publicly funded health and food assistance programs for low-income households in Tennessee. Nicole manages digital communications for a state-wide organization that promotes access to and enrolls people in public benefits programs.
“The Connect Program was a great opportunity to gain insight into how people of differing cultural and geographic backgrounds communicate and to educate myself on how the leaders of our country are perceived from the perspectives of people abroad and across the nation,” said Nicole. That insight has become a vital part of how she does her job today. Nicole recollects the diverse viewpoints she encountered during her interactions with peers from around the world when organizing statements for major press outlets or crafting outreach and education campaigns that require her to predict the public response to policy suggestions. “It was fascinating to realize how little we are aware of international perspectives and what the policy implications of the decisions our leaders make at home are on other countries.”
It was fascinating to realize how little we are aware of international perspectives and policy implications of the decisions our leaders make on other countries.
To come to this valuable realization, Nicole had to push herself out of her comfort zone and acquire what she calls a “massively important skill that people struggle with.” She is referring to active listening, a critical 21st Century leadership skill. “Learning how to be an active listener in digital mediums was a major accomplishment for me. Letting myself be quiet for a minute. Making listening to the stories of other people be the number one thing you’re doing,” she reflected. The Connect Program creates an optimum environment for developing those human skills by bringing culturally and geographically diverse students together. The program is led by highly trained facilitators and engages participants in specific activities geared towards building cross cultural communication skills, including active listening and asking good questions.
In 2019, Nicole graduated with a BA in Political Science and a minor in Journalism. She cites enrolling in Professor Soleiman Kiasatpour’s class, through which she participated in the Connect Program, as one of the best decisions of her life. Initially, she expected a lecture-style class; instead, what she found was a virtual roundtable with participants from abroad.
To this day, Nicole remembers the stories of her group mates and shares them with her family, friends, and peers. “I learned by experience how it’s so difficult to humanize from just textbooks; hearing and sharing personal stories was really interesting and very valuable”
I learned by experience how it’s so difficult to humanize experiences from just textbooks; hearing and sharing personal stories was really interesting and very valuable.
What’s next for Nicole? Nicole wants to continue her work in digital organizing, but aspires to take it to the next level. One day, she hopes to join digital grassroots organizing on a larger scale for an organization such as the American Civil Liberties Union or The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
The Stevens Initiative is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government, and is administered by the Aspen Institute. It is also supported by the Bezos Family Foundation and the governments of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.
How three winners of the 2020 AEIF grant award have set out to transform their local communities by advancing female empowerment and education.
The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) always brings a plethora of innovative ideas, initiatives, and solutions from across the world. The Tubambane Project is no exception.
Tubambane is a Zambian word that means "let us nurture each other." Emerging from a dedication to eradicate Sex Based Violence (GBV) in the Monze District of Zambia, the Tubambane Project was created with the hope of empowering women and girls to succeed in their communities and to achieve socio-economic justice in the region.
Founded by Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) alumni Inonge Malambo, Robson Maamba, and Nang’amba Chintu, this 2020 AEIF project equips girls and women with the practical skills needed to sustain themselves and their families. Domestic violence is on the rise inmany rural areas and many women lack access to basic food amenities and proper nutrition. Through the Tubambane Project, Inonge, Robson, Nag’amba, and team donate seeds and fertilizers to women’s groups that support GBV survivors, in turn helping the women sustain and grow their own food supply to combat malnutrition and to achieve economic independence.
In 2019, the project raised funding to provide 200 kilograms of maize seed, 400 kilograms of groundnut seeds, and 1,000 kilograms of fertilizer to 50 women’s groups throughout the Keemba, Lucenje, Nteme, Munyenze and Moonzwe regions of Zambia. Accompanied by agricultural training for GBV survivors, the seed donations have helped to reduce malnutrition and poverty among survivors of GBV in the region and to strengthen self-sufficiency.
The project, funded by a 2020 AEIF grant from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) at the U.S. Department of State, also offers training courses designed to strengthen women and girls’ financial literacy and promote economic independence. Moreover, counseling sessions offer critical psychodynamic support to help survivors of GBV confront past trauma and rebuild their lives from a point of strength and confidence.
It’s clear the project’s founders are passionate about making a difference in their community – and experiences from both their early lives and within the MWF program have guided their expertise and interest in social entrepreneurship.
Inonge, who studied public management during her time as a Fellow, says her exchange experience not only provided the requisite knowledge to manage her own organization, but also equipped her with a sense of self-confidence she carries with her everyday. The MWF program helped Nag’amba and Robson to hone their leadership skills – enabling them to organize resources and community members alike and to network with other like-minded leaders in the industry to learn from and share ideas with.
“My participation in the Mandela Washington Fellowship helped me to become the change that I would love to see in my community,” noted Nag’amba.
To foster a society that supports survivors of GBV and to combat future acts of violence, the Tubambane Project also targets male community members and promotes conversation through community-based radio talk shows addressing societal and cultural practices that traditionally have been less inclusive of women. Through strengthening the region’s health and educational system, the project ultimately aims to reach 5,000 survivors of GBV by 2025.
Transforming an idea into reality is no easy feat – from identifying one’s business goals to mapping out a detailed marketing strategy, starting and running a new enterprise requires time and work. On Thursday, January 28, 2021, exchange alumni entrepreneurs Julia Beabout and Brian McCarty joined us on MentorTalks to talk about their endeavours founding nonprofits and how their exchange programs - and exchange alumni experiences - shaped their careers. They also shared details on different types and categories of nonprofits, as well as what it takes to maintain a business in pandemic times.
Julia, an award-winning social entrepreneur and alumna of a Critical Language Scholarship to China, also spoke about how she juggles her time between managing a for profit organization, Novaby, and the nonprofit she co-founded, Tech in the Tenderloin. She credits her participation in an Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminar (TIES) in 2016 for sparking her interest in the overlap between technology and global affairs, which led to her efforts in engaging youth through an augmented reality hackathon project.
During the show, Brian, who was a Fulbright Specialist in China and Hong Kong, highlighted the need to be clear about what you are pursuing and to hone in on your mission statement as you grow your idea. From his experience as President & Executive Director of War ToysⓇ, Brian also noted the various challenges that one faces early on in the process, such as a lack of funding and resources. In addition to reaching out to friends and family, and others in your network for support, he recommended doing whatever you can with what you have.
Expressing the value of teamwork and collaboration, Julia noted one of the most critical aspects of running a successful organization is recruiting a team that wants to partake in your vision and expand your vision. By “pulling the string, and following the trail,” Julia said, who knows what you can learn? Often, the best ideas come from the dialogue between people.
Looking for more advice from Julia and Brian? Watch the video for all the details!
About Julia Beabout
Julia is CEO and Creative Director of Novaby, an award-winning, digital art production company specializing in virtual 3D experiences and augmented reality (AR) Placemaking, as well as co-founder of Tech in the Tenderloin (TNT), a non-profit that connects low-opportunity youth and families with high-opportunity tech through fun activities and events.
In 2012, Julia participated in the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) program in China. As an exchange alumna, Julia participated in the 2016Alumni Thematic International Exchange Seminar (TIES) on Climate Change, Global Affairs, and the Digital Age and the 2019 Art, Culture, and Transforming Conflict TIES. These exchange alumni experiences had a profound impact on her life and shaped the direction of her career.
She has a BS in Architectural Engineering and an MA in Asian Studies. She is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) and LEED Accredited Professional.
About Brian McCarty
Brian is President & Executive Director of War ToysⓇ, a California-based nonprofit organization that positively impacts the lives of children who have been affected by war. He is also a photographer, art director, and producer.
Through art and conflict transformation, Brian hopes to tell the stories that aren’t being told by advocating for children who have been affected by war. As a Fulbright Specialist, Brian worked with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design (PolyU) to help create toys that will provide support for children in warzones, with an understanding of how toys can shape and reflect our culture.
Brian’s work has been exhibited by museums and universities, acquired by prominent collectors, and covered by The New York Times, Washington Post, Guardian, Wired, Al-Jazeera, Reuters, Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, and countless other publications around the world.
YSEALI Alumna is one of seven winners to receive SDGs and Her Award for her work in Environmental Sustainability in Indonesia.
Annisa Hasanah Arsyad’s interest in environmental education was piqued long before the global pandemic hit. But when millions of business-owners were uprooted from their jobs in Indonesia amidst COVID-19, her passion became even more critical.
Annisa, an alumna of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program (YSEALI PFP), was recently selected as one of seven global winners of the World Bank "Sustainable Development Goals and Her" Award for her work as founder of Ecofun Indonesia, a social enterprise focused on advancing environmental education through interactive play. Out of 2,400 applicants, Annisa is one of two exchange alumnae - along with IVLP and YTILI alumna Melina Taprantzi - and seven women, to be awarded an SDGs and Her Award.
Ecofun aims to equip young people with the knowledge to protect and defend their environment while instilling in them skills in science and communication. Through a series of board games and interactive gaming experiences, children are challenged to think critically about their carbon footprint and how they can live more responsibly in the world. The game itself embodies Ecofun’s mission, as the board game is composed entirely of recycled materials.
The revenue generated from sales of the game goes toward supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs in Indonesia – most recently, those who have been affected by the pandemic. When COVID-19 hit, Ecofun launched a “pay as you wish” campaign, donating profits to support the shipment of food packages to those most in need in their business communities.
Annisa’s success as an entrepreneur can be traced back to her exchange experience in the YSEALI Professional Fellows Program, when she honed in on the intersection between environmental sustainability and entrepreneurship. She told us, “I learned how to work efficiently and to get to know my leadership character and capacity. Joining YSEALI PFP improved my confidence as a social entrepreneur to grow personally and professionally.”
Covering topics like carbon emissions, waste management, flood preparedness, water management, organic farming, and forest fires, Annisa’s game raises awareness about climate action; and it also seeks to address existing barriers in the educational space. As remote learning has remained out of reach for at least 500 million students worldwide – and these inequalities have only been exacerbated by the onset of COVID-19 – Ecofun works to offer an inclusive, accessible experience for children within their own homes.
“I believe education is a dynamic and engaging process,” says Annisa. “Games can connect children with our environment through a fun process, encouraging their imagination, curiosity, and creativity. If we start the conversation and subconsciously move people toward habits which protect rather than destroy the environment, in the long-term we will be successful.”
Read more about Annisa’s work and quest to pave a greener future on their website. Congratulations, Annisa!
For Omar Daoud, participating in the Stevens Initiative exchange program during the start of the pandemic was an added value.
Entrepreneurial thinking opens opportunities for employment in traditional and emerging markets and is a particularly important need as the United States, Jordan, and Iraq face an increase in unemployment. According to the World Bank, unemployment rates have increased to 23% in Jordan during the second quarter of 2020. High unemployment, along with strong competition for positions in popular markets, means that entrepreneurship offers a window of opportunity for youth. The Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge is giving youth, such as Omar Daoud, the opportunity to develop this entrepreneurial mindset, equipping them for the workforce in Jordan.
Omar was a member of the self-titled team “JoSeagulls”, a binational group of students from Al Balqa Applied University in Jordan and Beaufort Community College in North Carolina during the Global Solutions Sustainability Challenge (GSSC), a virtual exchange program implemented by IREX. GSSC connects university students in Jordan and Iraq with community college students in the United States to design sustainable business solutions for real world challenges. Students develop 21st century skills through virtual exchange in an environment that models the modern workplace. During the Spring 2020 Cohort II of the challenge, Ahmad Al Saaideh, the team’s Jordan-based director and Omar, the team’s researcher, along with their US-based partner directors Liz O’Malia and Toni Byrum, led their JoSeagulls to the finalist round at the live Virtual Business Expo where they placed second in the competition. Their team was provided a small grant to further develop their concept through the Stevens Initiative Small Alumni Grant. This team was co-facilitated by educators in each country including Leena Irshad from Al Balqa Applied University in Jordan and Cynthia King from Beaufort County Community College.
Omar believes the best way to develop world-changing innovations begins with focusing on the human experience and following the innovative approach of design thinking, which was encouraged throughout the challenge. He seeks to further apply the skills he gained such as adaptability, critical thinking and creative problem solving, in the future as a young entrepreneur. ''Participation in the program as a researcher allowed me to experience information-gathering, and gain knowledge about new topics and subjects,” Omar Said. “This will have a major impact in my future career and in further developing my teams’ business concept.''
While the team was in the middle of the 10-week challenge during the Spring 2020 cohort, the world was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the lockdowns and the need to pivot to virtual meetings, the team members embraced the challenges and continued their workplan, investing in research to further develop their business concept. Their sustainable solution, the Simple, Effective, and Affordable Gas Detection System (SEA), will help residential and commercial property owners monitor gas levels to reduce the number of deaths due to gas leakages, a serious challenge in Jordan. The device automatically responds to high levels of toxic gases by closing the leakage source, allowing natural ventilation, and then transmits a series of alerts, notifying the owner of gas leakage. The team is currently turning their business concept into reality by building a prototype of the gas detection system, an effort supported by their alumni small grant.
Omar’s experience with Global Solutions also equipped him with cross-cultural collaboration skills, a need for today’s young entrepreneurs. ''Participating in the virtual exchange program during the start of the pandemic was an added value for me,” Omar said. “I invested my time in a new experience, gained skills and most of all built new friendships with our partners from Beaufort Community College.'' Omar and other members of his team still remain connected with their US team members even though the challenge has concluded.
Omar, now equipped with an entrepreneurial mindset, is dreaming big and hopes his team’s sustainable business concept of ‘SEA’ will one day become a real business in Jordan and a model used by technology companies as a financially sustainable option to protect people and the environment.
Global Solutions is funded by the Stevens Initiative, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S. Government, and is administered by the Aspen Institute. It is also supported by the Bezos Family Foundation and the governments of Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.
This exchange alumni success story was shared with permission by The Stevens Initiative.
How a beginner blogger combined digital strategy and “uncelebrated food” to form the perfect recipe.
How did a beginner blogger turn “uncelebrated food” into a recipe for success? Ranía Renno, author of Hungrily Homemade, offered insight into this culinary journey on our most recent MentorTalks episode December 15 on Facebook at @internationalexchangealumni.
“Everything I do is driven by data, in some form or fashion,” Ranía told us. In this way, she added, “I can continuously learn what’s working for my users and what isn’t.”
During this episode of MentorTalks, Ranía discussed her career as an entrepreneur and creator of Hungrily Homemade, as well as her experience in digital marketing and data-driven strategy. She also shared tips for those pursuing a career in digital strategy.
In addition, Ranía emphasized the importance of building a relationship with your audience – specifically by understanding what’s important to your visitors and listening to what your audience tells you through comments and direct messages. For example, to drive audience engagement, Rania noted that it is critical to identify features that can help boost one’s content, including hashtags and keywords, to maximize relevance and searchability of one’s content.
Get all the details and more tips on data-driven strategies and marketing from Rania’s interview on MentorTalks
More about Rania...
Rania Renno, Entrepreneur and Creator of Hungrily HomemadeWith a long-standing appreciation for good food and community, Ranía Renno has been experimenting with and developing her own recipes for years. While it simply began as an opportunity for Ranía to disconnect and express herself outside of work in the kitchen, her hobby eventually turned into a way for her to serve others through her love of cooking.
For Ranía, cooking is personal – having grown up surrounded by the warm flavors of both traditional Lebanese and Palestinian food in her own household, she acquired a flair for the cuisine early on. Seeking to make known the rich diversity of authentic Middle Eastern cuisine, Ranía started a blog in 2013 called the Hungrily Homemade. The blog details her passion for the "uncelebrated food" of Middle Eastern culture, while highlighting recipes and tips readers can bring into their own kitchens to embrace traditional Palestinian cooking.
The success of Ranía’s blog has been propelled by her career in digital marketing and strategy. Ranía has an extensive digital marketing background, and with a focus on data-driven digital tech solutions for large name brands, she understands the value of staying true to one’s brand. Ranía’s cooking and the food she brings to the table, coupled with her personality and genuine interest in the heritage and culture of food, highlights her love for cooking and serving others.
Exchange alumna Melina Taprantzi is dedicated to supporting those in need while shaping the global food industry for the better. She is the founder of Wise Greece, a social enterprise that invests in quality Greek food products by helping small businesses enter into the Greek marketplace. And, this year, Melina was one of seven women selected globally to receive the World Bank and the United Nations’ prestigious SDGs + Her award for her work in sustainable development.
Wise Greece works by supporting small farmers and producers in growing and exporting their own products, and, in turn, donating portions of their sales to soup kitchens and families who often lack access to quality, healthy food. For every product sold, the Greek producer provides a percentage of their profit to Wise Greece to raise funds and provide food for citizens in need.
In addition to her recent award, Melina’s non-profit organization has elicited national recognition, winning the prestigious “Models of Excellence” award from the President of the Greek Republic, as well as the Start Up award for sustainability and social contribution. Melina says her interest in social sustainability can be traced back to her
International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) exchange experience, focusing on Social Responsibility and Innovation. She realized a need to combat malnutrition in her home country, and, continuing her experience as a 2019 Fellow with the
Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI), Melina discovered a solution lay in the unique intersection between sustainable food production and brand marketing.
In 2013, amidst Greece’s worst financial and social crisis of modern history, Melina visited a local social grocery store where underprivileged citizens came to access basic food and clothing supplies. Upon seeing the only available product offering at the time was razors, Melina knew she must do something. At the same time she was aware that Greek farmers were yielding amazing food products but didn’t necessarily know how to market them to consumers. This led to the founding of Wise Greece.
Today Wise Greece works with over 100 small producers to strengthen brand reputation and awareness of 2,500 products to be sold in both national and global markets. Reaching consumers in eight countries, Wise Greece has drawn on sales of these products to donate over 50 tons of food to orphanages, soup kitchens, and charitable institutions alike.
Reflecting on her career path and interest in social entrepreneurship, Melina notes that her exchange experience was life changing. “I met American social entrepreneurs and startuppers who focus on social innovation, and this helped me to identify the similarities and differences between the European and American social enterprises.” She also forged invaluable friendships along the way, noting, “I had the chance to travel around the US with a team of 16 amazing leaders from all over the world, with whom we share the same values and I consider today very close friends of mine.”
Wise Greece encapsulates both Melina’s commitment to achieving food sustainability and a desire to offer quality, healthy food to underprivileged citizens across Greece and the globe. To learn more about the work of Wise Greece, visit their website.
In 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, affirming the inherent dignity of every person, regardless of disability. The ADA protects prohibits discrimination by local and state governments; provides standards for privately owned businesses and commercial facilities, and against discrimination in the workplace; and, ensures equal access to healthcare, social services, transportation, and telecommunications. This landmark civil rights law has made a difference in the lives of all Americans - those with and without disabilities, helping us all live, learn, work, play, and contribute side by side.[1] Thanks to exchange alumni, the ADA has also made a difference around the world.
Take Faizan Raza and his brother, Jawad, of Pakistan, who had an opportunity to visit the U.S. as exchange participants of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Through Abey KHAO, the brothers’ successful, deaf-friendly restaurant in Pakistan, Faizan and Jawad are bridging the gap between the deaf and hearing communities.
Learn how to make Chicken Karahi with Faizan, in this video
YALI Alumnus Champions Disability Rights in Mozambique
Returning home to Mozambique from the Mandela Washington Fellowship at Duquesne University’s Leadership in Civic Engagement Institute in 2016, João Vembane knew he was destined to help those with disabilities. Becoming a disability rights advocate, Vembane now leads initiatives that build capacity among local disabled organizations (DPO), supports skills-building programs for persons with disabilities, and draws on evidence-based research to improve disability inclusion programs.
She's Creating an Inclusive World, One Chess Game at a Time
Exchange alumna Keenese Katisenge set out to give a voice to those with disabilities by encouraging creativity and disability through chess. Envisioning a world where those with disabilities are treated equally, Katisenge drew on her 2019 Mandela Washington Fellowship experience to found Limitless Minds, a chess academy in Botswana that empowers and educates youth with special needs.
Tech CEO Partners with Embassy Accra to Educate and Engage Deaf Youth
Florence Toffa, a 2016 exchange alumna of the
Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders program, has leveraged technology to equip underprivileged deaf youth and adults with the tools they need to pursue their professional goals and succeed in the workforce. Through a two-day event called Embassy Accra for Tech Camp Bolga, Toffa and her team trained participants in photography and in social media to enhance their communication skills and to strengthen their civic participation with society.
Congratulations to the 2019 Alumni Impact Award Winners!
Maria Monchari Omare is a disability inclusion advocate, social entrepreneur, and educator committed to inspiring change and hope in under-served communities. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of The Action Foundation, an organization working to improve the education, health, social, and economic outcomes of young children and girls with disabilities living in poverty. Maria has grown
The Action Foundation from focusing on a small group of schools, parents, and learners with disabilities, to building a grassroots movement transforming disability-inclusive development in Kenya. In October 2017, she led the creation of Somesha, a program that is reaching hundreds of teachers through immersion workshops and virtual peer learning.
Through the Professional Fellows Program, Maria had the chance to do her fellowship with the Institute for Community Inclusion, at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. She says her experience in Boston helped her to see the possibilities for improving service in her community and identify huge gaps in early intervention services offered at home. Maria’s fellowship inspired her to build a support network of caregivers for young children with disabilities in Nairobi. She has also been actively involved in engaging local communities in the development and implementation of the national education policy for educators of students with disabilities. In 2019, she won aProfessional Fellows Alumni Impact Award (AIA) for her commitment to making a difference in her local communities.
America’s Songbird Lifts Voices and Diverse Communities in Africa, Europe, and the U.S.
Myrna Clayton set out to make a difference in the lives of disabled citizens by harnessing the power of music and culture. Having lived in Namibia throughout the Arts Envoy Program in 2019, Myrna’s main goal was to connect with local communities while sharing American culture through music. Myrna drew on her experience as she stepped into the role of Executive and Artist Director of Abel 2, a nonprofit organization focused on meeting the needs of people with disabilities and marginalized communities through music and art.
YSEALI Alumna Empowers Disabled Community
Nguyen Minh Chau is a powerhouse for disability rights advocacy. Having studied non-governmental organization development during her YSEALI Professional Fellows Program in Vietnam in 2016, she applied her interest in disability rights by training others on how to run effective communications campaigns and messaging. With an aim to raise awareness of the challenges people with disabilities face everyday, Chau has reached thousands in her country – and globally – as she seeks to empower those with disabilities to carve out meaningful and successful lives.
Armenian Alumni Support Youth with Disabilities through Dance and Film
A team of Armenian alumni have showcased their support for disabled youth by collaborating with professional dancers in a public performance. 80 dancers of all abilities gathered on the steps of Cafesjian Center for the Arts in Yerevan in 2016, waltzing in a flash mob to the tune of “Waltz of the Flowers” by Peter Tchaikovsky. The flash mob is part of a winning 2019 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) project titled “Unlimited Movement” led by a team of five Armenian exchange alumni to promote inclusivity and highlight the talent of those with disabilities.
Raising Disability Awareness in Venezuela | International Exchange Alumni
Fueled by his exchange experience during the International Visitor Leadership Program, Juan Angel returned to his home country in Venezuela determined to make a difference in the lives of those with disabilities. To do this, Angel implemented a series of events across Venezuela to commemorate International Deaf Week, and, with creativity and hard work, generated multiple partnerships with public and private institutions, as well as government municipalities, to generate greater awareness of the Deaf community.
FLEX City Representative Strengthens Alumni Community
For Azat Toroev, equipping disabled youth with the skills they need to become successful in their communities was inevitable. After his exchange experience in Fort Collins, Colorado with the Future Leaders Exchange Program piqued his interest in community service, Toroev drew on what he learned to empower disabled youth in his hometown of Tokmok, Kyrgyzstan. He made certain that girls and persons with disabilities are not hindered by institutional and societal barriers, and introduced initiatives to equip youth with leadership skills. Eventually, stepping into the role as FLEX City Representative in the town, Toroev is responsible for strengthening the alumni community and supporting their own community service endeavours.
IVLP Alumnus Champions Disability Rights in India | International Exchange Alumni
Guided by his 2014 experience in the International Visitors Leadership Program, Arman Ali advocates for sustained change in the laws governing disability rights in India. Following his exchange experience, he collaborated with government officials, NGOs, and advocacy organizations to develop a new draft law of the Persons with Disabilities Act, which promotes equality and fair treatment for all citizens across seven states in north-eastern India. Arman garnered national recognition for his efforts, and in 1998 was awarded the “Public Recognition for Outstanding Performance” award by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in India.
Helping Children Live Without Limits in Uzbekistan | International Exchange Alumni
Tatyana Chabrova was deeply touched by her 2006 exchange experience with the International Visitors Leadership Program, and she brought what she learned to empower youth with special needs in her home country of Uzbekistan. Focusing on sex and women’s issues during her exchange program, Chabrova applied her knowledge to equip children with the practical skills to succeed beyond the classroom. As she works tirelessly to make the lives of children with disabilities more meaningful, Chabrova has in turn strengthened the surrounding community and helped her hometown to become more inclusive toward those with disabilities.
Creating Affordable 3D Prosthetics in Argentina | International Exchange Alumni
During his 2013 National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) exchange, Gino Tubaro was inspired by a seminar on the innumerable possibilities of 3D printing, and drew on his exchange experience to support children with disabilities through the creation of 3D printed prosthetics. Embracing the overlap between technology and youth rights advocacy in Argentina, Tubaro co-founded Darwin Research, a non-profit that explores using modern technologies, such as 3D printing, to find innovative solutions for pressing challenges facing society.
Fall 2015 Alumni Impact Award Winners Selected for the Professional Fellows Congress
Andrey Tikhonov is a long-time activist for disability rights. Crediting his 2013 exchange experience with American Councils for International Education, Andrey was inspired by his time working with Chicago Lighthouse, a non-profit that serves the blind, visually impaired, disabled, and Veteran communities, to continue serving the disabled. Since his return to Russia, Andrew has worked to empower persons with disabilities through various forms of rehabilitation and to teach them how to live and succeed in their communities. His fellowship continues to inspire him as he advocates tirelessly for disability rights, and, working together with his wife, he hopes to empower young citizens with disabilities to find adequate mechanisms to protect their rights. They have set up a training course which teaches young people with disabilities to be active and to develop their own critical thinking skills through discussions on human and disability rights, as well as democracy and freedom. Andrey continues to maintain ties with his former host organization and to create linkages with fellow alumni through co-projects.
Exchange Alumni Partner with Kuwait Oil Company to Support Opportunities for Disabled Individuals
Exchange alumni Nora Al-Othman and Abdul Aziz Al-Mutairi turned toward the private sector to support citizens who have disabilities in Kuwait. Partnering with Training Gate International (TGI), a leading organization in assessing the needs of the disabled community in Kuwait, the alumni sought to educate and equip disabled citizens with the skills to succeed in the educational system, workforce, and society. Al-Othman attributes much of their success, including the rapid and sustained growth of TGI, to what she learned during her IVLP exchange experience.
Disability is Diversity: Dr. Christie L. Gilson Shares her Story
Dr. Gilson knows first-hand the challenges a disability can pose, as she herself grew up with a visual impairment. Choosing not to let her disability hinder her curiosity and zeal for adventure, Dr. Gilson embarked on a Fulbright exchange program in China, where, traveling alone at times, she learned the value of courage and independence. Now an Assistant Professor of Education at Moravian College, Dr. Gilson is also the first disabled person to have been appointed by U.S. President Barack Obama to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Dr. Gilson attributes her professional success to critical lessons learned throughout her exchange experience, including resilience, a resolution to never give up, and a bit of stubbornness.
Exchange alumni across the world are leading the effort in championing the rights of those with disabilities. To recognize the groundbreaking legislation of ADA, ECA launched the Access for All campaign to highlight the State Department’s commitment to promoting equal opportunities for persons with disabilities, and this program showcases ECA’s effort to provide inclusive opportunities for those seeking to harness international exchange. The collective work of alumni supporting the rights of disabled citizens and making a tangible difference in the lives of those with disabilities can be found on the Americans with Disabilities Act 30th Anniversary Facebook Page.
[1] ADA 30th Anniversary
Congratulations to Abi Marutama, Aziz Taouri, Abdo Ibrahim, Iftikhar Khan, Christa Muzanila, and Michael Brubaker, exchange alumni of the Professional Fellows Program (PFP), who were awarded this year’s 2020 Professional Fellows Alumni Impact Awards! Representing the nations of Indonesia, Morocco, Egypt, Pakistan, Tanzania, and the United States, these exchange alumni have inspiring stories to tell about the positive impacts they’ve made in their local communities and across the world.
The six winners were recognized at the first-ever virtual Professional Fellows Congress, which took place from November 2-13, 2020. The PF Congress provided the alumni an opportunity to share their inspiring stories, while networking remotely with nearly 300 Professional Fellows who have completed fellowships across diverse settings within government entities, civil society organizations, and business across the United States. This year’s Congress was coordinated by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs (ECA) and supported by ECA implementing partner, the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL).
Explore their bios below to learn more about these spectacular #ExchangeAlumni and how they have impacted their local communities for the better.
Indonesia
Abi Marutama has drawn on his own experience as a professional with a visual disability to empower disabled Indonesians and to advocate for disability rights in Indonesia. With a Bachelor of Law from Tarumanagara School of Law, Abi worked for the Center for Persons with Disabilities’ Access to General Election, and, fostering relationships within the government, helped to bring about the enactment of the Indonesians with Disabilities Act in 2016.
In 2016, Abi joined the Disability-Inclusive and Accessible Urban Development Network, an international disability rights movement led by UCLA disability expert, Dr. Victor Santiago Pineda. Together, they successfully invited people with disabilities to contribute as stakeholders in the New Urban Agenda, which was adopted by the United Nations during the Habitat III Conference held in Quito, Ecuador.
His experience in the PFP enabled him to become familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and he joined a robust network of disability rights activists and experts in the U.S. that focuses on voter accessibility legislation. Upon his return to Indonesia in 2018, Abi became a Human Rights Analyst at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, where he has since worked on disability rights issues and in helping to promote disability inclusion on a national scale.
Morocco
Aziz Taouri is a farmer in rural Morocco who has set out to create a successful farming cooperative in his community for young farmers aspiring to own a small agribusiness.
In addition to his work as a farmer, Aziz has a passion for empowering women and girls in Morocco, and in 2017, he was awarded an Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) Grant to implement a series of workshops for 75 rural girls. The workshops focused on strengthening media literacy; equipping them with entrepreneurial skills; and empowering them to achieve financial independence. In 2019, Aziz worked with his PFP host organization HANDS Along the Nile to design a leadership program for girls-at-risk, which involved a virtual exchange component with American inner city girls of the same age.
After completing his PFP in the U.S., Aziz returned to Morocco to work with HANDS in coordinating follow-up exchanges to his village in the south of Morocco. As an ambassador of the PFP, he is dedicated to investing in the Moroccan-American relationship, with a specific interest in establishing a personal and professional connection between the two countries. He often documents photos of Americans who travel to Morocco to showcase the rich diversity and culture of the region. One such exchange program is the U.S.-Moroccan sports exchange, which Aziz helped to coordinate in his village in 2019.
Egypt
As the CEO and Founder of Egypreneur, a company dedicated to providing business owners with best practices and strategies on how to improve and scale their business, Abdo Ibrahim coaches entrepreneurs and executives on how to maximize their potential and expand their enterprises, both on a local and global level.
After his participation in the PFP in the fall of 2018, Abdo returned to Egypt and drew on his exchange experience to harness the power of automation and A.I. to launch an Automated Funding Assistant for entrepreneurs in his community. From this experience, he expanded the concept to include an Automated Virtual Business Mentor. Abdo is currently working on the prototype for Lyla, a voice-activated coach for remote workers, in addition to authoring "Remote Work Confidence: Your 30-day journey into an optimal remote work lifestyle."
Pakistan
Iftikhar Khan is a media professional who has published journalistic work on legislative governance as a senior reporter, feature writer, and columnist in print media. During his PFP in 2018, Iftikhar worked in the Accountability Lab in the Open Gov Hub, where he focused on developing standard operating procedures in two government departments in the Punjab province to facilitate citizens’ requests for information.
His experience enabled him to step into a role with the German Development Cooperation as a State Advisor - Citizen Dialogue in the Support to Local Governance (LoGo) program in Lahore, Pakistan, where he supports the Punjab Information Commission engaging citizens around the 2013 Punjab Transparency & Right to Information Act.
With 15 years of diverse experience in the right to information (RTI), governance, and media & communications, Iftikhar regularly engages youth to promote awareness on RTI laws, which enables them to hold the government and public bodies accountable and contribute to transparency and good governance.
Tanzania
An experienced and passionate supporter of women in agribusiness, Christa Muzanila serves the lives of her Tanzanian community by creating business solutions to combat poverty through her work with MEDA Tanzania, an international NGO focused on building opportunities for Tanzanian farmers. In this role, she oversees entrepreneurs and farmer groups as they establish and manage sustainable businesses, providing a business management training series, mentorship, and coaching on best agronomic practices.
Christa’s participation in the PFP inspired her to establish her own business enterprise. Following the affiliation with her host organization, Allen Neighborhood Center, an organization devoted to promoting neighborhood revitalization of Lansing, Michigan, she co-founded KALAMALI Agri-Nutri products, an enterprise that supports the delivery of locally-grown healthy and nutritious food in the community.
In 2019, Christa was awarded an Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) Grant to coordinate and implement a community project known as the Empower Young Women in Agribusiness (EYWA), which trained 100 young women in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar in the area of agri-food processing. Through her EYWA program, Christa continues to mentor young women entrepreneurs in acquiring skills to grow their businesses.
United States
As a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Principled Strategies, a consulting and advisory services company which he founded in April 2019, Michael Brubaker is also an advocate for economic and financial empowerment. He has an impressive background, having also served in the political sphere as a Pennsylvania State Senator prior to joining the private sector.
Michael went on to build the largest agricultural advisory firm in the Mid-Atlantic region, serving thousands of farms by consistently increasing the profitability of farmers while ensuring compliance with rapidly changing federal and state environmental regulations. He holds his PFP experience close to heart, as he has hosted five professionals over his life and worked to provide the best experience possible for the international visitors in their homestay and fellowship placement.
Michael believes in giving back, and has become a mentor to many of the Fellows that he hosted. He maintains close contact with all five of the alumni, and he has visited three of the five professionals on follow-on programs to Armenia, Moldova, and Singapore. Michael holds a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from West Virginia University, as well as an Honorary Doctorate from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology.
In the Czech Republic, where misinformation has been on the rise since the early stages of the global pandemic, Kateřina Vacková and her team realized a need for combatting disinformation and sought to equip citizens with the knowledge necessary to protect one another.
Targeting the general public, as well as elderly citizens, pregnant women, and frontline workers who are most at risk, Vacková’s team created a website with information from WHO and CDC outlining adequate use of protective equipment and safety measures.
Citizens can come to the site for presentations, webinars, and other helpful resources with tips on how to protect themselves and one another. Themes include “how to wash your hands properly,” “how and when to use a face mask,” and “coronavirus before and after pregnancy.” The information can also be found on social platforms and is shared with schools, community centers, and government institutions to reach more citizens within the region.
Vacková completed her Young Transatlantic Innovation Leaders Initiative (YTILI) Fellowship in 2018 after graduating from the First Faculty of Medicine and Harvard Medical School. After being diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 22, Vacková was inspired to encourage others to take control of their health.
She founded
Loono with a vision to empower citizens to take proactive steps toward protecting against long-term health issues and illnesses.
Vacková has harnessed the platform of Loono to spark broader interest in her site, and to reach more audiences -- recruiting medical professionals, hospitals, and community members alike to join in her efforts. Between their collective outreach, the website has garnered thousands of visits while providing citizens with accurate, timely information around protective measures.
Loono has since grown to include 150 young doctors and medical students. During its time, the team has organized 1,800 workshops and reached nearly 100,000 newly educated individuals. For her endeavors, Vackova was awarded the Social Innovation Prize and made Forbes Magazine’s 30 Under 30 List.
The impact of her YTILI Fellowship doesn’t stop there. Vacková’s experience led her to further develop transatlantic partnerships and relationships. With plans to partner with Martina Nádvorníková, a YTILI 2018 alumna from Slovakia, Vacková hopes to continue to combat misinformation and develop educational resources in Slovakia as well, by creating more than 30 other resource materials to reach at least one million people. Vacková also intends to expand her reach to include international organizations, including Doctors Without Borders.
“In light of the global pandemic, I have felt the urge to promptly respond to the ongoing crisis in order to protect the health of our citizens and frontline workers,” reflects Vacková. With my team of medical professionals, I believe that in times of crisis, professionals need to unite together.”
