Through the support of the Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF), the '”Creating Pathways to Employment for Young Mothers” project spearheaded by Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Regional Leader Center ExchangeAlumni Baimba Sheriff has a bold mission: to equip and empower young women in Sierra Leone. Its primary goal is to enable these women to attain self-reliance, achieve economic prosperity, provide support to their families, and actively engage in the advancement of their communities.

The team’s journey began in 2017, when they identified a set of challenges faced by young mothers in Sierra Leone. Baimba’s team recognized the urgent need to combat the stigma and stereotypes surrounding teenage mothers in Sierra Leone, especially as they often felt unable to return to formal education after becoming pregnant. The team’s mission to make a positive impact led them to the Western Area Rural District, Freetown, which has experienced high rates of teenage pregnancy. This project aimed to empower 60 young mothers with the skills and support they needed to overcome these barriers in their communities. The results have been impressive, with 75 percent of the women gaining employment opportunities. They established a self-funded library, where these young mothers had the chance to learn  basic numeracy and literacy skills, followed by financial management and vocational training. Remarkably, 25-35 percent of them have since established their own businesses, and 35 percent were able to support their children's education and health through these self-owned enterprises. Others were trained for employment, apprenticeships, and internships, breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

While his team’s project has already achieved significant success, Baimba emphasized the importance of ongoing support and continuing.  to monitor the impact and success of their efforts. This includes seeking out internships, continuing education, and mentorships to ensure that the young mothers can thrive independently. Baimba also noted with pride that the U.S. Embassy in Sierra Leone published a documentary on Facebook about their project, further spreading awareness of their work.

The project goes beyond just skills training; past beneficiaries and graduates of the program now serve as mentors to new mothers and trainers on new projects. They have a comprehensive two-year evaluation plan, set to be reevaluated by mid-2024, focusing on continuing mentorship and sharing more success stories. However, expanding their impact poses challenges, notably in obtaining government support from Sierra Leone due to bureaucratic hurdles. 

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"Our vision is to take this program nationwide because I believe in the abilities of women across Sierra Leone,” he says “By going fully national, we can unlock opportunities, create lasting change, and inspire a brighter future for our entire nation.”

Baimba noted the significance of AEIF grants in elevating the project's profile and highlighted the need for perseverance and commitment in securing these grants, as competition is fierce. Ultimately, he believes that the success recognized by the U.S. Embassy Freetown is a testament to the project's dedication, resilience, and cooperative spirit, all of which are essential qualities in making a lasting impact. "In empowering young mothers, we uplift entire communities and build a brighter future for Sierra Leone," Baimba said.

Written by Office of Alumni Affairs Intern Meg Markowski and edited by Maria Eliades

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Antoine Battle with his Professional Fellows Program group in Marrakesh, Morocco, visiting the Amal Women's Training Center

Antoine Battle’s career has been all about connections. A driven professional with a fervor for fostering global relationships and higher education, Antoine has built his career across international education, government, and industry. But it was his international exchanges and attending a Career Connections seminar for U.S. exchange program alumni that solidified his calling to bring people together. It all started with his time in Egypt and Morocco through the Professional Fellows Program… 

“From the moment I participated in the fellowship and my first day in Morocco, I knew that I had to immerse myself in this field and take us to the next level,” he says.

At the time, Antoine was working as the Director of Communications at the D.C. Commission on National and Community Service, at the Executive Office of the Mayor in Washington, D.C. The office already had a relationship with the implementing partner that ran the U.S. Department of State exchange program and Antoine had been helping host international exchange alumni from North Africa. After going on his own exchange, he dove even deeper into global affairs.

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Antoine Battle

“You have no idea how many rejections I've received,” he says. “But my father always instilled an attitude that, even if there's adversity, even if there are obstacles, don't give up. I learned that in any situation in life you can't internalize, you know, a rejection or you can't let it stop you. You have to use it as a tool for additional motivation.” 

When he attended the online Career Connections – Career Connections Global+ – in September 2021, that tenacity served him well. Within less than two months of connecting with leaders across various industries, Antoine landed a job as the Global Membership and Events Coordinator at the Texas International Education Consortium (TIEC), a group of 38 universities in Texas building the types of connections that come naturally to Antoine. 

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity,” he says of his time in the seminar. “I was like, wow, this is awesome. This is what we've been waiting for.”

Today, Antoine’s dream job is a reality thanks to his drive to succeed together with Career Connections networking, and his career is a testament to the power of persistence and the profound impact of connection through international exchange and the global ExchangeAlumni network. 

Career Connections seminars bring together U.S. citizen ExchangeAlumni and leaders in business, government, civil society, and other diverse fields to leverage their skills and networks. The program is offered in-person and in virtual format. Learn more and apply for an upcoming Career Connections seminar today.

The U.S. Department of State in collaboration with World Learning is pleased to announce the Fall 2023 Professional Fellows Program Alumni Impact Award winners: Dr. Ana Majko (Albania), Mr. Saurav Rimal (Nepal), Mr. Sandy Wong (China), and Mr. Martin W. Nagy (USA).  

With backgrounds in child rights and protection, service to the most underprivileged in society, legal aid for criminal defense and public interest litigation, and community arts education, the AIA winners will return to the Professional Fellows Congress to share their experiences and achievements, as well as the tools and skills they applied to their work after their fellowship, with current Fellows.   

The Professional Fellows Congress will be held in Washington, DC on October 10-13, 2023. To learn more about the AIA winners, read their bios below.   

DR. ANA MAJKO, ALBANIA (Great Lakes Community Action Partnership, October 2019) 

Dr. Ana Majko has more than a decade of experience in the field of child rights and protection, implementing services for children at high risk, running day centers for children, and providing emergency services for children and parents in need for protection and treatment. She is an expert and trainer on issues related to child trafficking, exploitation, abuse and maltreatment, case management, and emergency response. Since 2016 she has been the executive director of the Initiative for Social Change (ARSIS), a local organization in Tirana focused on strengthening child protection systems in Albania, building community empowerment and engagement, designing and piloting new services, and building capacity in child protection, advocacy and lobbying and policy development in cooperation with public and nonpublic institutions.  

Dr. Majko spent her fellowship at the Alliance for Quality Education in New York focusing on advocacy campaigns to fight discrimination and budget cuts in New York schools. Upon returning to Albania, Dr. Majko was able to apply advocacy techniques for child rights in three community centers, integrating her knowledge and increasing the impact to the community by empowering community members. 

Dr. Majko is a co-author of in-service modules for child protection; the author of several publications and presentations in national and international conferences; a researcher involved in different studies with a focus on victims of abuse and children at high risk; and an activist for child rights protection in Albania. She graduated in 2008 as a psychologist at the Department of Pedagogy and Psychology (DPP), Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tirana and received a master of sciences degree in organizational psychology at the same faculty in 2010. She received her Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Tirana, in 2018. In June 2023 she graduated from the Vienna University of Economics and Business in Austria, with a master’s degree in social innovation and management.

MR. SAURAV RIMAL, NEPAL (World Learning, October 2018)  

Prior to participating in the Professional Fellows Program in 2018, Mr. Saurav Rimal worked with the Investment Board Nepal as a Communication Officer where he was involved in media management and coordination with various government agencies. But the Professional Fellows Program broadened his global perspective, motivating him to make a deeper contribution to society. For his fellowship Mr. Rimal was posted to the Ohio State House, where he met the Speaker, Members of Parliament, Chief Justice, and White House officials, gaining a wider understanding of the power of government and public-private partnerships. 

Upon returning to Nepal, he established Discover City, which provides smart solutions to government and non-government agencies. Mr. Rimal also founded the Karmayog Foundation, a non-profit philanthropic agency working in the remote areas of Nepal with a commitment to “selfless service to the helpless”: the Foundation works to improve literacy, reduce environment degradation, and uplift the living standards of the most underprivileged. Currently, he is President and Community Development Director at Karmayog Foundation. The Foundation is also involved in animal welfare and relief assistance. The U.S. Embassy in Nepal called Mr. Rimal a “champion for community animals during the COVID-19 lockdown,” as he and other volunteers fed more than 200 monkeys, 150 dogs, and several cows in the Kathmandu Valley from the early days of the lockdown, even while he partnered with Smile Nepal to distribute relief packages to those hardest hit by the pandemic. 

As a result of his tireless efforts to serve, the Mr. Rimal’s work has been recognized by several institutions and national and international media. He participated in TedX Durbar Marg, and is a motivational speaker on Nepal TV and various other forums. He was awarded with the prestigious Dr. BR Ambedkar Award 2021 in India , the Global Youth Leadership Award 2022 in Bangkok, and the U.S. Volunteers Medal in 2022. In recognition of his social work, he received the Samaj Sewa Ratna medal in 2022 from the President of Nepal. Mr. Rimal is an alumnus of Stratford University, Virginia USA, with a B.Sc. in Business Administration.  

MR. SANDY WONG, CHINA (National Committee on United States-China Relations, November 2022)  

A professional lawyer from China, Sandy Wong has represented public interest litigation in China, and has worked as a legal aid lawyer in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region for years. He has also represented Uyghur defendants in criminal cases multiple times. At the same time, Mr. Wong has also represented parties in environmental protection litigation, LGBT labor discrimination and employment, smoking control litigation, underage campus bullying, and other issues. 

Mr. Wong participated in the Professional Fellows Program in November 2022 and spent his fellowship in Minneapolis, Minnesota with Tubman, an organization that advocates for the rights of women and children. Tubman's slogan is "hope, help, and heart." During his internship at Tubman, Mr. Wong deeply felt the professional spirit of American NGOs; whether fundraising, material procurement, victim acceptance processes, court hearings, or post judgment placement, all of these processes were rigorous. 

The biggest lesson he gained from the PFP program was that working in law can effectively help others, and the reward he received was the opportunity to participate in the PFP program in the middle of his career. After participating in the PFP program, Mr. Wong became more determined to continue working as a defense lawyer.  

Mr. Wong received his master’s degree in human rights from Peking University sponsored by the Swedish Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. He spent three years in Xinjiang participating in a legal aid program sponsored by China’s Ministry of Justice. His main job was representing people with disabilities and ethnic minorities. He currently works as a partner in an independent law firm, mainly engaged in criminal defense and public interest litigation cases. He maintains long-term cooperative relationships with environmental protection NGOs, smoking control NGOs, and the China Legal Aid Foundation. 

Mr. MARTIN W. NAGY, USA (Fellowship Host for Great Lakes Community Action Partnership) 

Martin is founder and Executive Director of the Arts Council Lake Erie West (ACLEW), a nonprofit regional  community arts agency in Toledo, Ohio that was created in 1983 with a mission to build creativity in the community, increase cultural participation, and engage people in the arts experience. Mr. Nagy is active internationally, consulting, escorting, and conducting workshops through U.S. Department of State-funded programs with Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia.

Since 2013, Mr. Nagy has served as a trainer, mentor, and escort for all the East European delegations that have visited the U.S. through the Great Lakes Consortium/Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLC/GLCAP) on their Professional Fellows Program. He has also led U.S. delegations and conducted arts-based community organizing workshops for youth and adults in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia as part of his outward-bound exchange program. Martin is the designer and chief editor of five volumes published under the title Taking Action, Changing Lives in Minority Communities, which are about GLC/GLCAP Professional Fellows Program activities. 

Prior to working in international arts, community arts, and arts education, Martin founded and chaired the Fine Arts Department at Maumee Valley Country Day School where he taught visual arts to students in grades preK-12 for fourteen years. He also started and taught various arts and teacher training programs for the University of Toledo, Toledo Public Schools, Lucas County Educational System, the 577 Foundation, and Spectrum Friends of Fine Art. 

  In 2002, Martin received the Ohio Governor’s Award for his outstanding leadership in arts education. Other awards and honors include being inducted into the Cum Laude Society of Maumee Valley, into Phi Delta Kappa as an Outstanding Friend in Support of Arts and Education, the Roy C. Start High School Hall of Fame, the Outstanding Community Leadership in the Arts Award from the Toledo Federation of Arts Societies, the Outstanding Northwest Ohio Art Teacher of the Year by the Ohio Art Education Association, the Community Impact Award, and the Individual Artist Award from the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo. 

Martin completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1971 from Bowling Green State University and did graduate work at Ohio State University in arts administration, and completed a master’s degree in public administration at the University of Toledo, Ohio. He remains abreast of current arts and arts education affairs by maintaining professional association memberships, conducting presentations, and attending professional association workshops. Martin lives in Toledo, Ohio, with his wife Ruxandra (Spring 2023 Professional Fellows Program alumna), his dog Maya and seven chickens. 

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“The world needs to know, learn from, and see us,” says Aisha Bowe, former NASA rocket scientist, CEO, and U.S. Speaker Program ExchangeAlumni.

“Allow your career to take you wherever it takes you,” says Aisha Bowe, former NASA rocket scientist, CEO and Founder of STEMBoard and Lingo, and U.S. Department of State Speaker Program ExchangeAlumni.

From starting her education at a community college, to setting her sights on - and becoming - a rocket scientist at NASA, to founding and leading two companies, and becoming a global motivational speaker with three U.S. Department of State Speaker Programs to her credit, Aisha Bowe has proven there is no linear path to success.

“The world needs to know, learn from, and see us,” Aisha noted during a recent episode of MentorTalks, where she joined us to talk about why she left NASA to help youth to break stereotypes, stop internalizing false narratives, and realize their potential. She also spoke about what it means to be an ExchangeAlumni of the U.S. Speaker Program and to prepare for becoming the first Black woman to fly with Jeff Bezos’ private spaceflight company, Blue Origin, and the sixth Black woman to cross the internationally recognized boundary of space, the Kármán line. 

Watch this special episode with Aisha on Instagram @VoicesofExchange to hear about defying the odds and pursuing your dreams!
 

Speaker Bio

Aisha Bowe is the founder and CEO of STEMBoard, a certified economically disadvantaged woman-owned small business specializing in engineering and development, IT services, program and project management, data management, ingestion, and analytics. She is also founder and CEO of LINGO, which aims to eliminate barriers to entry for students underexposed to STEM opportunities. She leads a workforce of engineers and programmers in addition to managing client relationships as well as execution of multi-million dollar contracts with federal government and corporate clients.  Previously, Bowe was an aerospace engineer at the NASA Ames Research Center, where she focused on miniaturized satellites and aircraft trajectory optimization.

AWE alumni Sandra Ruivo (right) leads plastic and silicone mold companies Speedturtle and Turtle Petals with her sister Cátia Ruivo (left) from her hometown of Batalha in Portugal. Photo Credit, Sandra Ruivo

Article by Roni Kane, a VSFS intern with the U.S. Department of State, currently studying International Studies and Film, TV and Media at the University of Michigan. 

[Portugal, August 2023] Two sisters in Portugal are helping make plastic waste a little less harmful to the environment by bringing a touch of ingenuity into their family business. 

Sandra Ruivo, a 2022 alumni of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), and her sister Cátia Ruivo grew up in the Portuguese city of Leiria, a historic gothic municipality just an hour north of Lisbon. Their father owned a “mold manufacturing” company, or a business that produces and sells molds for creating plastic products — anything from automobiles parts to food packaging.

After graduating from the Universidade de Aveiro in 2007, Sandra Ruivo lived in Italy for a year before moving back home and started working for her father. Meanwhile, her sister completed an MBA in entrepreneurship and innovation in Austria and also joined the family business. The sisters spent a decade learning the ins and outs of mold-making and started to build their own network of contacts and clients in the industry. But when her father decided to sell his shares of the companies, Sandra Ruivo said she and her sister were left wondering what to do next.

“We thought, ‘what do we do now?’” Ruivo said. “There was all this background and experience we had in mold-making so we decided to open our own company.”

That’s how Speedturtle and its sister company, Turtle Petals, were born. Both Sandra and Cátia Ruivo currently run both companies. The pair founded Speedturtle in 2012 and Turtle Petals nine years later in 2021. While Speedturtle specializes in producing custom molds for clients worldwide — just like Ruivo’s father did — Turtle Petals’ main goal is figuring out ways to make those products more environmentally friendly.

“We invest in the sustainability side of mold-making,” Ruivo said. “Home compostable products can be used, and then when they are disposed of, they will disintegrate naturally in the environment without harming the planet and creating pollution or releasing toxins.”

 
Speedturtle and Turtle Petals work in tandem to develop sustainable plastics solutions and molds — like the PetalsPod coffee capsules pictured here. Photo Credit, Sandra Ruivo

One of the products Ruivo has developed with Turtle Petals is the PetalsPod Coffee Capsule — a compostable alternative to the disposable plastic capsules that instant coffee companies like Keurig and Nespresso use to package their products. In a country where most people enjoy coffee, Ruivo’s coffee capsules are already gaining national and international attention for posing a solution to the challenge of making consumption carbon-free. The design was one of just five products nominated for a 2023 Refocus award in the U.S. from The Plastics Industry Association and won second place in an AWE-sponsored entrepreneurship competition for program participants in Portugal.

Ruivo said participating in the AWE program helped her figure out how to break into new international markets and to best promote her product. She said the working through the marketing modules on the DreamBuilder online learning platform — which was designed by Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation using a cutting-edge U.S. business curriculum — helped her make sure both of her businesses were on the path to success. 

AWE helped Ruivo break into new international markets, to promote her business’s compostable plastics at a global scale. Photo Credit, Sandra Ruivo

“It’s built so well for entrepreneurs and businesses,” Ruivo said. “[Through AWE] I can validate the management procedures we are already doing and know we are doing things the right way. But there were also new techniques — especially in marketing, because that’s always changing.”

Ruivo said when she and her sister started Speedturtle, her brother was a part of the company too. When he left the company, she was a part of a woman-led company for the first time — previously either her father or her brother had always been leading the business with her. She said she noticed a difference between how stakeholders regarded her and her sister as the CEOs of an engineering company compared to how they had interacted with her male relatives in that same role. 

“Most of the people in this industry are male, and so are the stakeholders,” Ruivo said. “So some of them didn’t think the company could actually succeed with women leadership. But this made us improve our skills and be better each day — it is in adversity that we grow.” 

Ruivo’s time in the AWE program helped her take her business to the next level and prove that women-led companies are a force to be reckoned with. Photo Credit, Sandra Ruivo

Working alongside other women entrepreneurs in Portugal and around the world through the AWE program helped Ruivo increase her self-confidence. AWE showed her that there was no question that female leaders belonged at the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Just recently in July 2023, Ruivo was even recognized in the American magazine Plastics News as one of the 50 “Women Breaking the Mold” this year.  Plastics News has been highlighting women in the industry with unique stories to tell with its special report since 2015. 

“AWE helped me envision a new brand strategy — to focus on sustainability,” Ruivo said. “We are doing very well now. We have control over what products we sell and which customers we choose to work with.”

The AWE program showed Ruvio that women belong at the forefront of innovation and entrepreneurship. Photo Credit, Photo courtesy of U.S. Embassy Lisbon, taken at the Ambassador’s Residence at AWE’s closing reception

The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs is a women’s empowerment program that operates under the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs in the U.S. Department of State, and helps women like Ruivo build their business acumen and have the knowledge, networks and access to launch and grow their own businesses. Thanks to a partnership with Arizona State University and the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, AWE currently offers programs in nearly 100 countries and has empowered roughly 25,000 women worldwide. Since its launch in Portugal in 2020, AWE has helped more than 80 Portuguese women entrepreneurs like Ruivo turn their business dreams into reality — and contribute to carbon-free living at the same time.

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Mariam Lawani is an award-winning environmental enthusiast. She founded Greenhill Recycling, a social enterprise addressing poverty, unemployment, and climate change challenges using recyclable plastic waste as the currency to exchange value. She is also a proud alumna of the U.S. State Department program, Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE), and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, and Fate Foundation. Mariam leads social and environmental impact interventions to reduce health risks in underserved communities. Her work and impact have enjoyed attention from national and global media publications such as CNN, Lioness of Africa, and Empower Africa. She holds an MBA from the African Leadership University School of Business and several qualifying certificates in Social Entrepreneurship from Pan Atlantic University (Lagos Business School). 

Read on to find out how Mariam’s exchange experience influenced her career and life path, and how her social enterprise is tackling the growing plastic waste crisis and unemployment in Lagos, Nigeria.

Can you share the highlight of your experience and key learnings from the program that you participated in? 

Participating in CYFI was an invaluable experience that gave me essential skills like project management and teamwork. The Covid-19 pandemic challenges during my fellowship year forced my team to adapt and complete our project electronically. However, with unwavering resilience, focus, and exceptional teamwork, we created a truly memorable and successful project. The impact of our work is evident through the numerous testimonials from beneficiaries who secured international job opportunities. The fellowship year was truly remarkable. 

My participation in AWE in 2022 taught me the importance of grit and focus. It was an intensive experience like a mini MBA, pushing me to my limits and helping me develop invaluable qualities. The closing ceremony and access to mentors were undoubtedly the highlights of the program. Meeting inspirational and exceptional women who were making a significant impact across the country left a lasting impression on me. Through both exchange programs, I forged meaningful connections that enriched my professional network and increased my net worth. 

What is the most significant change you have experienced in your personal and professional life as a result of participating in the exchange program? 

CYFI brought about a transformative change in my life, primarily through a referral from one of my team members. This referral led me to the Orange Corners Incubation Program, which provided the crucial funding my business needed to thrive. Without this timely support, my company would have faced closure. The opportunity afforded by the program has been instrumental in continued growth and success. I am immensely grateful for the positive impact CYFI has had on my entrepreneurial journey. 

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In November 2022, Greenhill Recycling organized a wellness and welfare training program for over 50 women. As part of the program, the team conducted thorough medical check-ups to identify the risks of pelvic and breast cancer. The project was executed with Dr. Maymunah Kadiri from Pinnacle Medical Centre and a representative from Lafiami Health Technology. Together, we engaged in extensive discussions about women’s mental health concerns. Moreover, we ensured that some participants received comprehensive health insurance coverage for one year. In addition to my involvement in Greenhill Recycling, I mentor CYFI fellows within the Environment and Economic Empowerment Team. It is a rewarding experience to guide and support these talented individuals in their professional growth. Furthermore, I inspired and engaged with a workshop attended by over 600 young girls on the International Day of the Girl Child. What fun or unexpected thing did you experience during your exchange program? Oh! COVID!!!! Covid happened during my CYFI year. It was unexpected and had never happened before. We had to learn new ways of working and still maintained our end goal, and the outcome was very impressive. 

List any awards, scholarships, recognition, or promotion that you have received as a result of the impact of the USG exchange program on your personal or professional life. 

I was recognized as one of the Top 100 young African conservation leaders in 2021 and awarded Woman of the Year by Her Network in the same year. In 2022, I received the Royal African Young Leadership Forum Award from His Imperial Majesty, Oni of Ife.

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Written by Sarah Sterner, Career Connections Intern, Global Ties U.S. 

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Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Liz Allen (front row, fifth from right) with Career Connections DC participants, speakers, and other representatives from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Photo by the U.S. Department

What does it take to land a job in the federal government? To find out, more than 100 U.S. citizen ExchangeAlumni participated in the Career Connections DC: Careers in the Federal Government seminar, which took place on Friday, June 23, 2023 at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC. The alumni came from far and near, hailing from ​more than 15 different U.S. Government-funded exchange programs. The daylong seminar explored various federal government careers and included skill-building breakout sessions, interactive panels, and a career fair with over a dozen federal agencies, fellowships, and graduate programs in the DC area. This was the largest Career Connections seminar since its launch in 2019–marking a full return to in-person activities since the pandemic. 

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Participants connect at the networking reception at the Hive Hotel. Photo by the U.S. Department of State.

The gathering kicked off with a networking reception on Thursday, June 22 at the Hive Hotel. Over 50 U.S. ExchangeAlumni from across the country interacted and connected with each other, Department of State officials, and Global Ties U.S. staff before diving into a full day of programming the following day.

The main day of the conference took place in the National Museum of American Diplomacy and the U.S. Department of State’s Marshall Center, where Nini Forino, Director of the Office of Alumni Affairs, and Katherine Brown, Ph.D., Global Ties U.S. President and CEO, welcomed participants and thanked U.S. ExchangeAlumni for supporting a strong global network. As Katherine noted, “Exchanges humanize international affairs and ExchangeAlumni are some of our country’s greatest ambassadors.” Nini reiterated the importance of public service and continued alumni engagement in communities at home and abroad, stating, “Our goal is to keep you connected. This is not an end today, we hope it is just the start.”  

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Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Liz Allen addresses participants during the Fireside Chat. Photo by the U.S. Department of State.

The opening reception gave way to the highlight from the day: the Fireside Chat with Liz Allen, recently appointed Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, and Ryanna Miller, U.S. ExchangeAlumni (Gilman Scholar), and Co-Founder and Chair of Diplomatic Perspective. They delved into citizen and public diplomacy and how to foster environments that encourage diverse participation and retention. Under Secretary Allen left participants with this message, “It is my hope that you will leave here today not only with new job opportunities and resources but also with a new network of like-minded alumni, energized and empowered to find your place in public service.”

U.S. ExchangeAlumni engage in the Federal Career Panel. Photo by the U.S. Department of State.

The morning continued with a Federal Career Panel discussion with three U.S. ExchangeAlumni and current U.S. Department of State employees who highlighted the ways in which their exchange experiences helped shape their individual pathways into the civil and foreign service. Panelists Kesha Bickel, Chief of Staff for the Executive Office of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (Gilman Scholar), Amy Simms, Foreign Service Officer (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer), and Ben Deese, American Citizens Services and Crisis Management Officer in the Bureau of Consular Affairs (Critical Language Scholarship Alumni and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer), addressed topics such as career transitions and leveraging a background in exchange programs toward furthering their career trajectories in the federal government. Amy encouraged participants to “think about how that [exchange] experience has changed you and grown who you are,” and highlighted the importance of bringing your background and personal experiences to every job opportunity. In discussing their career trajectories, the panelists noted, “There is no start and end process for any job. Think about how your experiences have changed you and prepared you for the job, and you’ll be fine. You’re going to build skills throughout your career.”

The remainder of the day was dedicated to skill-building breakout sessions and closed out with a federal career fair. Breakout sessions included topics such as job pathways in the civil and foreign service, grant writing 101, mentorship and network building, and non-competitive eligibility (NCE). Throughout the day, ExchangeAlumni also had the opportunity to take professional headshots and have their resumes reviewed by career advisors. The federal career fair included representatives from the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Labor (DOL), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Security Agency (NSA), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Peace Corps, and AmeriCorps VISTA. One ExchangeAlumni attendee commented, “I came away from Career Connections feeling a lot more knowledgeable, empowered, and supported by my peers!”

U.S. ExchangeAlumni can look forward to Career Connections seminars in San Francisco (September 23-24) and Charlotte, NC (November 2-4). 

U.S. ExchangeAlumni network during the Career Connections DC Career Fair. Photo by Global Ties U.S.

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This Exchange Day, you’re invited to "eat, play, and give" -- to share cultural diversity and American customs, give back to your communities, and to have some fun! Exchange Day, led by the U.S. Department of State, is a worldwide celebration of the power and impact of international exchange. This year, it happens on Monday, August 7.

Every year, thousands of international students come to the U.S. to learn more about American culture and customs, to travel and visit beautiful sites and landscapes, and to form long-lasting connections and friendships. U.S. citizens do the same when going on exchange programs to other countries. 

This Exchange Day, current and former exchange participants in the U.S. and abroad - along with community stakeholders - are encouraged to join the celebration and raise awareness of international exchange programs in their communities. 

You can participate in Exchange Day by finding an event near you: https://exchangeday2023.weebly.com/find-an-event-near-you.html. You can also create your own event – or, partner with a Community Support Group on an event. You can even participate virtually. 

How will you celebrate Exchange Day? Post about it on social media with these hashtags: #ExchangeAlumni, #ExchangeDay2023, #CelebrateExchangeDay, and #ExchangesImpact. 

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Dr. Alexia Massa-Gallucci is a marine biologist, researcher, and the founder of Blue EcoTech.

Article by Allie Dalola, intern with the U.S. Department of State, currently studying Business Administration and Economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel-Hill.

[Malta, May 2023] Through her innovative startup, Blue EcoTech, Dr. Alexia Massa-Gallucci is creating value from marine waste, advocating for ocean conservation, and educating her community in the small island nation of Malta.  

A former researcher and professor, Massa-Gallucci said she felt like a “fish out of water” when she first launched her company.  However, after joining the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) — a women’s empowerment initiative launched by the U.S. Department of State in 2019 —  Dr. Massa-Gallucci was equipped with the entrepreneurial knowledge she needed to realize her lifelong dream of finding an innovative way to conserve and protect the marine environment.  

Dr. Massa-Gallucci was born in Naples, Italy and spent her summers vacationing on the small island of Ischia — just an hour away by ferry.  She said it was during the sunny, carefree days of her youth that her passion for marine biology was born. 

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“When I was eight years old, my father got me my first mask and snorkel as a gift,” Dr. Massa-Gallucci said.  “Since that moment, I have never taken my head out of the water.” 

Years later, her interest led her to pursue her master's degree in Marine Biology from the University of Naples and a Ph.D. in Conservation and Fish Biology from University College Dublin.  Upon graduating, she conducted research on local fisheries and ocean conservation and lectured at various universities across the Mediterranean, eventually settling down in Malta. 

Throughout her time in academia, Massa-Gallucci said she was able to investigate  the intricacies of ocean life.  Time and time again, she said she was faced with the devastation to marine ecosystems caused by humans — she knew something had to change.  Massa-Gallucci decided to use what she had learned to launch a business that would make a positive impact on marine health. 

“The idea behind Blue EcoTech was to use my scientific background in marine biology and fishery science to bridge the gap between academia and industry,”  Massa-Gallucci said. 

Blue EcoTech’s mission is threefold: creating value-added products, expanding conservation efforts, and educating communities about the threats to marine environments. 

Blue EcoTech focuses on repurposing marine biomass, which includes fish waste and washed-up seagrass.  Currently, the company is exploring methodologies to isolate and extract the usable compounds within marine waste.  Though their products are not for sale yet, Blue EcoTech has already developed the technology to transform the waste into components used in textiles, 3D printing materials, and pharmaceuticals. 

Besides helping to upcycle marine waste, Blue EcoTech is also finding other ways to improve marine conservation in the Mediterranean region.  Recently, Massa-Gallucci and her team have conducted research into underwater reforestation: the restoration of areas of seagrass that have been destroyed by human activities like anchoring boats or fishing.  The large quantities of seagrass in the Mediterranean are critical for producing oxygen, fighting climate change, protecting against coastline erosion, and supporting diverse underwater ecosystems. 

“Blue EcoTech is also committed to raising awareness about the importance of marine habitats,”  Massa-Gallucci said.  “Even though Malta is surrounded by the sea, many people don't know the importance of what they see.”  

Blue EcoTech hosts multiple events throughout the year to bring the community and researchers together to discuss the importance of marine environments and how to best care for them. 

Before she took the plunge and left academia to start a new business, Massa-Gallucci said there was a “steep learning curve” she had to surmount, but participating in the AWE program in 2022 gave her the knowledge she needed to set herself up for success. 

“Coming from an academic background, I realized I needed training as an entrepreneur,”  Massa-Gallucci said.  “AWE provided that training and gave me access to a network of other women entrepreneurs who were in the same boat as I am.” 

As a part of AWE, Massa-Gallucci was also given access to DreamBuilder, a learning platform developed by Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and Freeport-McMoRan Foundation.  She said that DreamBuilder proved to be an invaluable resource for understanding the practical steps that needed to be taken to get any new business off the ground. 

“DreamBuilder broke business planning down into bite-sized pieces of information,” Massa-Gallucci said.  “It not only gave me a general sense of what a business plan was, but also helped me to practically create one.” 

As a part of the AWE program, Massa-Gallucci had the opportunity to pitch her business to a panel of judges.  Out of the 42 participating businesses, Blue EcoTech was the runner-up for Best Overall Pitch, winning $5,000 in seed funding. 

Now equipped with funding, knowledge, and a powerful network, Massa-Gallucci said she is excited for Blue EcoTech to bring their products to the market in the coming years and to launch an underwater reforestation program in collaboration with the University of Malta. 

“If you have a dream or an idea for a business, try to make it real — it’s a thrilling experience,” Dr. Massa-Gallucci.  “Resources like AWE help make your dream a reality.” 

The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs equips enterprising women with the skills they need to launch and scale successful businesses. In partnership with Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, AWE has empowered more than 25,000 women in 100 countries with knowledge and networks.  Since the U.S. Mission to Malta launched the program in 2021, AWE has helped empower more than 60 women in the Maltese archipelago.

For more information about AWE, visit: https://eca.state.gov/awe. 

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The year was 2015. At the peak of the Syrian refugee crisis, with thousands making the dangerous trek to Germany and Europe, Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Exchange Alumni Sarah Sexton was on her international exchange program, teaching in Hamburg, Germany.  

“While I was there, I remember reading an article with a quote from Angela Merkel saying that Germany had once been a place that refugees had fled and now refuges are coming to Germany as a place of hope and opportunity,” says Sarah. “That really resonated with me.”  

This was Sarah’s third time in Germany. When she was just nine months old, her family had moved to the country for her father’s work, and she would remain there until the age of 12. She returned in her undergraduate years as a press office intern at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin in 2013. But it was during her Fulbright ETA in 2015, witnessing the history of the Syrian refugee crisis unfold, that changed the path she thought she’d take.  

Fulbright ETAs teach for 12 hours a week; the rest of the time, they’re encouraged to get locally involved. For Sarah, that extra time meant joining a gospel choir and volunteering at the German-American Institute (GAI), a bi-cultural center that was hosting an American Center, which was how she got involved in launching and teaching the English Access Microscholarship Program in Hamburg- and met several refugees and migrants, who were participating in the program.  

“Working with those students really sparked my interest in refugee response work,” she says. “I had already been interested in education, doing the English Teaching Assistantship, but now that mission of offering hope and opportunity for families who fled their homes became what I wanted to do with the rest of my career.”  

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 A big part of helping children grow kinder is modeling, she says. The Sesame Workshop programs she works with – Play to Learn and Ahlan Simsim (“Welcome Sesame” in Arabic) – do just that. When asked about how, Sarah lights up and talks about her favorite characters on Ahlan Simsim, the award-winning locally produced Arabic-language version of Sesame Street airing across the Middle East and North Africa. The cast includes - but is not limited to – Jad, Basma, and Ma’zooza, a baby goat who eats everything round  just like Sesame Street’s ’s Cookie Monster,.  

“Kids relate to these characters and see themselves reflected on screen,” Sarah says. “Jad’s a yellow Muppet. He’s quite shy and very artistic. He’s new to the Ahlan Simsim neighborhood, just moved there, and it’s hard to make friends when you’re a little bit shy, but he meets Basma, who’s a purple girl Muppet. She’s gregarious, she likes to sing - she’s a born performer, and they become fast friends and go on adventures together. And that’s intended to model the spirit of welcoming newcomers into a community and celebrating our differences. Oftentimes, Basma will jump into an adventure without thinking it through first, where Jad is the planner, and will make sure they have a plan for their day’s activities. So it’s really celebrating what we can bring to the table and [how we] benefit from one another.”  

The Ahlan Simsim initiative is a partnership with the International Rescue Committee and independent evaluators at NYU Global TIES for Children that was made possible by the MacArthur Foundation’s inaugural 100&Change Award in 2017 with $100 million to bring critical early learning and nurturing care to Syrian refugee children. This investment It was followed by a matching grant in 2018 by the LEGO Foundation to launch the Play to Learn program, which supports  Rohingya refugee children in Bangladesh and expands the impact of the Ahlan Simsim program in the Middle East.  

Building on Ahlan Simsim and Play to Learn, Sesame Workshop has also expanded its work to support children affected by conflict and crisis globally through the Welcome Sesame initiative reaching children across the Middle East, Latin America, East Africa, and most recently Afghanistan and Ukraine.  

Language Access as a Way Forward

Sarah was not only inspired by the words of Germany’s former chancellor during her international exchange. She was also influenced by one of her students in the English Access Microscholarship Program -- a refugee twice over from Afghanistan, whose upward trajectory Sarah has followed in the years since.  

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“The main reason[s] why we left our home country are several: first, we belong to a minority group called Hazara,” Zahra says. “They were killing most of the Hazara people and arrested my grandfather while the rest of the family escaped the city.”  

The family escaped through Pakistan and made it to Iran, where they remained until 2014 only to go on the move again, this time bound for Germany. This is

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“The English Access Program taught me to believe in my strengths and do my best until my dreams are no longer a dream, and this is what made me the person who I am today,” Zahra says. “It’s a great opportunity to learn a lot, to experience a lot, and to bloom.”  

Inspired by the German doctor who was volunteering in the Morea refugee camp in Lesvos, Greece and who healed her ankle that was injured during Zahra’s crossing from Turkey to Greece, Zahra finished her initial schooling in 2019 and then  volunteered in Greece as a medic with Medical Volunteers International. Then, in 2022, she co-founded No Border Medics to support refugees in Calais and Dunkerque in France. Zahra is also now studying to become a doctor herself to bring healthcare to people despite borders.  

  “Someone like Zahra, who had to flee home and come to a new place, what she wants to do most is help others like herself and her new community by providing healthcare,” says Sarah. “And I think that’s incredible.”  

It’s clear from the work of both ExchangeAlumni that 2015 was a fateful year, one that continues to shape the trajectory of the humanitarian advocate and the soon-to-be doctor of medicine.