“The shape of the world a generation from now will be influenced far more by how well we communicate the values of our society to others than by our military or diplomatic superiority.” --Senator J. William Fulbright
Preferred hotel for the International Visitors Leadership Program:
Welcome a stranger, send home a friend! Learn more about the benefits.
February 16-21
Five visitors from Egypt will visit Vermont to explore the relationship between
the government and civic organizations in the United States
June 22-30th Journalists from Yaroslavl (Russia) on Accountable Governance
in collaboration with the Burlington-Yaroslavl Sister City Program/Open World Program
September 7-15th Experts from Serbia on Waterfront Redevelopment/Open World Program
HOMESTAYS NEEDED--welcome a stranger, send home a friend!
Contact Eli Harrington at 861-2343 or by email for more information.
Russian Team Takes Bronze in South Burlington
Two teams of our Russian visitors learning about mountain tourism in Vermont competed in the HowardCenter Curling Challenge in March 2011 and Team Dombai went home with the bronze. Thank you to the Lake Champlain Chamber and Colchester Rotary for your support of this worthy and fun cause!
More than 285 current and former heads of State, 1,700 cabinet-level ministers, and many other distinguished
world leaders in the public and private sectors have benefitted from first-hand exposure to the United States
through the IVLP. A number of IVLP alumni have risen to prominent positions in the past six months.
Dilma Rousseff (1992), elected President of Brazil
Bronislaw Komorowski (2006), elected President of Poland
Christian Wulf (2000), elected President of Germany
Julia Gillard (2006), appointed Prime Minister of Australia
Petr Necas (1999), appointed Prime Minister of the Czech Republic
Naoto Kan (1988), elected Prime Minister of Japan
Jean-Paul Adam (2010), appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in Seychelles
German Cardona (2000), appointed Minister of Transportation in Colombia
In addition, 5 alumni have been appointed to cabinet positions in the French government and 22 alumni hold key posts in the Swedish Parliament formed in October, 2010.
September 21-24: Four vistors from Poland visited Vermont for a program on climate change and energy security.
September 17-21: A group of doctors, surgeons, and hospital administrators from Syria came to Vermont to examine community wellness programs, hospital associations in a rural environment, and supplemental hospital functions.
September 10-15: 12 visitors from Australia, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam visited here as part of a Young Ambassadors program, which aims to develop future leaders under the auspices of the US-ASEAN Business Council.
September 10-14:Five visitors from Indonesia, New Zealand, Philippines, Vietnam, and Thailand visited Vermont as a part of of a larger multiregional group that was in the U.S. to complete a program on energy efficiency in the APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) region.
August 24-27: Mr. Luis Galante of Portugal, former Senior Advisor to the State Secretary of Forests and Rural Development in Portugal, visited Vermont to study sustainable forestry practices and forestry management at the state and local level.
August 18-23: Two visitors from Brazil came to Vermont to study the promotion of legal wood and wood products.
August 17-20:Eight visitors from Russia visited Vermont as a part of their program on youth activism and civic engagement.
August 17-20: Seven visitors from Russia visited Vermont as a part of their program on eco-friendly farming, including energy-saving farming technology and energy production, reducing pollution of soil, and reducing dependency on harmful fertilizers.
August 3-6: Five visitors from Azerbaijan visited Vermont as a part of their program on ecotourism and national parks, an emerging growth sector in Azerbaijan.
July 27-August 2: Seven academic and government officials from China examined economic development through agriculture, urban economic development and tourism promotion, and small business development.
July 24-25: Nine visitors from Qatar visited Vermont as a part of their program on anti-money laundering strategies.
July 10-24: The VCWA hosted 12 high school students from Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary for a two-week program on “Young Leadership for Central Europe.”
Central European Students with State Rep. Rachel Weston (Burlington)
In exchange, four young Vermonters and one adult participant traveled to Serbia and Hungary in August.
July 14-20: Six visitors from Egypt came to Vermont for a program on science education in the U.S., including environmental education, experiential education, and professional and curriculum development. Read about the group's visit here and see some great photos.
May 15-18: Chanrith Khuth from Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia visited Vermont to explore innovations in the development of solar energy systems for rural communities.
May 17-19: Five visitors from South Asia were in Vermont to explore food security and sustainable development.
April 16-20th: Seven visitors from Latin America explored Vermont’s approaches to global sustainability challenges.
April 27-30th: Two visitors from Turkey came to Vermont to explore rural women’s rights and development.
March 31-April 5th: Eight visitors from China (including Tibet) visited Vermont to explore sustainable tourism.
March 4-24th: The VCWA hosted 10 visitors from two republics in southern Russia on the border with Georgia, Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachevo-Cherkessia for a three-week program of technical training in the promotion of mountain tourism under the auspices of the Community Connections Program.
March 12-16th: The VCWA hosted four visitors fromPolandon the theme of international law enforcement and cooperation.
March 2-5th: Jean-Francois Brakeland of Belgium, Head of Unit for Compliance Promotion, Governance and Legal Issues, European Commission Directorate General for the Environment (European Union) visited to gain a better understanding of the implementation mechanisms of U.S. federal and state environmental laws concerning nature conservation, waste management, oil pollution and air quality. He also learned about procedures for creating new legal instruments to protect the environment at the state and federal level.
February 4-12th: Five visitors from across Russia met with Vermonters around the theme of accountable governance. This group is visited under the auspices of the Open World Program.
Read about the group in the Burlington Free Press:
November 18-24: Five visitors from the Middle East visited for a program titled,"Food Security and Sustainable Development." The group included visitors fromIraq, Kuwait, Gaza, Yemen and Mauritania and examined university agricultural extension programs, sustainable agricultural systems, farming associations, farm-to-school programs and organic farming.The visitors arranged a delicious impromptu halal cookout on Tuesday evening, 11/24, at the Green Mountain Suites with a lamb they had purchased while visiting Bonnie View Farm in Craftsbury.
November 14-17: Seven visitors from Indonesia visited for a program on "Advocating Law: Environmental Change and Governance." While in Vermont, the group explored themes of sustainable forestry, environmental advocacy and environmental law. Read more here and watch the slide show below:
September 25-29: Six visitors from Morocco visited Vermont for a program on "NGO Management of Youth Programs in the U.S." under the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program. While in Vermont, the group met with organizations such as Linking Learning to Life, Spectrum Youth Services, and the Greater Burlington YMCA to discuss best practices in fundraising, volunteer recruitment, community partnerships and organizational structuring related specifically to NGO's with youth leadership-based missions.
September 19-22: The Vermont Council on World Affairs hosted a group of 7 Ukrainians for a program titled, "Energy Efficiency at the Federal, State and Local Level" under the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program. Specific themes for the group's time in Vermont included examining the role of NGO's and private corporations in promoting efficiency projects, as well as the role of municipal governments who work with NGO's and private corporations as well as develop their own efficiency programs.
September 14-16: The Vermont Council on World Affairs hosted four Iraqis for a program addressing themes surrounding higher education administration under the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program. While in Vermont, the group visited select local colleges and universities and met with administrators on the themes of physical sciences programs and laboratories, faculty organizations and professional development, international student exchange offices, and University College of Agriculture administration. See more about the program.
August 4-8: Mr. Bernard Layre, advisor to the French Minister of Agriculture, visited Vermont to explore Vermont's approaches to agriculture and governance under the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program. He previously served as head of the French Young Farmers Union as well as the International Young Farmers Union and has particular interests in democratic governance and renewable energy projects in the field of agriculture.
August 4-7: Mr. Wing Kai Lau of Hong Kong visited to learn about environmental education for youth under the auspices of theInternational Visitor Leadership Program. Mr. Lau is the founder and chairman of the Gaia Association, an NGO that works to promote nature education and a greener lifestyle. Recently Gaia has opened up the first private, green primary school in Hong Kong specializing in nature education.
July 25-29: Mr. Hsing Chin from Taiwan visited for a professional program on marine and border securityunder the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program. Mr. Chin met with representatives from law enforcement agencies, private companies, and judicial bureaus charged with marine border security and the movement of people and goods across the U.S.-Canada border.
July 24-28: A large multi-regional group of 26 people from around the globe came to Vermont to learn about Vermont's experience in NGO management under the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program.This group from countries as disparate as Afghanistan, the Philippines and Zimbabwe had appointments in Burlington and Montpelier to examine public-private partnerships, corporate responsibility, and general best practices for a wide range of NGOs. Read more about the group and see pictures here.
July 24-27: Four delegates from Canada visited for a program on new developments in climate change policy in the U.S. under the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program. Read more here.
May 27-June 2: Five delegates from Uzbekistan visited for a program about eco-journalism that emphasized local approaches to reporting environmental and energy challenges with the involvement of media outlets, NGO’s, and other organizations under the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program. In addition to enjoying the beautiful weather and the Memorial Day festivities, the group taped “Eco-Journalism, A Project for Uzbekistan” on CCTV and were interviewed by Mark Johnson on WDEV, Radio Vermont. They had presentations at Colchester High School, the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, the Burlington Free Press, 350.org, Shelburne Farms and a full day in Norwich visiting the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, the Montshire Museum and Cedar Circle Farm.
April 10-15: A multi-regional group from South America visited Vermont to examine energy-use strategies and challenges in meeting present and future energy needs under the auspices of International Visitor Leadership Program.
March 28-31: Eleven visitors from Iraq visited to learn about Vermont's experience in grassroots civic engagement under the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program. See the VCWA home page for an interview with journalists from the group on CCTV.
March 10-13: A visitor from Morocco, Board Member and Treasurer of the Moroccan Association Fighting Violence Against Women, visited to examine U.S. experience in combating violence against women and assisting victims of violence, the organization and management of family and marital mediation centers in the U.S, and approaches aimed at the abuser in addition to victims. She visited through the International Visitor Leadership Program. See more information and photos!
February 20-28: A group from Russia visited on the topic of Accountable Governance through the Open World program of the Library of Congress. The group consisted of local and provincial government officials who met with their counterparts in municipal and state government. The combination of unparalleled access to our government policy-makers and our reputation for grassroots civic participation has given Vermont an excellent reputation as a host for governance groups. More information and photos will be available soon. Click here to see pictures of the group at the Vermont League of Cities and Towns' "Local Government in the Legislature Day."
February 6-9: A journalist from Poland arrived in spite of the delays in Washington, D.C. to learn about organic agriculture and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)through theInternational Visitor Leadership Program of the U.S. Department of State. Thank you to retired diplomat, Polish-speaker and part-time Vermont farmer Bill Harwood for excellent program ideas and facilitation.
International Visitors Leadership Program
The Vermont Council on World Affairs
works with the International Visitor Leadership Program of the U.S. Department of State, the Open World program of the Library of Congress, and the Community Connections program of USAID in scheduling meetings and events for visitors from around the world. We have hosted more than 2,500 visitors in the past, and we continue to welcome new visitors to Vermont.
Delegates visit Vermont to study and engage in issues as diverse as alternative energy, national park
management, grassroots democracy, law, rural health care, and youth leadership.
Sherry Mueller speaks to the VCWA Sherry Mueller, President of the National Council for International Visitors, visited Vermont on
October 5th. See excerpts of her presentation below: Sherry Mueller Speaks to the VCWA on YouTube
The VCWA is a member of the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV),
a national network now celebrating half a century of leadership in citizen diplomacy.
NCIV, founded in 1961, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote
excellence in citizen diplomacy. It provides support for the VCWA's international visitors programs.
The Vermont Council on World Affairs
works with the International Visitor Leadership Program of the U.S. Department of State, the Open World program of the Library of Congress, and the Community Connections program of USAID in scheduling meetings and events for visitors from around the world. We have hosted more than 2,500 visitors in the past, and we continue to welcome new visitors to Vermont.
Delegates visit Vermont to study and engage in issues as diverse as alternative energy, national park
management, grassroots democracy, law, rural health care, and youth leadership.
Sherry Mueller, President of the National Council for International Visitors, visited Vermont on
October 5th. See excerpts of her presentation below: