Upcoming Visitors:

A number of IVLP alumni have risen to prominent positions in the past three months.

• 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

More international visitors will be visiting Vermont this spring. To learn more about these programs and how you can engage with these visitors through meetings, sharing a meal or even opening your home, click on the links below.

September 14-16: The Vermont Council on World Affairs is proudto be hosting a group of 7 Iraqis for a program addressing themes surrounding higher education administration under the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program. While in Vermont, the group will seek appointments at select local colleges and universities to meet 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.

September 19-22: The Vermont Council on World Affairs is proud to be hosting 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 include examining the role of NGO's and private corporations in promoting efficiency projects, as well as the role of municipal governments who work with said actors as well as develop their own efficiency programs.

September 25-29: Six visitors from Morocco will be in 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 VT, the group will seek appointments at 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.

Are you interested in hosting a delegate from the Open World Program? Please contact Eli Harrington, Director, at eli@vermont.org.

Read about the real-world impact of VCWA visitors' programs for a disability activist from Kazakhstan who visited Vermont in 2008.

More on Recent International Visitors:

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 the International 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 security under 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.

June 26-30: Ten delegates from Latin America will be coming to explore NGO management and citizen participation in Burlington and Hardwick (at the Center for an Agricultural Economy) under the auspices of the International Visitor Leadership Program. Read more about the group's program 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 14-18: A group from Armenia on the topic of High School Administration in the U.S. through the International Visitor Leadership Program of the U.S. Department of State. See more information and photos!

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 the International 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.