2011 IVLP Gold Star Alumni Tour

PictureSecretary Hillary Clinton and IVLP Gold Stars at the US State Department, February 17, 2011.
From February 23-26, 2011, World Partnerships hosted the first-ever “IVLP Gold Stars Tour”, which brought 18 distinguished IVLP alumni from around the world on a return visit to the US - and ending their US tour in Tampa Bay! 

The Office of International Visitors  created a special project called the "IVLP Gold Stars: Alumni Connecting the World", to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the IVLP Program and the 50th anniversary of the partnership between the Department of State and the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV) and its 92 member councils. This special project brought 18 IVLP alumni from around the world to Washington, D.C. for the NCIV national meeting. After a week in Washington D.C., the alumni travelled individually to 18 different cities from their original visit program itineraries. This Gold Stars Tour allowed participants an opportunity to speak about the very real impact of the program on their work and lives in their own countries, and to re-connect with key organizations and connections who were inspirational and/or instrumental in their accomplishments. 

World Partnerships was honored that its alumnus, Dr. Elvis Ahmedi – a Thoracic and Breast Cancer Surgeon from Kosovo, who visited the Tampa Bay area in 2008 with the first “combined” IVLP groups of breast cancer awareness delegations from around the world – was selected as one of the IVLP Gold Star Alumni. As part of the tour, Elvis returned to Tampa Bay to renew his professional and personal relationships. While here, Dr. Ahmedi was made "Honorary Member of the Faculty" of the Moffitt Cancer Center, and visited St. Anthony's Hospital Susan G. MacGillicuddy Breast Center, and All Children's Hospital Pediatric Oncology Center.
These are their stories.
Dr. Elvis Ahmedi of Kosovo, Thoracic and Breast Cancer Surgeon, organizer of his country's first Breast Cancer Awareness "march", and creator of Kosovo's Cancer Registry.
Ombudsman of the National Secretariat for the Promotion of Racial Equality (SEPPIR), Humberto Adami Santos Junior represented Brazil in the IVLP Gold Stars' Tour. Hear him discuss racial relations in Brazil and the U.S.
Omowale Ogunrinde is Founder and CEO of the Foundation for Skills Development (FSD) in Nigeria, a vocational, technical, and entrepreneurship training centre for unemployed adults, youth, and the physically challenged. 

Dr. Maria Verbitskaya has initiated numerous projects which have impacted the education system of Russia. She introduced a nation-wide standardized exam in English, which is now mandatory for university enrollment; launched an e-journal "Hello-Online," a source of information about the United States Russian EFL teachers. She also promoted a new way of teaching American English resulting in the creation of a DVD of 15 new textbooks by authors from all over Russia entitled "American Potpourri." 

Dr. Hua Jiang runs a successful LGBT youth center in Chengdu and serves as a leader in the NGO community in China. Through IVLP, Dr. Jiang also became aware of the importance of establishing a participatory, democratic process for the management of NGOs. Dr. Jiang’s leadership on democratic practices within NGOs is leading to more constructive and progressive work from these organizations.

El Arbi Imad founded the Moroccan Center for Civic Education (MCCE) after his IVLP visit. paving the way for the Ministry of Education of Morocco to adopt the Project Citizen program as part of the national curriculum.

Dr. Qibla Ayaz of Pakistan created an interfaith curriculum at the University of Peshawar, which led to the establishment of a campus based interfaith center. The center provides access to books and other materials on a variety of religions, as well as support guest expert speakers from numerous religious backgrounds to lead interfaith seminars.
Barry Salaam is founder and director of the Good Morning Afghanistan radio station. He played an important role in the creation of the Organization of Afghan Alumni (OAA) to bring together exchange alumni throughout Afghanistan to pursue activities that encourage and support peace and stability through regional, national, and international collaboration. He is also a spokesperson for the Civil Society and Human Rights Network (CSHRN).

Dr. May Al Mahayni spread the word in Syria about early detection and treatment for breast cancer through talks, trainings, and opened a center that provides moral support and information. A National Council of Breast Cancer was established as a direct result of Dr. Al Mahayni’s work.

Pascal Dupeyrat of France founded the Jefferson Circle following the 9/11 terrorist attacks as a way for French International Visitor alumni to show their solidarity with the American people, and as a forum to "continue the exchange" for over 500 French alumni. 
Mochamad Zamroni returned to Indonesia and contributed significantly to the environmental protection movement. He worked with the city government of Surabaya to design more environmentally friendly mid- and long-term development plans. Mr. Zamroni works to educate school children about alternative energy through new curriculum and by utilizing the "Eco Mobile," a minivan equipped with solar panels, a computer and other teaching resources.

Nant Esther created workshops for English teachers throughout Burma. Over 300 English teachers from remote areas have benefitted, and eleven regional English teacher groups have been formed, assuring that teachers throughout Burma can stay updated on the most recent and effective English teaching techniques.

Dr. Jiri Payne is an icon of the democracy movement in the Czech Republic. Before 1989, his tireless work as a leader in the Czechoslovak dissident movement made him an enemy of the communist regime. He was arrested in 1988 as a leader of the human rights group VONS (the Committee for the Defense of the Unjustly Persecuted) and after the fall of the Wall, Dr. Payne transferred his dissidence into building a strong civil society. In June 1990, Dr. Payne was elected to the Czech National Council as a member of Vaclav Havel’s Civic Forum Party. In 1991, he founded the Civic Democratic Party with current Czech President Vaclav Klaus and in 1992 was named Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and Member of the Parliamentary Commission for Drafting the Czech Constitution.

In  2003, Alice Nkom participated in an International Visitor Leadership Program on "Grassroots Democracy." In Oregon, she experienced the Portland Bus Project, and was inspired to start a similar project in her home country of Cameroon. The Bus Project strives to create dialogue, motivate youth to be politically engaged, and to advance a grassroots progressive movement. Ms. Nkom’s project in Cameroon adapted this model, and her initiative is called, "Get on the Bus." The bus for this project works as a mobile grassroots democracy operation, spreading political news, encouraging people to vote, and increasing voter turnout. In addition to her work as a leader of the grassroots democracy movement in Cameroon, Ms. Nkom is the founder of the non-profit Association to Defend Homosexuals (ADEFHO) and a campaigner for gay rights and civil liberties.

As the Founder and Director of SWECCHA: We for Change Foundation, Vimlendu Jha reaches out to youth, students, and people from all backgrounds to become engaged in the environmental movement in India. The "We for Yamuna" is a public education campaign about the plight of the Yamuna River. Mr. Jha has shaped the environmental consciousness of those he works with by creating curricula, performing workshops, giving talks, collaborating with organizations and government officials on projects, and even partnering with the most-watched television station in India to air a 24-hour environmental awareness, "Greenathon." Mr. Jha was recognized as one of six influential activists in CNN International’s 2007 "Be the Change" program. "Green the Gap" is an "Up-Cycling" business that promotes environmentally-friendly and fair trade goods and ideas.

Hiek Sopheap participated in the 2009 IVLP, "Parks, Biodiversity, and Ecotourism Management," he returned to Cambodia to implement innovative methods for the preservation of 12,688 hectares of forest at Tonle Sap Lake in the Kampon Chhnang province. His IVLP experience helped him to implement a conservation method that promoted the participation of those living around the preservation site. He adapted this system to be relevant for the local population: Buddhist monks lead the educational campaigns and Environmental Youth Groups were created to patrol the park, giving them a sense of ownership and responsibility. This effort spread to local schools, teaching children about the biodiversity of their communities and the need for preservation. His work has directly impacted the local population, improved the wildlife environment and promoted sustainability in the surrounding communities.

Through participation in the 2002 International Visitor Leadership Program on "Women and NGO Development," Nargis Ziyavatdinova developed the ideas and concepts that transformed her organization for educational opportunities for children with disabilities into Uzbekistan’s leading advocacy voice for disability. Upon return, she reregistered and renamed her NGO, Inkom. Meaning "Opportunity" or "Possibility" in Uzbek, Inkom is an organization that provides five years of elementary education to disabled children, and also helps them reintegrate into local public schools. In combination with this material assistance, Inkom offers training for families and community members alike, to educate them on the realities of disability, to dispel myths, and encourage understanding.

Javier Figueroa took part in a 2009 International Visitor Leadership Program on the "Animation and Audiovisual Industry in the United States." Upon his return to Uruguay, Mr. Figueroa Pereira partnered with Uruguayan National Education authorities to significantly contribute to the "One Laptop Per Child Program." He developed a computer program for the over 700,000 laptops that are in public elementary schools across the country, which teaches them English in an interactive and innovative way. Mr. Figueroa Pereira is also looking into developing another computer program based on organic vegetable farming and healthy food for schoolchildren, based on the initiatives of First Lady Michelle Obama.