PROGRAMS
The Congressional Office For International Leadership (formerly Open World Leadership Center) is one of the most effective U.S. exchange programs for countries of the post-Soviet era. The program has enabled more than 29,000 current and future leaders from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan to meaningfully engage and interact with Members of Congress, Congressional staff, and thousands of other Americans, many of whom are the delegates’ direct professional counterparts.
It is aimed at establishing mutually beneficial relationships between future leaders of other nations, and leaders in the USA. As well as enhancing U.S. foreign policy objectives in building more secure, democratic, and prosperous societies.
The PTPI - Greater Phoenix, AZ Chapter is proud to have hosted delegations from Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine, and Tajikistan with focuses as varied as educational practices, transparency in government, the legal system, inclusion of minority groups, I.T. entrepreneurs and future diplomats.
We look forward to our continued partnership with the Congressional Office For International Leadership.
THE INTERNATIONAL VISITORS PROGRAM
These programs are cultural interaction experiences in which members of People to People International’s worldwide chapters are offered the opportunity to meet members of chapters in other countries and experience their way of life. This is done through host chapter members who provide short-term home stays for visiting chapters from other countries. Visitors participate in daily family activities to gain an understanding of what everyday life is like in another country. In return, the host families get the chance to come in contact with people from other nations, which helps to create a mutual understanding of each other's culture.
PTPIAZ HOSTS INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
The International Visitors Program is a cultural interaction experience in which members of PTPI's worldwide chapters are offered the opportunity to meet members of chapters in other countries and experience their way of life.
RUSSIA
We have hosted several groups of Open World Delegates and Vladivostok Chapter members since 2003 from Russia.
We hosted ten educational leaders from Russia through the Open World Leadership Program for the first time in 2003. We were chosen again in 2008 to be the designated hosts for this U.S. Congress-authorized program which brings emerging leaders to the United States to expose them to American democracy and free enterprise in action. Through it, and our continued relationship with the delegates, a PTPI chapter was formed in Vladivostok with whom we are a sister chapter. In 2012, a delegation of 17 students with two leaders spent a month with our chapter to learn about our country, state and culture along with improving their English.
GEORGIA
The Georgian delegates we have hosted have been quite amazing people. They have been sponsored by both the Rumsfeld Foundation's Central Asia-Caucasus Young Leaders Fellowship Program and by Open World.
Lenny, our first Georgian guest with the Rumsfeld Delegation (October 2012), returned as a volunteer interpreter for the Open World Delegation which we hosted in November 2013. What energetic and vital people the Georgians were! While hosting our guests, we learned about the culture and beauty of Georgia.
AFGHANISTAN
We had our first guest from Afghanistan as part of the Rumsfeld Foundation Delegation (October 2012). We learned about her beautiful country and culture.
As often happens when hosting delegates, our relationships continue beyond the first visit. Since her first trip to Arizona in 2012, our guest returned to study at ASU. Our chapter has supported her efforts to obtain a Master's degree at Georgetown University. Her goal is to help educate girls and advocate for womens rights worldwide.
UKRAINE
We have hosted delegates from the Ukraine through the Open World Leadership Program who were state and city level government officials.
In March of 2011, February of 2012 and again in March of 2014,we enjoyed hosting delegates through Open World. The groups of extremely passionate young leaders from Ukraine had the opportunity to meet state legislators, learn about our political system, transparent government, and rule of law. They visited with a variety of businesses, educational and non-profit professionals, and city and state offices to learn about programs and processes. The common goal for each delegation; to return to Ukraine with ideas that they can adapt and integrate into their own communities.
JAPAN
We have been fortunate to have guests from the Kikugawa, Urayasu, and the Ogaki chapters stay with us. We are very pleased with these long standing relationships.
MEET THE DIPLOMATS
Honorable Petkov
Bulgarian Ambassador to the USA, Washington DC
November 6th - 10th, 2009, as part of the Meet the Diplomat Program, the PTPI - Greater Phoenix, AZ Chapter was proud to host his Honorable Petkov, Bulgarian Ambassador to the USA.
Dr. Vladimir Mironovich
Belarus Trade and Economic Counselor
In October, 2005 the PTPI - Greater Phoenix, AZ Chapter hosted Dr. Vladimir Mironovich, Trade and Economic Counselor for the country of Belarus.
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
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