The International Visitor Leadership Program

This prestigious program brings today’s and tomorrow’s foreign leaders to the United States for firsthand exposure to their professional counterparts and U.S. society. Among the distinguished alumni of the program are over 350 former and current chiefs of state and heads of government, including Tony Blair, Margaret Thatcher, Anwar Sadat, Giscard D’Estaing, Indira Gandhi, and Felipe Calderón.

Each year nearly 5,000 exchange participants come to the U.S. on the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). More than 200,000 International Visitors have engaged with Americans through the IVLP, since the program began in 1940. The IVLP helps strengthen U.S. engagement with countries around the world and cultivate lasting relationships by connecting current and emerging foreign leaders with their American counterparts through short-term visits to the United States. The majority of IVLP exchanges include visits to four U.S. communities over three weeks, although projects vary based on themes, Embassy requests and other factors. Participants meet with professional counterparts, visit U.S. public and private sector organizations related to the project theme and participate in cultural and social activities. There is no application for IVLP. Participants are nominated and selected annually by the staff at U.S. Embassies around the world. For more information, see http://eca.state.gov/ivlp/about-ivlp#sthash.T1yb4YE0.dpuf.

Periodically, international visitors are also hosted in Colorado Springs under the Open World Program which is sponsored by the Library of Congress. Unlike participants in the IVLP programs who are accommodated in hotels, these visitors stay in volunteers’ homes during their visit and participate in professional meetings during the day.

If you would like to be part of the Colorado Springs Committee for International Visitors, please contact by mail at:

Colorado Springs World Affairs Council
P.O. Box 608, Colorado Springs, CO 80901

Change Makers: Social Entrepreneurship

On February 10-11, 2017, the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council’s Committee for International Visitors hosted five visitors from Iraq, Kuwait, and the Palestinian Territories, and two interpreters. The objectives for the project were to examine the role of social entrepreneurship in the U.S. and what makes social ventures sustainable, self-sufficient and scalable.  The objectives also included networking with U.S. counterparts to discuss effective practices and innovative approaches to social change in areas such as poverty alleviation, education, public health and the environment, to assess the impact of strategic collaboration, youth initiatives, corporate social responsibility, and hybrid nonprofit/for profit enterprises; and to explore the role of the new and social media to drive social entrepreneurship through mentorships and other interactive exercises.

This was a most amiable group. Friday began at Jr. Achievement in Old Colorado City where the director took the group through an abbreviated “Volunteer Training” which gave both the background and hands-on examples of the program and its curriculum. Because Jr. Achievement is an international program the group was excited to see local contacts in their home countries for the program as well. One participant was aware of the program in his country.
	The group then went to Mile High Youth Corps in Colorado Springs where they were surprised to receive a briefing on the program from a Corpsmember who was an Iraqi refugee. He spoke to the group in Arabic which was enjoyed by all. His personal account of what the program has meant to him and his adjustment to America was very impressive and spoke well for this program.
After lunch our visitors departed for Library 21-C where they were most impressed by the technology employed as well as the Makespace there. This was followed by a trip to UCCS to see the Entrepreneurship Laboratory. The participants asked insightful questions thought the jam-packed day.  They remained highly engaged, taking photos, making notes. Both our visitors and those hosting had the highest praise for the exchange. On Saturday the group did sight-seeing with the support of their knowledgeable driver. That evening they attended dinners hosted by two different couples. The conversation was stimulating and enjoyed by all.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Note: If you would like to participate in hosting a dinner for future visitors, please contact Colorado Springs Committee for International Visitors.  The CIV is a committee of the Colorado Springs World Affairs Council.  You may call  at 719.579.8443 .