Future Leaders Express vol.1(2)

AMERICAN COUNCILS s FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

ACTR

ACCELS

Future Leaders EXpress Volume I, Issue 2

Anniversary Edition

Esma (Florida / Georgia) reads a quotation in braille at the Roosevelt Memorial during Civic Education Week.

1st Place: FLEX Civic Education Week Photo Contest Photographed and submitted by: Anton (Minnesota / Russia) Page 8

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cfitzgerald@americancouncils.org

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Week Update Alumni Education act ities. CivicFLEX Student ofInthe Pictures: Travel ty Imp MonthAssistant Happy Send us more photos of Return uni Studies, and Lauren McCarthy, Competition commun DC Your of Massachusetts host 2013.

20 Washington, across the e.

University Page 4 : Comm theyear 17-23, yourth Each month the FLEX of U.S. March year in Professor program y U.S. sponsor, the U.S.human U.S. to: ,theFL and of State, names a have mad Here!

Words about Department Season the United EX cfitzgerald@american questions their man is “Student of the Month” s they - Amherst, to highlight on-program success ! g OwnGYSD FLEX students from across stories.was Selected The student of the councils.or mar:k oncontribution the inreceives in Eurasia. This session is Celebrating 20 month your return DC to participate a certificate labor trafficking will be receiving and is featured In Your left their derful You on the ECA FLEX host States flew to Washington, website.

Dialogue These you ents have of the won 26-2 2013 soon! moderated by the Wilson Center’s Civic Education Week (CEW).

8, packets travel thedon’t yearIfof 19th “first April about February: FLEX stude are some Khrystyna, packet Milewski.

Years - on Twitter! a World JohnLink student from spent the week learning receive a return students 100 travel Her and Ukraine,grassroots Service Day is spends all of her Department of State Briefing to your sched- rights, leadership, Page 6

Please send your ideas or suggestions for upcoming issues of Future Leaders EXpress to:

inside

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spare time engaged prior • U.S. universal Global Youth ONE WEEK freedoms,” How are students enjoyed the concepts. in school quickly!departure and community Discussion: date, you MUST Panel service projects.The and many other valuable In approaching uled the engagement, largest of she completed in January ask questions of Eurasia policy a series toservice. alone, opportunity 31 hours of participating were explored through contact your placement organiza-

you These ideas Visit FLEX contin engage in a lively discussion meetings this experience She and is actively in the world? and also to involved with experts, the American them for informaues ask ready to share Red and interactive activities“I’m family service event tion and engaging about my friends, to celebr Adam Ereli about their with Cross where and learncan exchangeincluding: she participated the allguest with findcapital in Ambassador speakers with my alsostate this year’s blood ate its have [volunteering] www.gysd.orgtion. You Alena (Merritt and with can to special l y in Russia. I been Island, Florida / host families, schools, area.“IYou drive havereturn in their Capita Fire communit 20th annive Training activities MN. We were informain yournecessary Project. experiences andand travelPaul, Khrystyna Bryansk, Russia) also VIP event where projects about of including many different er of FLEX a Media own rsary, group in St. to the d for at the history Newseum was a specialand share your the shuttle Atlantis student They also asked questions about Visit 4-H, as memb volunteers volunteere the Happy ration of at • and 6 last year also communities. website Riding Academy a lecture at: post and will our places likeTrails impact tion ongiven visited inaugu this year, for our News was signed over to the tourbe “November the fallen a FLEX explored hadFLEX different of the I have s, and ones wholike programs y of. Also mark s, [and] for the many Kennedy “Remembering in ns for exchangethe attend the for children Ethics with church nursery), JanuarSeminar: funding g.to Students disabilities.

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Save the Date!

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AM International in Washington, volunteers at Wilson Students mom that program can. .” training my Woodrow ERIC to the to tell experiences use thoughts the F in Visit the other your O advantage • others Send Ronald few R always my way FLEX-ers?

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NATI the specific hadskills worked-out to for ONA cultivates COUNC Students Workshop mission to “never L EDU the museum’s Center TheScholars: CATI along has actually moved by cfitzgerald@americancouncils.o and otherrg.forms of information technology. media ON and ACTR also develop students Acting William Pomeranz, Participating s A CILS English. to ask CELS opportunity forget.” l Russian for Director of the Kennan Institute inter_13/articles/article1.htm m/news/W at: http://www.asse.co online article Read the full

Future Leaders Exchan ge

You Advice fromStudents Participate in Two New Workshops

FLEX is also on Facebook

Spring, 2013

2 Community Impact 4 GYSD 5 Return Travel 6 Civic Education Week 8 Student of the Month 9 Alumni Update 10 In Pictures 12 Happy 20th, FLEX!

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In Your Own Words: Community Impact

FLEX students have left their mark on their many U.S. host communities.

Here are some of the wonderful contributions they have made.

“I [went to] the CANDLES Holocaust museum [and met] three survivors of different WWII Nazi death camps. They screened “Escape From Sobibor” and chatted with us all afterwards.

[Above] is a picture of me (on the far right) with my host siblings and Thomas “Toivi” Blatt - one of five living survivors of the largest extermination camp escape in WWII, and as a teenager one of its chief architects. This evening kind of puts your own difficulties in perspective.”

Alesya (Carmel, Indiana / Baku, Azerbaijan )

“I was really proud to volunteer in NYC with people that were in a difficult situation after Hurricane Sandy. We helped to clean and to sort out stuff…

Volunteering brings a lot in my American experience: friends, joy and a lot of fun.”

Gulzhan (LaFargeville, New York / Aktobe, Kazakhstan)

“In January of this year, as member of FLEX Capital Club, I had a chance to attend the inauguration of the 44th president of the USA. Inaugurations of the president in Russia are not public events, and common citizens can’t attend them. Therefore, it was a great, unusual, and important experience for me and my Russian friends to participate here. We believe that one day people of our country will have a chance to experience the same feelings as Americans do in such a great day.”

Leyla (Heathsville, Virginia / Blagoveshchensk, Russia)

“Coming to America has been such an amazing experience, that I want to keep everything I did here in my heart forever, without forgetting any moment. However, it’s impossible to keep every moment. Luckily we have pictures and journals that help us keep the memories that mean so much to us. One of the most impressive memories I had was going to Jefferson City, the capitol of my host state, Missouri …The building itself was amazing, and had a museum in it, and the offices of the house representatives and governors.We [also] visited and witnessed the Missouri Catholic Conference, where we could witness how the Catholic leaders gather and discuss their issues.

One of my favorite parts was the scavenger hunt we had, where we could get to know the building and the history of the state Missouri. [There] we could be in the place of the governors and discuss some of the important issues. Overall, we were able to meet a lot of people that basically take care of our country, and be in their place for just a minute. It was an amazing experience and I don’t think I will ever be able to forget it.”

Olga, Lee Summit, Missouri / Chisinau, Moldova

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“November 6 last year was a special day for all Americans, [and] for the students from Waupun High School too.

The student council organized student elections and the exchange students got to vote. [Being given] “the symbolic right to vote” was a superb experience.”

Violeta (Waupun, Wisconsin / Lapusna, Moldova)

“I have been to state capital with my exchange student group in St. Paul, MN. We were given a tour and a lecture about history of state and state legislature. Also I have visited City Hall in St. Paul, MN with my liaison.

She told me some interesting stories about the city.”

“I’m ready to share this experience [volunteering] with my friends, family and community in Russia. I have volunteered for many different activities in many different places like 4-H, school, church (photo: church nursery), nursing home, and sport activities.”

Dmitriy (Stillwater, Minnesota / Rudnyy, Kazakhstan)

Nikita (Cole Camp, Missouri / Volgograd, Russia)

“I bring you my deepest gratitude for this chance to experience America first hand through the FLEX program! I knew that it would be an outstanding opportunity, but never could I have imagined the depth of this life-changing adventure. ... I am residing with a family of five in the lovely state of South Carolina. One special aspect of my relationship with my host family is that their oldest child has Down’s syndrome. He and I have become special friends and I have gained an education I never could have anticipated. My relationship with my host parents and host sisters has greatly enriched my domestic life. …My American Government teacher…created a series of lessons “Politics in the Palmetto State Speaker Series.” That give us opportunity to interact with politicians from South Carolina. Some of the politicians we have been able to meet are:

Ronnie Cromer - Republican member of the South Carolina Senate

Amanda Loveday - Executive Director at South Carolina Democratic Party

Shane Massey - Republican member of the South Carolina Senate (pictured below)

Chad Connely - the chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party

Bakari Sellers - Democratic member of the South Carolina House of Representative” Edvard, Lexington, South Carolina / Odesa, Ukraine

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GYSD: April 26-28, 2013 Global Youth Service Day is approaching quickly! How are you participating in the largest service event in the world? Visit www.gysd.org and learn about projects in your area. You can also post and share your own story, recruit volunteers, and be included in GYSD regional and global project totals.

Exchanging Perspectives ASSE host mother Ann, FLEX student Vera, and host brother Brendan talk about the exchange experience from their own perspectives.

Ann: “Vera is the daughter I have always wanted. It has been fun being able to go dress shopping and having girl talks over morning coffee or before we go to bed. A fun girl adventure was preparing for Lamar’s Christmas Pageant; I think I was more nervous than Vera...”

Brenden Kelley with host sister Vera Lytnova (FLEX Ukraine) enjoy a roller coaster ride

Vera: “I am honestly blessed to have such a wonderful host family as the Kelleys. Mike, Ann and Brenden have made my American experience so special. I have lots of “firsts” like my first rollercoaster, first hiking experience, first beauty pageant and even a first taco.”

Brenden: “One of my most favorite things is to eat and Vera likes to try any type of food, so we get along pretty well. Any time I am hungry, I whisper to Vera to see if she is hungry; regardless of whether Vera is or isn’t, I always tell my mom that Vera is hungry, so having Vera along has actually worked-out to my advantage.”

Read the full article online at: http://www.asse.com/news/Winter_13/articles/article1.html

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Return Travel Season is Here!

You will be receiving your return travel packets soon! If you don’t receive a return travel packet ONE WEEK prior to your scheduled departure date, you MUST contact your placement organization and ask them for information. You can also find all the necessary return travel information on our FLEX website at: http://flex.americancouncils.org.

Your return travel packet includes: • Your electronic ticket • Three FLEX baggage tags • A check for your second checked bag* • FLEX travel brochure • A memo to your host family • A letter from the Alumni

Coordinator in your home country • Alumni brochure • Home addresses of students from your country *FLEX does not pay for a third checked bag or any overweight/oversize charges

TOP 3 FLEX TRAVEL MISTAKES DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!!!

1. Leaving home without your PASSPORT 2. Leaving home TOO LATE and missing your flight 3. Missing your flight and LEAVING THE AIRPORT without getting a new flight assignment. (Do not leave the airport! Call us at 800-841-6460 for rebooking help!)

Advice from You

Time flies! You have already been living and studying in the U.S. for eight months, and soon you will return home. At the same time, students across Eurasia are now being notified that they will be members of the 2013-14 FLEX class. In just a few short months, they will be attending a Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) to prepare for their year in the U.S., just like you did almost one year ago. Think back on your time in America...What have you learned that might be helpful, constructive advice to share with these new FLEX-ers? Send your thoughts to cfitzgerald@americancouncils.org.

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Civic Education Week

March 17-23, 2013. Washington, DC

Studies, and Lauren McCarthy, Assistant Professor of the University of Massachusetts Selected FLEX students from across the United - Amherst, questions about human and States flew to Washington, DC to participate in the labor trafficking in Eurasia. This session was 19th year of the Civic Education Week (CEW). These moderated by the Wilson Center’s Dialogue host 100 students spent the week learning about “first John Milewski. freedoms,” universal rights, leadership, grassroots • U.S. Department of State Briefing and engagement, and many other valuable concepts.

Panel Discussion: The students enjoyed the These ideas were explored through a series of opportunity to ask questions of Eurasia policy engaging and interactive activities and meetings experts, and also to engage in a lively discussion with special guest speakers including: with Ambassador Adam Ereli about their • Visit to the Newseum including a Media experiences in their host families, schools, and Ethics Seminar: Students explored the impact communities. They also asked questions about that media has had in history around the future funding for exchange programs like FLEX world, and learned about the ethical issues that and the Department of State’s role in developing journalists face. and implementing U.S. foreign policy.

• Alumni Leadership Discussion: FLEX alumni • “Hill Day:” Students spent the day on Capitol Marina Buciuc ’07 (Wisconsin / Moldova), Anna Hill meeting with senators, representatives, and Safronova ’09 (South Dakota / Russia), their staffers who represent the students’ host and Yerasyl Toleugazinov ’12 (Washington / communities. Topics of conversation at these Kazakhstan) spoke to the students throughout meetings included: the week about their successes as alumni and gun control • Russia’s adoption ban • veterans’ rights how to become engaged in their communities.

• rules against corruption in the U.S. government • U.S. national debt • personal responsibility in a society • the role of international exchange programs • how to encourage companies to sell peanut butter in Eurasia

• Inside C-SPAN: Brian Lamb, the founder and executive chairman of C-SPAN, discussed the tension between government officials and the media and why it is important to provide public access to the political process.

• Visit to the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars: Students had the opportunity to ask William Pomeranz, Acting Director of the Kennan Institute for Russian

• Grassroots Project Development: Students divided into ten groups and came to consensus on choosing a problem they encounter in their home communities. Each group then outlined options to address the problem along with potential outcomes, and developed a corresponding action plan. Working as a team, students developed realistic and creative ways to market their plans and make them a reality.

• Holocaust Memorial Museum: The Holocaust Museum opened students’ eyes to issues of civic apathy, racism, gender bias, and tolerance in a way few other experiences can. Students were moved by the museum’s mission to “never forget.”

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“I Have Seen War” with Asror (Texas / Tajikistan) and Umedjon (Alabama / Tajikistan) 2nd Place in the FLEX CEW Photo Contest Submitted by: Asror (Texas / Tajikistan)

Students dance together at the MLK Memorial.

“Remembering the ones who had fallen for our News System” at the Newseum with Violeta (Wisconsin / Moldova) and Valentina (Utah / Moldova) 3rd Place in the FLEX CEW Photo Contest Photographed and Submitted by: Olga (Missouri / Moldova)

Sanira-Begim visits the Capitol. Mariam meets MT Senators and Congressman.

Students Participate in Two New Workshops FLEX students had the opportunity to apply for two new workshops in 2013. Both are sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

WYLTE: The Workshop for Youth Leaders in Teaching of English is an intensive, week-long training program in Washington, D.C, April 14-20.

The Workshop cultivates skills specific to teaching English. Participating students also develop and

practice important skills including public speaking, team-building, and goal-setting. Workshop alumni are expected to return to their countries and organize English teaching opportunities in their home communities.

Global New Media Lab is designed to nurture international high school students from around the globe as young digital activists, skilled in the use of innovative online and mobile tools in communities worldwide. These students will be able to actively engage in and teach others in the use of social media and other forms of information technology.

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FLEX Student of the Month Competition Each month the FLEX program sponsor, the U.S. Department of State, names a “Student of the Month” to highlight on-program success stories. The student of the month receives a certificate and is featured on the ECA FLEX website.

February: Khrystyna, a World Link student from Ukraine, spends all of her spare time engaged in school and community service projects. In January alone, she completed 31 hours of service.

She is actively involved with the American Red Cross where she participated in this year’s blood drive and Fire Training Project. Khrystyna also volunteers at the Happy Trails Riding Academy for children with disabilities. During the holiday season, she helped her host family’s church distribute 508 food boxes and toys to 712 children throughout her host community. This spring, with help from friends and classmates, she plans to collect donations of clothing, toiletries, food and special treats to deliver to children in need. Khrystyna is so appreciated by her host community that one of the community’s leaders wrote to World Link thanking the FLEX program for “bringing Khrystyna to the community and allowing her to be involved in efforts to aid the needy.” Congratulations, Khrystyna!

March: Raushan, a World Learning student from Kyrgyzstan, has a very demanding schedule: dance class, debate club, community service, daily Tae Kwon Do classes and a challenging course load. Despite such an arduous schedule, Raushan is enjoying her FLEX experience. On weekends she helps deliver meals to elderly residents of her community. In her Tae Kwon Do class she trains with “White Belt” students and hopes to continue Tae Kwon Do upon her return to Kyrgyzstan. As a member of her school’s Debate team, she works hard on improving her research

and public speaking skills; she participated in a city-wide debate tournament where her team placed second. Raushan is proud of her Debate team accomplishments. She remembers her very first time [debating], “It was just awful, but I can see changes for the better now.” As a FLEX alumna she hopes to create debate clubs and competitions in local high schools when she returns to Kyrgyzstan. Congratulations, Raushan!

Congratulations to the additional winners of the Student of the Month competition, October through January:

Anna (Kazakhstan) Sanira-Begim (Kyrgyzstan) Yelyzaveta (Ukraine) Nodari (Georgia)

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Alumni Update is Celebrating 20 Years - on Twitter!

• Sonya Gorya ‘04 created a fantastic video, “A Charmed Year,” about her experience on the FLEX Program with the support of a FLEX Alumni grant.

• Elena Milashina ’94 was named a 2013 International Women of Courage Award recipient for her work in journalism.

• Dmitry Dudanov ’09 served as an interpreter for the movie crew of Oscar-nominated Anna Karenina while it was filming on Lake Oneg in northwest Russia last year.

Please visit our @FLEXProgram Twitter page and tweet your greetings and support with our anniversary hashtag #FLEX20. On May 15th, we’ll be holding a Twitter/social media party, and we would be grateful if you could join in and tweet hello!

• Vasyl Myroshnychenko ’97 was named one of Ukraine’s “Top 40 Under 40 Emerging Leaders.”

Read about these and more inspiring alumni stories at: http://www.bradleyherald.com/

Watch Sonya Gorya’s video! Use your Smart Phone to scan the QR code above.

FLEX is also on Facebook “Like” our page to stay informed about FLEX Program activities: www.facebook.com/FLEXProgram.

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In Pictures:

Your year across the U.S.

Sofiya (Lexington, Virginia / Zboriv, Ukraine) attends a political rally.

Madina (Tulare, California / Aktobe, Kazakhstan, right) volunteers at a Red Cross center.

Kateryna (New Salem, North Dakota / Dniprodzerzhynsk, Ukraine) and Irina (Center, North Dakota / Sarov, Russia) tour the state capital and meet with Governor Jack Dalrymple.

Azniv (Visalia, California / Gyumri, Armenia) volunteers at a Veterans’ Hospital.

Sofya (Millville, Minnesota / Magnitogorsk, Russia) volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House.

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Send us more photos of your year in the U.S. to: cfitzgerald@americancouncils.org

Alena (Merritt Island, Florida / Bryansk, Russia) at the VIP event where the shuttle Atlantis was signed over to the Kennedy Space Center.

Tinatin (Franklin, Virginia / Kaspi, Georgia) presents about her country.

Yan (Lockport, New York / Tomsk, Russia), located back, center, helps with yardwork for a family who built their home with Habitat for Humanity.

Zhansaya (Woodland, California / Shymkent, Kazakhstan) visits the state capital.

Inna (Chelmsford, Massachusetts / Engels, Russia), located right, visits a State Senate candidate while she campaigns.

Happy 20th, FLEX!

Save the Date!

June 6, 2013 AMERICAN COUNCILS F O R

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

E D U C A T I O N

FLEX is celebrating its 20th anniversary and YOU are invited!

Questions? Contact Cheryl FitzGerald at cfitzgerald@americancouncils.org.

FLEX continues to celebrate its 20th anniversary, and will mark the occasion with a special event on June 6th.

Stay tuned for information on how to celebrate with FLEX from wherever you are throughout the year!

Future Leaders Exchange Volume I, Issue 2

Official Newsletter of FLEX

Spring, 2013

The FLEX Program is sponsored by: The United States Department of State, Bureau for Educational and Cultural Affairs Website: www.exchanges.state.gov The FLEX program is administered by: American Councils for International Education 1828 L St. NW, Suite 1200 / Washington, DC 20036 Telephone: 202-833-7522 Fax: 202-833-7523 www.americancouncils.org flex.americancouncils.org @FLEXProgram

AMERICAN COUNCILS s FOR INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

ACTR

ACCELS