KOLUMNIT — COLUMNS
In 2017 Finland has celebrated the Centennial of its independence under the theme ‘Together’. There can hardly be a better word to also describe Fulbright Finland. This year our grantees, alumni, partners and donors have come together on both sides of the Atlantic to celebrate cooperation and joint achievements. In the United States, our alumni have toured the country as Centennial Ambassadors to talk in schools and communities about Finland and about opportunities for Americans in Finnish-American exchanges (p. 8). A part of the official Suomi Finland 100 Program, the Centennial Ambassadors is the initiative of our American Friends of Fulbright Finland (FoFF) alumni network that is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year (p. 10–11). On this side of the Atlantic, we have been pleased to renew valued partnerships and establish entirely new cooperation to create new Fulbright scholarships (p. 6–7). A historic recognition of the Finnish-American Fulbright program and its Fulbright Finland Centennial Fund campaign was the Centennial gift from the United States to Finland, USD 500,000 from the U.S. Congress to the Fulbright Finland Foundation. The gift was announced at a joint White House press conference by the Presidents of Finland and the United States. (p. 4–5) In 2017 we have also celebrated the 65th Anniversary of the Fulbright Agreement between Finland and the United States. At this juncture, it is important to pause and reflect on the history and original purpose of the program, both between Finland and the U.S. as well as globally — Fulbright was envisioned as a peace program (p. 9). We are so honored to have former President of Finland and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Martti Ahtisaari as our invited columnist. President Ahtisaari reminds us of the origins of Fulbright, the importance of education as foundational to fostering a sense of global understanding, and the critical role of exchange between nations (p. 2). As 2017 draws to a close, we convey our sincere thanks to all who have worked and celebrated side by side with us during this very special year and we look forward to continuing together to begin the next Centennial.
Terhi Mölsä Chief Executive Officer Fulbright Finland Foundation
Thomas Whitehouse
FROM THE EDITOR
EXCHANGE BETWEEN NATIONS From 1959 to 1974 J. William Fulbright served as Chairman of the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee. As a public servant in a turbulent age, Senator Fulbright committed himself to the belief that wars between nations are preventable. He stressed the importance of education as foundational to fostering a sense of global understanding. In doing so, The Fulbright Program was established in 1946. It is now the largest international educational exchange program with “...the simple purpose [being] …to erode the culturally rooted mistrust that sets nations against one another.” As a citizen and former President of the Republic of Finland, I take pride in the fact that following World War II, Finland was the only country to pay back its debt to the United States. The U.S. Government recognized this commitment by establishing an educational foundation to link the two countries together. Fulbright Finland remains a caretaker of this historic act. To this end, 2017 is a special year. It marks not only Finland’s centenary as an independent republic but also the 65th anniversary of the Fulbright Agreement between Finland and the United States. To honor Finland’s centenary, the United States Congress presented a gift in the form of 500,000 USD to the Fulbright Finland Foundation in Helsinki. Such generosity not only reflects the spirit of the American people, but recognizes the historic role the Fulbright Program has played in advancing cross-cultural understanding. Nearly 20 years ago, I received the J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding, as a recognition of “ongoing involvement in preventing crises, resolving conflicts, and promoting peace to improve life for people in some of the world’s most troubled regions”. At the same time, I founded the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) with the aim to prevent and resolve violent political conflicts. 17 years on, CMI continues to advance peacemaking around the world through mediation and dialogue. From brokering the independence of Namibia, to facilitating the Aceh Peace Agreement, the mandates that I have been given have ultimately required backing from the United States. In fact, such support has been a prerequisite for my pursuing these assignments to their rightful completion. The position of the United States remains pivotal in harnessing multilateral consensus on the world’s most pressing issues. Mediation and dialogue are recognized as the most effective forms of preventing and resolving violent conflicts. It is critical that platforms for exchange between nations are sustained and treasured.
Martti Ahtisaari President of Finland 1994–2000 2008 Nobel Peace Prize 2000 Fulbright Prize for International Understanding