U.S.-UKRAINE FOUNDATION WELCOMES 40 UKRAINIAN LEADERS THROUGH THE OPEN WORLD PROGRAM
Washington, DC — The Open World Leadership Center has awarded the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation a grant to host 40 local government leaders from Ukraine. Mayors, local government officials, and NGO representatives will spend either July 25 – August 4, 2007 or August 31- September 8, 2007 in Cincinnati, OH; Des Moines, IA; Little Rock, AR; Louisville, KY; or Omaha, NE examining the issue of accountable governance.
The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation and its partners – Iowa Sister States of Des Moines; International Training, Education & Business Services & Associates of Des Moines; Cincinnati-Ukraine Partnership of Cincinnati, World Affairs Council of Kentucky and Southern Indiana in Louisville; the Arkansas International Center at the University in Arkansas, and Applied Information Management Institute of Omaha - will host the delegations.
Managed by the independent Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress, Open World is designed to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and the countries of Eastern Europe, Eurasia and the Baltic States by developing a network of leaders in the region who have gained significant, firsthand exposure to America’s democratic, accountable government and free-market system.
Participants of the program are local leaders from Ivano-Frankivska, Donetska, Sumska, Khersonska, Kyivska, Cherkaska, and Luhanska oblasts.
While in the United States, the delegates will meet with various city officials, economic development agencies, state representatives, neighborhood associations, and attend city council meetings. During their meetings participants will learn about services provided by local and state governments, the budget process, transparent financial accountability, the allocation of tax dollars and the effectiveness of government programs. They will also learn about regional economic development and cooperation.
“This program provides an opportunity for the Ukrainian local government leaders to interact with their American counterparts to exchange experiences and to have a meaningful dialogue for better mutual understanding. Many of the issues faced by local government officials in Ukraine, such as economic development, transparency, accountability of governance, city promotion, and interaction with the media, are shared by their American colleagues. These opportunities at the local level help broaden the strategic partnership between the United States and Ukraine at the grassroots level,” stated Ms. Vera Andrushkiw, U.S.-Ukraine Foundation’s Vice President for External Relations. Ambassador Steven Pifer, Co-chair of the Coalition for a Secure and Democratic Ukraine, as well as Ms. Andrushkiw, gave presentations during the Open World orientation session.
Homestays will allow the Open World delegates to experience American family life. They will also take part in several cultural and community activities, including visits to museums, galleries, and various summer festivals.
The Open World Leadership Center has awarded a grant to the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation to administer this and similar exchanges in 2007.
The U.S. Congress established Open World in 1999 to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and Russia. In 2003, Congress made all post-Soviet states eligible for the program. Thanks to Open World, some 12,000 current and future East European and Eurasian leaders have experienced American civil society and have been exposed to new ideas and practices that they can adapt for use in their own work. Open World also promotes partnerships and continued communications between delegates and their American hosts and professional counterparts. Open World currently operates exchanges for political and civic leaders from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan.
For more information, please contact Vera Andrushkiw at 202-223-2228 or George Felcyn at 202-466-6210. For more information on Open World, please visit http://www.openworld.gov.
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