Partner: Kyrgyz Republic Delegation

Ten youth community leaders, aged 19 – 26 years, from throughout the Kyrgyz Republic, participated in a three week Community Connections exchange October 20 – November 10, 2010. Community Connections, managed by the Bureau of Economic Growth and Trade (EGAT) at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and administered by World Learning, is designed to promote public diplomacy through the exchange of cultural ideas and values among participants, U.S. families and local community host organizations. It seeks to establish and strengthen links between U.S. communities and communities in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan Republic, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

Locally hosted by World Services of La Crosse in Western Wisconsin and Chicago, IL, the Kyrgyzstan participants are expected to play a leading role in social partnership programs involving youth in their home regions. The professional exchange exposed participants to strategies for effective leadership; citizen involvement in community development; and the value of contributions by youth to improve social life in Kyrgyzstan. Delegates gained a new understanding of the importance of youth volunteerism and social activism in building of a strong sense of community and regional pride in Kyrgyzstan.

Funders

The Chain of Change is supported in part by Beth Emet Synagogue Tzedakah Fund, Chicago Foundation for Women, Crossroads Fund, Early to Bed, Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, Illinois Humanities Council, Leo S. Guthman Fund, McCormick Foundation, Ms. Foundation for Women, Polk Bros. Foundation, Sahara Enterprises, Inc. and Weitz Funds. This project is partially supported by the Illinois Arts Council, a State Agency; a CityArts Program 2 grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs; and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs Cultural Outreach Program. The Chain of Change project is also made possible by our generous individual donors.