Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
ALUMNI AFFAIRS DIVISION
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ECA Alumni

Continuing the Dialogue

Participants in the 2003 Model United Nations in Odessa, Ukraine, organized each year by Eurasian Undergraduate alumna Olga Zhurzhenko.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) carries out international exchanges that include more than 30,000 individuals on an annual basis. All of these exchanges enhance mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other nations. The over 800,000 alumni of these programs continue the efforts undertaken during their exchange throughout their lifetimes and the State Department is increasingly offering support for these alumni initiatives.

Creating a Sustainable Network

The energy, enthusiasm, and expertise of the hundreds of thousands of ECA alumni are immense. The State Department is supporting efforts by alumni to maximize their impact through the formation of a global community of former exchange participants. Through this community, alumni from all over the world can network, share ideas, projects, and experiences. Alumni are also establishing local associations, aiming to utilize ideas explored on their exchange, and implement projects that are meaningful and goal oriented.

Alumni Snapshot

• IVLP alumnus Gyorgy Makula, founded a Police Officers' Association for police from the Roma ethnic minority in Hungary. He brought the idea back with him from the U.S. where he was inspired by the leaders of police associations.


• Nataliya Shturkhetska (FLEX '03) founded the new Sviatoshynska YMCA in Kiev, Ukraine. Ms. Shturkhetska credits her FLEX experience with instilling in her the value of community service.


• Mr. Bart Katureebe, a leading Ugandan lawyer was recently appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Uganda. Mr. Katureebe participated in an IVLP program on "The U.S. Judicial System and Role of Congress" in 1999.


• U.S. Fulbright alumnus David Shield, coordinated the Second National Conference on Drug Policy in Argentina, with help from the Intercambios Civil Association. More than 350 people attended, among them: legislators, judges, health professionals, and former drug abusers.


• Citizen Exchange alumnus Prakash Mani Sharma argued and won a landmark verdict in the Nepali courts that ruled children who do not have documented parents can acquire Nepali citizenship, a hugely important issue for the children of single parents throughout South Asia.


• Belizean Fulbright alumnus Frantz Smith, won the prestigious 2005 UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Young Scientist Award.

Making An Impact Upon Returning Home

ECA exchange program alumni are working all over the world to improve the state of our planet and all human societies. Many have become major leaders:

• 37 alumni of ECA programs have gone on to win Nobel prizes.


• Over 200 alumni of ECA programs are currently, or were formerly, Heads of Government or Chiefs-of-State, as well as over 1,500 Members of Parliament.


• Tony Blair, Hamid Karzai, Mohamed Yunus, Ruth Simmons, Javier Solano, John Updike, Rita Dove, Werner Herzog, and Giscard d'Estaing are all ECA alumni.

Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize-winning founder of Grameen Bank, Fulbright Student in the United States, 1965-66.		Renée Fleming, World-renowned Opera Singer, Fulbright Student in Germany, 1984.		Tony Blair, British Prime Minister 1997-Present, International Visitor 1986 and 1992.		Yo-Yo Ma, World-renowned cellist, CultureConnect Ambassador.

ECA is supporting alumni with funds that enhance alumni initiatives including:

• Consultancy services to local governments and NGOs.
• Programs in English and civic education for low-income children.
• Training for journalists.
• Business training for women.
• Multi-lateral policy dialogues.
• Leadership training programs.
• Recruitment of new exchange participants.
• Mentoring programs for recently returned exchange participants.
• Teacher-training seminars.
• Organization of citizen advocacy groups.
• Public lectures on key issues.
• Drug prevention campaigns.

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