Our "Photo of the Week" captures a moment during Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to the University of Virginia (UVA), which was founded in 1819 by our first Secretary of State -- Thomas Jefferson. The photograph shows Secretary Kerry speaking with students at the university.
As a graduate of UVA and a Foreign Service Officer with the State Department, I have a special place in my heart for our first Secretary of State and the founder of the University of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Jefferson (as he is known at UVA) was one of this country's first public servants, and his legacy of service -- both at home and abroad -- lives on, both at State and the university.
As I walked into the university's Old Cabell Hall, I was reminded of a long-forgotten memory. My last experience in that room had involved anxiously filling a blue book -- or three -- with… more »
Over the last several years, the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has developed numerous exchanges to empower women and girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Tech Age Girls (TAG) is one such program, leveraging communications technology to connect young women in Philippines and Vietnam with learning resources and mentors. In December 2012, ECA worked together with our grantee partner, IREX, to take this exchange to the next level with in-person TAG conferences… more »
Yesterday, Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to students at the University of Virginia, where he said that for the first time in human history, young people around the world act as a global cohort. He challenged his audience to help them, and us, to use this remarkable network in a positive way. I could not agree more with the urgency of his challenge, which is why Embassies Wellington and Apia have focused so much of our resources over the past few years on taking steps to engage, listen to, and empower the young people of the Pacific.
Last week, I had the pleasure of hosting the inaugural Future Leaders of the Pacific conference (#FPL13) in Pago Pago, American Samoa. We at the American Mission to New Zealand and Samoa planned the event, in partnership with the East-West Center… more »
For centuries, great writers have opened windows into other worlds, and allowed countries -- often for the very first time -- a glimpse into a different culture and a different way of living. Through their work, writers connect cultures on a people-to-people level. The art of creative writing is fundamental to freedom of expression and a reason why the U.S. Department of State has sponsors exchange programs like the International Writing Program.
This past month, the State Department sent four of the best American writers and poets on our first International Writing Program delegation to Burma. The group included former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass, writers Brenda Hillman and ZZ Packer, and Christopher Merrill, director of the… more »
February 6 marks the 27th National Day of Women and Girls in Sports.
Today in Esteli, Nicaragua, girls from under-served areas are on the softball diamond, fielding grounders, running out base hits, and learning how sports can improve their health and their performance in the classroom.
In Donetsk, Ukraine, girls were on the basketball court, looking for the outlet pass, grabbing rebounds, and working as a team.
Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Winter Academy Gala Concert of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM). Students ranging in age from 10 to 20 played Chopin and Ravel, as well as Afghan traditional songs and collaborative fusion pieces.
In a historic tour that began February 3, 2013, ANIM students are traveling in the United States to perform at venues ranging from the world-famous Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center to the headquarters of the World Bank and Fordham High School for the Arts. Even more… more »
They came off the bus in front of the Verizon Center in their white SportsUnited T-shirts. They were 12 Burmese basketball players -- six girls, six boys and two coaches -- participating in a sports exchange program that started last summer in Rangoon. Their excitement grew as they sat courtside to watch a real professional basketball game -- and see the pro's warming up beforehand. It grew even more when Washington Wizards Bradley Beal and Kevin Seraphin came over to greet them and pose for photographs.
Then they experienced the unique American pastime of a classic NBA basketball game -- complete with cheerleaders, acrobats, chants, crowd applause, and… more »
Americans of all ages, backgrounds, and interests come to Zimbabwe. They come to see the rhinos, elephants, and Victoria Falls; they come as part of church mission groups to build health clinics and schools; and they come to share their expertise and learn from Zimbabweans at all levels. Many American visitors end up doing a lot more than what they planned, motivated by the strong American sense of taking action when faced with a needy situation, as well as a personal desire to change situations for the better. At the U.S. Embassy in Harare, we often hear about these proactive, engaged Americans and are proud that they accomplish so much on their own. When possible, we support them with advice, publicity, and small grants.
"I wanted to make a happy memory," explains Dennis Gaboury, the founder… more »
Have you participated in a State Department-sponsored exchange program? Stay connected. Do you teach English abroad? We have free resources to help. Do you want to engage in citizen diplomacy? One of these new websites holds the information you need to get you started.
After extensive research and planning, five of ECA's websites have been given a sleek redesign in order to better serve our audiences. The launch includes five distinct new websites, each uniquely designed to provide people around the globe with the information they need to engage in citizen diplomacy and English teaching/learning activities. The redesigned sites allow Americans and foreign audiences to easily discover how they can be a part of the Department's academic, cultural, sports, youth, professional, or private sector exchanges.
International Exchange Alumni, American English, Exchanges,… more »
Position that women accept for themselves in a society is iunfluenced by culture and values as they have evolved. Violence against women is an acute problem…
more »
Spokesperson Nuland (Feb. 23): "These attacks ... are only the latest demonstrations of the Syrian regime's ruthlessness and its lack of compassion for the Syrian people it claims to represent." more »
Secretary Kerry (Feb. 22): "We meet as very special friends in a very strong alliance, an alliance that I can say to you is really evolving into a global partnership and which is critical to the peace and security of the Asia Pacific." President's Re more »
![U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets with students at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, February 20, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130224222020im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0223_kerry_uva_m.jpg)
![Tech Age Girls work together to develop community project plans in Hanoi, Vietnam, January 17, 2013. [IREX/ GCEVietnam Photo]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130224222020im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0223_tech_girls_m.jpg)
![Future Leaders of the Pacific Conference participants pose for a photograph at the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samao in Pago Pago, Eastern, American Samoa, February 7, 2013. [U.S. Department of State photo/Public Domain]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130224222020im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0221_Pacific_Youth_m.jpg)
![Former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass speaks with university students in Rangoon, Burma, January 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130224222020im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0211_burma_writers_m.jpg)
![Jessica Mendoza, U.S. Olympian and member of the State Department Council to Empower Women and Girls, leads clinics in Nicaragua as part of the State Department's global efforts to empower women and girls through sports, February 4, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130224222020im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0205_women_sports_m.jpg)
![Musicians with the Afghanistan National Institute of Music perform during the organization's winter gala in Kabul, Afghanistan, February 1, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130224222020im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0205_anim_concert_m.jpg)
![Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs Tara D. Sonenshine and Ambassador Than Swe pose for a photograph with Burmese youth participating in a SportsUnited exchange program at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., January 8, 2013. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130224222020im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0124_sonenshine_burma_basketball_m.jpg)
![Ambassador Bruce Wharton shares a laugh with Zimkids Director Tinashe Basa in Zimbabwe, December 11, 2012. [U.S. Embassy photo/ Public Domain]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130224222020im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2013_0119_wharton_zimkids_m.jpg)
![U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton poses for a photo with a member of the Tomodachi program youth in Tokyo, Japan, on July 8, 2012. [State Department photo by William Ng/ Public Domain]](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130224222020im_/http://blogs.state.gov/images/Dipnote/behind_the_scenes/2012_0713_clinton_tomodachi_m.jpg)
