Washington, DC
January 27, 2014
Six exchange alumni who have made significant impacts in their home countries will travel to the United States beginning January 27 to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) Gold Stars initiative.
Gold Star participants have made important contributions in their home countries as a direct result of ideas that originated during – or were inspired by – their first IVLP exchange program. Through short-term visits to the United States, IVLP allows current and emerging foreign leaders in a variety of fields to experience the United States firsthand and cultivate lasting relationships with their American counterparts. The Gold Star initiative brings these participants back to share their successes, re-connect with Americans who inspired them, and network as a means to start new initiatives in their home countries.
This year’s Gold Star participants come from Latvia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, and Vietnam. More information on the participants can be found on the Gold Stars Tumblr blog.
The Gold Star participants begin in Washington, D.C., where they will attend the annual Global Ties U.S. National Meeting from January 29-February 1. Global Ties coordinates the meeting for the more than 90 organizations in 45 states that arrange IVLP projects in collaboration with the Department of State. The Gold Star participants then individually visit several cities in the United States, including the city that inspired them to make a difference in their home countries, before coming together in Philadelphia to discuss new ideas and ways to collaborate. Gold Star alumni are encouraged to continue to share their experience once they return home.
Meet 2014 IVLP Gold Star, Chinyelu Okafor!
Chinyelu “Chichi” Okafor participated in the “2009 Women and Entrepreneurship” IVLP and returned to Nigeria inspired to make a difference in her community. Impressed by the influence that IGNITE (Inspiring Girls Now in Technology Evolution) had on teenage girls in the United States to pursue careers in science and technology, Okafor launched an IGNITE program in Lagos in 2010 which has impacted more than 200 girls in 20 schools. She has plans to expand the program throughout Nigeria and is particularly interested in outreach to Muslim youth. Okafor is a leading Nigerian businesswoman who is serious about her role as a mentor to other women in the business community. Her pursuits include working on training sessions to encourage female entrepreneurs, coordinating events which are designed to ensure that women have a voice in the business community, serving as the co-chair of the Nigerian Chapter of Women Corporate Directors, and playing an active role in the Nigerian Association for IVLP Alumni. Okafor embodies the spirit of female professional leadership to which many aspire. She is a dynamic public speaker and is able to effectively combine her passion for business and technology.
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