The World Affairs Council of New Hampshire is one of more than 90 community organizations around the country that host visitors through the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs International Visitors Leadership Program- the department's premier professional exchange program.

This program brings approximately 4,000 foreign leaders and specialists to the United States for short-term (approximately three week) professional programs. Participants in the national program, who are leaders and decision-makers in their home countries; travel as individuals or as part of pre-arranged groups.

Some of the groups are fully funded by the U.S. Congress through its appropriation to the U.S. Department of State, while others receive little or no financial support from U.S. government. The national program constitutes a major component of this country's public diplomacy efforts to foster mutual understanding and cooperation between the United States and other countries.

Through a long-standing public-private sector partnership, the U.S. Government works with national private, nonprofit organizations and a network of volunteer-based organizations that are members of the National Council for International Visitors, a nonprofit organization established in 1961. Together, these organizations design and implement quality, experiential programs for distinguished International Visitors. Through its grassroots network, the National program involves over 80,000 volunteers each year as citizen diplomats who develop enduring international linkages.

Although the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire has long run a volunteer-based international visitors program, it added staff to expand the program in 2009.

ALUMNI Almost 300 IVLP alumni are current or former Heads of Government or Chiefs of State around the world, including: ~ President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan ('87) ~ President Alvaro Uribe Velez of Colombia ('98) ~ President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya ('99) ~ Turkish President Abdullah Gul ('95) ~ Former Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand ('98) ~ President Nicolas Sarkozy of France ('85) ~ Prime Minister Gordon Brown of The United Kingdom ('84/'92)

FY 2012 WACNH Programs:

    *  Women's Leadership and Political Participation (Caribbean)

    *  Higher Education in the US (Sri Lanka)

    *  Pro Bono Legal Services in the U.S. (Ukraine)

    *  Women's Political, Economic, and Social Empowerment (Afghanistan)

    *  Financial Issues (China)

    *  US Political Process and Minority Rights (Belgium)

    *  Women In Public Service (Multi-Regional)

    *  Youth Leadership in America (Tajikistan)

    *  Promoting and Supporting Volunteerism in a Democracy (Ukraine)

    * US Political System: A Background for Journalists (Multi-Regional)

    *  Election Campaign Management (Armenia)

    *  Media Literacy: Promoting Civil Society Through New Media Technology (Kyrgyz Republic)

FY 2011 WACNH Programs:

    * Federal, State, and Local Government (Middle East)

    * Sustainable Urban Development (Multi-Regional)

    * American Youth: Inspiring Civic Participation (Multi-Regional)

    * Grass Roots Civic Engagement (Iraq)

    * Local Government: Serving Citizen and Planning for Community Needs (Afghanistan)

    * Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (Pakistan)

    *  Best Practices in NGO Management (Middle-East)

    *  Intellectual Property Rights (Chile)

    *  Good Governance (Kosovo)

    *  Role of a State Legislature (Open World Program from Russia)

    *  The 100 Women Project: Women as Political Leaders (Middle-East)

    *  Young Leaders:  The US Political Process (Iraq)

    *  Role of a State Legislature (Open World Program from Moldova)

    *  Local Government Management (Estonia)

    *  Transparency in Government (Middle East)

    *  American Youth: Inspiring Leadership and Civic Participation (Kazakhstan)

    *  Decentralization in the U.S. (Kosovo)

    *  Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Japan)

    *  Juvenile Justice Systems (Iraq)

    *  New Media and Political Parties (Georgia)

    *  Buget Issues (Indonesia)

    *  Arts Management (Colombia)

    *  Combating Corruption (Indonesia)

    *  Voluntourism (Egypt)

    *  Legislative Leadership for Educational Transformation (South Africa)

    *  Exploring the History and Future of Women's Rights (Middle East)

    *  Young Political Leaders: Current US Social, Political, and Economic Issues (Lebanon)

    *  NGO Advocacy and Development (Kyrgyz Republic)

    *  US Budget Process (United Kingdom)

    *  The Role of NGO's in Promoting Global Women's Rights (Multi-Regional)

    *  Higher Education Administration (Nicaragua)

    *  US Policy Making Process (Italy)

    *  Youth Leadership (Sri Lanka)

    *  Empowering Women Through Social, Political, and Economic Engagement (Poland)

    *  Transparency in Government (Tunisia)

    *  Current US Political Trends (Germany)

    *  NGO Management (Georgia)