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June 11, 2009
For Immediate Release
For an Interview:
Maryna Storrs
(801) 863-8897
Five government leaders from Kyrgyzstan participating in the Open World Program will spend June 12-20 in Utah examining legal education, social issues and library management systems. Utah Valley University’s Office of International Affairs & Diplomacy is hosting the delegation for Open World. Managed by the independent Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress, Open World enables emerging Eurasian political and civic leaders to work with their U.S. counterparts and experience American-style democracy at the local level.
While in Utah, the delegates will tour several libraries including UVU’s impressive brand-new $50 million facility; examine activities of social services organizations such as United Way; discuss copyright law with the U.S. Attorney for Utah Brett Tolman; learn how to prevent juvenile crime; visit the Legislature and participate in other professional activities. Delegates will also meet with the local, state and federal government officials, including Senator Bennett and Congressman Chaffetz, and get acquainted with some of the State’s attractions. In addition, homestays with local residents will allow the delegates to experience Utah family life. This will be the third group of Open World delegations UVU has hosted this year.
"Continuous visits of these delegations signify that we, as local hosts, are doing something right," said UVU international affairs program coordinator Maryna Storrs. "Delegates benefit from the professional program and build lasting relationships with their host families. Our office welcomes the opportunity to facilitate learning and networking activities for these foreign delegations."
The Open World Leadership Center has awarded a grant to Utah Valley University’s Office of International Affairs & Diplomacy to administer this and other similar exchanges in 2009.
The Open World Program is a unique, nonpartisan initiative of the U.S. Congress designed to build mutual understanding between the United States and Eurasia. More than 12,000 Open World participants have been hosted in all 50 U.S. states since the program’s inception in 1999. Delegates range from members of parliament to mayors, from innovative nonprofit directors to experienced journalists, and from political party activists to regional administrators. For more information on Open World, please visit http://www.openworld.gov.
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University Marketing Contact:
Erin Spurgeon
(801) 863-6807