Female Guyanese participates in International Visitor Leadership Program on women’s issues

Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 April 2015, 18:56 by GxMedia

GEORGETOWN – A senior representative from a Corentyne-based non-governmental organisation that seeks to empower girls has returned from the United States (US) with additional skills and expertise gained from an American Embassy-sponsored International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) exchange.

The embassy said its Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt met with Miriam Jainarine upon her return from the IVLP exchange.  Ms. Jainarine, Project Coordinator of Mibicuri Community Developers – Black Bush Polder, participated in an IVLP exchange on “Capacity Building to Empower Girls,” from March 2 – 20, 2015.  She shared her IVLP experience with the Chargé d’Affaires and U.S. Embassy representatives. 

One of the main objectives of the program sought to emphasize the importance of girls’ and women’s leadership, civic participation and volunteerism as components of civic life in the United States and around the world. During the program, Ms. Jainarine and her counterparts from twelve countries visited several cities, including Washington, D.C.; Seattle, Washington; Denver, Colorado; and New York, New York. These visits provided varied insights and understanding of cultivating leadership in young women and encourage them to take action to improve communities. Through in-depth discussions, meetings, and site visits, the IVLP participants had an opportunity to explore creative partnerships between non-governmental organizations, community groups, public and private schools and government agencies that address issues of concern to girls and women.

The empowerment of women and girls is not only important for an equitable society, it is essential to building stronger economies, achieving internationally recognized development goals, and improving the quality of life of women, men, families, and communities.  Advancing the full participation of women and girls in the political, economic, and social realms of their countries remains a key goal of U.S. foreign policy. 

Chargé d’Affaires Bryan Hunt reaffirmed the U.S. Government’s commitment to work with and strengthen the role of civil society organizations which supports the development of women and girls.  He encouraged Ms. Jainarine to build on the many professional linkages made with U.S. institutions and other IVLP participants from countries across the globe to strengthen her work and that of her organization for the benefit of Guyanese people.  Mr. Hunt commended Mibicuri Community Developers for their contribution to enable women to empower themselves through access to social and economic resources. 

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. The program brings together emerging leaders in their respective professions to learn how U.S. experts in their professions operate, and to share best practices with the other program fellows who hail from across the globe.