Compiled by Kathryn Lakin, Communications Intern
International exchange opens doors for many young people, broadening their perspectives and building the networks these future leaders will need to make a difference. Three Global Ties Network members discuss local initiatives to empower emerging leaders to work toward a more peaceful and connected world. From agricultural programming for Japanese youth in Indiana to internships in South Carolina for British teens, as well as domestic initiatives to promote youth social activism in Oregon, learn how young leaders engaged with topics vital to the future. All photos provided by their respective authors.
The International Center
IVLP: Expanding Participation of Underrepresented Groups in Japan’s Agricultural Sector
NPA: Meridian International Center
By Neelam Patel, International Visitor Programs Manager
From June 13-18, The International Center hosted five Japanese guests in Indianapolis for an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on “Expanding Participation of Underrepresented Groups in Japan’s Agricultural Sector.” This initiative, in partnership with Meridian International Center, emphasized the importance of diversifying participation in agriculture. Participants gained valuable insights from educational institutions and initiatives on empowering underrepresented groups, particularly women and youth.
IVLP participants at The International Center.
Visitors met with Women4theLand, which empowers women in agriculture through workshops and educational resources. The delegation also engaged with Susan Brocksmith at Vincennes University, where Susan shared her expertise and vision for Vincennes University’s agricultural initiatives, emphasizing the critical role of women and youth in agriculture.
The tour of the Indiana Agriculture & Technology School in Trafalgar was a key part of the program. This state-of-the-art educational institution integrates traditional agricultural practices with modern technological advancements. Here, students receive hands-on training in agriculture, agribusiness, and technology, preparing them for careers in the evolving agricultural landscape.
International Visitors see goats on an Indiana farm.
At Purdue University, a global leader in agricultural science and business, the delegation met with representatives from Indiana 4-H. Together, they explored youth development programs designed to cultivate leadership skills through community engagement, afterschool activities, and immersive workshops.
Visitors also attended the Indiana Future Farmers of America (FFA) State Convention. This event provided a firsthand glimpse into the vibrancy of agricultural education and leadership development among Indiana’s youth. The delegation watched students compete in tasks from fixing tractor wiring to demonstrating expertise in animal science and food technology. Visitors also engaged with current state and national FFA officers, some of whom come from family farming backgrounds and aspire to pursue careers in agribusiness. These interactions demonstrated how educational initiatives impart practical skills and nurture a passion for agriculture and leadership among young adults.
The delegation had the opportunity to observe a student from the Indiana Agriculture & Technology School compete in the tractor wiring competition. Through hands-on learning, he had acquired the expertise needed to diagnose and repair the intricate wiring systems of agricultural machinery—a crucial skill for the efficient operation of farms and agricultural enterprises. His performance was a testament to the potential of institutions like the Indiana Agriculture & Technology School. The delegation’s experience at the Indiana FFA State Convention emphasized the importance of providing students with opportunities to apply their classroom knowledge in real-world settings, bridging the gap between theory and practice.
Columbia Council for Internationals
Program: Turing Scheme – a UK government Initiative
By Sewell Gelberd, Program Director for International Visitors
The Columbia Council for Internationals (CCFI) hosted a group of eight students, aged 19-23, and two chaperones from London, United Kingdom. They arrived in Columbia, South Carolina, on Monday, June 3, for a two-week long work internship. These students are members of 20/20 Levels, a London-based charitable organization that empowers underrepresented young Black people through global opportunities. In collaboration with 20/20 Levels, CCFI coordinated the internships and oversaw day-to-day programming to ensure the exchange was a success.
As with all our international delegations, CCFI strives to show off the best Columbia has to offer, from its talented people to its cultural landscape. Columbia is a hub of business, politics, and culture, and this exchange was a chance to engage visitors directly with the numerous, wonderful resources in the community. CCFI hopes the internships provided experience needed for students to build skills and succeed academically and professionally, and introduced these students to Columbia’s diversity and inclusivity. CCFI is thrilled to host these future UK leaders.
Students from the 20/20 Levels program pose outside a teen center.
This project was funded by the Turing Scheme, a UK government initiative that promotes equal access to study and work abroad opportunities for students and learners. The participants greatly enjoyed the internships and found the visit transformative. One highlight was the group’s visit to a local homeless center, where visitors listened to a talk by a formerly homeless man. Visitors also enjoyed sharing dinners with U.S. families and meeting young people in the United States their own age.
The visitors were all intrigued by the willingness to discuss racial problems in the United States openly, and the exchange has inspired many of the young adults, who wish to extend their internships in Columbia.
WorldOregon
Program: Young Leaders in Action
By Deb Delman, Youth Leadership Manager at WorldOregon, and Kathryn Lakin, Communications Intern at Global Ties U.S.
Each year, students from WorldOregon’s Young Leaders in Action (YLA) program create an Action Project about social justice issues. The 2023-2024 cohort created The Leaders of Now, a short film and activity highlighting young activists who have been at the forefront of social change in Oregon and across the world.
Members of the 2023-2024 YLA cohort.
“The content of the film was born out of something I do with students every year. I say, make a list of 10 leaders. The majority of our YLA students (83%) write adults, people that they think of as older,” said program manager, Deb Delman. “The students want to make this for youth to inspire them to realize that they are leading now. They say youth are the leaders of the future. Really, they’re leading now.”
Students created the short film with assistance from a local production company, and the project also included an accompanying curriculum to educate others on the lives and legacies of youth activists.
Read more about the project HERE.