In honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps, emerging leaders from 50 different countries were nominated to take part in a special initiative of the International Visitor Leadership Program called "The Spirit of Volunteerism." Participants began their three-week journey in Washington, D.C. where they participated in Peace Corps 50th Anniversary events such as the Procession of Flags from Arlington National Cemetery to the Lincoln Memorial.

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program.  Launched in 1940, the IVLP is a professional exchange program that seeks to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations through carefully designed short-term visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders.  These visits reflect the International Visitors’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States.

Who are International Visitors?
International Visitors are current or emerging leaders in government, politics, the media, education, the arts, business and other key fields. Over 4,000 International Visitors come to the United States from all over the world each year. Since its inception in 1940, thousands of distinguished individuals have participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program, including more than 326 current and former Chiefs of State and Heads of Government, thousands of cabinet-level ministers, and many other distinguished leaders from the public and private sectors.

Learn more at

http://exchanges.state.gov/ivlp/ivlp.html

http://connect.state.gov/