Provided by the Council of International Programs
A five-member delegation, participating in a Library of Congress program visited Oak Park as part of its 10-day US program. CIP, The Council of International Programs, Chicago administered the program locally in Illinois.
Five Buryatian leaders spent Nov. 4-11 in Illinois examining ways to promote youth leadership, including political leadership in their country. The program was made possible by the independent Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress. Open World is designed to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and the countries of Eurasia and the Baltic States.
The day in Oak Park on Nov. 9 started with a welcome by the Village Manager, Tom Barwin, who gave a brief overview of the village, the system of local government, elections as well as various departments and services of the Village. Discussions with the Police Chief, Deputy Chief, and the Public Relations Manager enabled the visiting delegates get a taste of what it means for a local government office to address every issue of quality of life of the community. Commenting on the program, the Village Manager, Tom Barwin said, “I believe exchanges and learning from each other represent the best chance for long term peace and sustainability.”
The challenges faced in providing services in the areas of housing, drug and alcohol were of mutual concern for the hosts and the guests. Later, John Williams, Director, Oak Park Township Youth Services joined the group for a discussion focusing on youth. Before heading to the West Cook YMCA, where they met with President and CEO Jan Pate and staff, the delegates stopped at the Kyber Pass to taste another cross-cultural experience!
“Cross-cultural experience is an important part of the Open World program,” pointed out Dr. George Palamattam, the Executive Director of CIP. “Host family stay is one of the main ways that make cross-cultural exchange possible,” he added. Carol and Phil Pittman hosted two of the delegates in their Oak Park home. The other four stayed with host families in Skokie and Lake Forest.
There are about 15 families in the Oak Park, River Forest area that host CIP participants. A few also serve on different CIP committees. Each year CIP brings over 50 international professionals from different countries to Illinois, who stay with host families for one – four weeks. Dr. Palamattam said CIP would welcome local community members to get involved in the mission of CIP, promoting world peace through international training and cross cultural exchange – bringing the world closer one handshake at a time.
The U.S. Congress established Open World in 1999 to enhance understanding and capabilities for cooperation between the United States and Russia. In 2003, Congress made all post-Soviet states eligible for the program.
The five participants of the program were: Ms. Natalya Bazarova, Leading Specialist, Buryatia Republic Youth Center; Ms. Eleonora Lamkhanova, Department Head, Khorinsk Provincial District Administration; Ms. Olga Kolmakova, Leading Specialist in Youth Policy, Physical Fitness and Sports of Muyskia Provincial District Administration; Mr. Nikolay Namsarayev, Assistant to the Government Head for Information, Selenginskiy Provincial District Council and Ms. Oyuna Sengeyeva, psychologist. Ms. Tatiana Iretskaya from St. Petersburg accompanied the delegates to facilitate the program.
In partnership with the Center for Discovery Learning, CIP also organizes overseas cultural and study visits. For more information on the delegation visit from the Republic of Buryatia or the services of CIP, contact Dr. George Palamattam, Executive Director of CIP Chicago at 630-359-3393, 312-545-6882 or gp@cipchicago.org.