Manel Bargaoui (Legacy International Professional Fellows Program Spring 2017) is an author, teacher, mobile app manager, and pioneer advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing in Tunisia.

Through the TechGirls experience, I was able to expand my knowledge of fields like cybersecurity and Java game development. Outside of the classroom, TechGirls opened my eyes to STEM education in other countries. Through talking and connecting with girls from countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia, I was able to learn about the types of STEM activities and extracurriculars offered in their communities.

Kelsie (Hanlontown, Iowa) attended Global Youth Village this past summer, and was one of six students selected to be part of the Youth Leadership Program — Turkey & USA. This U.S. Department of State initiative links young farmers who are opening the eyes of their peers to food production and careers in agriculture.

The Professional Fellows Program (PFP) for Economic Empowerment, Middle East and North Africa is a two-way exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and designed to promote mutual understanding, enhance leadership and professional skills, and build lasting, sustainable partnerships between mid-level emerging leaders committed to strengthening their communities through social entrepreneurship and workforce development.

Legacy International is very pleased to welcome the Fall 2019 PFP cohort! The Professional Fellows Program (PFP) for Economic Empowerment, Middle East and North Africa is a two-way exchange program for professionals ranging from 25 to 38 years of age and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

From 1985 to 1989, Legacy International offered a series of presentations and discussions on interfaith understanding, regional conflicts, and environmentally sustainable development known as the Global Viewpoints Forum.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development defines economic empowerment as the capacity of women and men to participate in, contribute to and benefit from growth processes in ways that recognize the value of their contributions, respect their dignity, and make it possible to negotiate a fairer distribution of the benefits of growth.

Groups like the National Endowment for the Arts have conducted surveys and studies over multiple decades that have found a decline in arts program funding, and even arts programs’ existence in general, in schools and publicly funded organizations all over the U.S.

Today, Legacy is recognizing Social Cohesion Program alumnus Steven Sutherland and his positive impact in the global blind and partially sighted community.

I am a Youth in Development Peace Corps volunteer and I live in a small city in the south of Morocco. My experience in the Peace Corps has been rewarding and I definitely want to thank Legacy International for helping to get me here.

Celebrated on March 8, 2019, International Women’s Day gives Legacy International the opportunity to share the wonderful work our alumni are doing all over the world. Today, in light of the award she is receiving, we are celebrating Legacy alumna Gharsanay IbnulAmeen.

ero Discrimination Day is observed to promote equality before the law and in practice of the law – throughout all the member countries of the United Nations. Launched by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, the first celebration of Zero Discrimination Day happened on March 1, 2014.

Though the road to ending the issues facing a number of underrepresented social groups is a continuous and never-ending one, leaders like Thinzar and Kaufman have proven to us that it is very possible to make a difference in our communities, and even at a young age.

Having observed Bobby’s in two trainings, I asked him:  How does 22 years in prison affect your personality, your decisions, your values?

Reflections from two U.S. Cultural Ambassadors during the Saudi Young Leaders Exchange Program 2018.

The latest blog post from Legacy’s education consultant and Advisory Board member on her blog: Education, From Inside and Outside.

Life brings great joys and challenges. Do you remember a similar incident?

When you think about challenges facing the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region, young people may not be at the top of your list.

“My interaction with Zeinab was extraordinary. She became a full member of our team within one day of coming on board, and then went on to challenge and even lead us in a wide range of ways throughout her time with us.  There was a real spark of mutual inspiration and learning” 

Last year I was lucky enough to be selected to take part in a Social Cohesion Exchange programme between the UK and United States. The programme enabled me to learn from US community organisers and practitioners to develop a own social action project once I returned to the UK.

October 11 is recognized by the United Nations as International Day of the Girl.

The theme for 2018 is With Her: A Skilled GirlForce.