| Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC July 10, 2002 British and American Youth to Shadow Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and UK Foreign Secretary Jack StrawTwo British young people, Mei Lai Lu and Tom Minor, will shadow U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell for a full day on Thursday, July 11. American young people, Stephanie Abrego and Shaun Oldaker, are shadowing British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jack Straw on July 9-10. This unusual opportunity was arranged as the result of an agreement made between Secretary Powell and former UK Foreign Secretary Robin Cook on the occasion of their first bilateral meeting in February 2001, in Washington, DC. The International Visitors Program, part of the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is coordinating a one-week visit for the British youths in the U.S. around the "shadow" day. The youth development organization "America's Promise – The Alliance for Youth," of which Secretary Powell was the founding chairman, is coordinating the voyage of the two American youths to the UK and assisting with the program for the British youths in the U.S. Mei Lai Lu, an 18-year-old from Surrey, plans to pursue a university degree in Primary School Teaching with Art. She has been a classroom assistant once a week at a local primary school and is on the Editorial Board of a magazine for young people in foster care. Tom Minor, also 18 years old and also from Surrey, has been Head Boy at his school. He is among the top trampoline athletes in the UK. Both youths have overcome family difficulties and other hardships to make great achievements, and also to contribute to their communities. Ms. Lu and Mr. Minor will begin their "shadow" day with a private meeting with Secretary Powell and will then observe several activities that are part of his schedule that day. For example, they will observe the Secretary being interviewed for a PBS/BBC documentary, interacting with two Foreign Ministers, and appearing before the House Select Committee on Homeland Security on Capitol Hill. Ms. Lu and Mr. Minor also will meet representatives of the European Bureau at the State Department. The International Visitors program for Ms. Lu and Mr. Minor includes three days in Washington, DC, prior to the "shadow" day, as well as three days in New York City afterwards. Through site visits, meetings, tours, and cultural events, the young people will learn about American government, history, and society. |
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