| Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC April 19, 2002 Russian Health Professionals Learning in Worcester: "Community Connections" At WorkTen public health professionals from Omsk, Russia, arrived in Worcester, Massachusetts, on March 28 to spend three and a half weeks working in the area and living with local American families. The Russians are participants in the Community Connections program of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which provides three-to-five week home stay-based practical training opportunities in the United States for entrepreneurs, local government officials, non-governmental organization leaders, and other professionals from ten countries of the former Soviet Union. "The Community Connections program introduces participants to the daily functioning of free-market systems and is an important long-term service to international stability," said Patricia S. Harrison, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. The 2002-2003 program, which is hosting more than 1500 participants, is working directly with the emerging professional sectors of several nations that are part of the US coalition against terrorism." More than 10,000 from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan have participated since the program began in 1994. U.S. community host organizations arrange internships for the participants — based on interests and experience — at companies ranging from small, family-run enterprises to major, multi-national "Fortune 500" corporations. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs awarded a grant to the International Center of Worcester to host the Russian group in April. Grants are awarded to community-based, non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations and cover administrative expenses such as participant airfare, local transportation, and modest per diem during the participants’ program in the United States. Nearly all of the funds awarded to local host organizations are spent in the local community. The FREEDOM [Freedom for Russian and Eurasian Emerging Democracies and Open Markets] Support Act of 1992 provides funding for Community Connections. Program participants are recruited by U.S. non-profit organizations within the Eurasian countries, through an open merit-based competition. Candidates must compete in a three-stage selection process, including completion of an application, interviews, and selection by the local U.S. host community. For more information, visit the Community Connections Web page at http://exchanges.state.gov/education/citizens/comcon. Contacts: Royce Anderson, International Center of Worcester, tel. 508-793-7626 Nicole Deaner, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, tel. 202-203-7613 or email ndeaner@pd.state.gov |
 | |||
|
