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The Picture of a Global Community

Two Inspiring IVLP Alumni from Yemen and Malaysia Speak at Saturday Luncheon

by Adam Kaplan, NCIV Staff

Two accomplished women were honored at this year’s IVLP Alumni Luncheon in recognition of their outstanding professional and humanitarian work and their continued commitment to citizen diplomacy and cross-cultural communication. Both humble and well-spoken, Nadwa Al-Dawsari and Dr. Jemilah Mahmood spoke to a packed Grand Ballroom about an array of life experiences, including lessons learned from participating in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).

Jennifer Strauss Gurss, Director, International Exchange Programs, Phelps Stokes Fund, took the stage to introduce Ms. Al-Dawsari. After a delightful introduction, the former IVLP participant was called to speak. For Ms. Al-Dawsari, Senior Program Manager, Yemen Conflict Management Program, National Democratic Institute, the IVLP was “one of my greatest experiences in life.” Ms. Al-Dawsari credited her 2004 IVLP program, which focused on citizen participation in a democracy, as a key source of guidance for her work involving election monitoring in Yemen and training with tribal leaders.

Though the IVLP had a profound impact on Ms. Al-Dawsari on a professional level, she made clear that her experience in the United States allowed her to grow on a personal level as well. Ms. Al-Dawsari’s trip changed her perception of America as a “huge, mysterious and maybe unsafe place” to “the only country I visited where I see warm smiles everywhere I go.” It also gave her the opportunity to show that “Muslim women wearing headscarves can be smart, hardworking, independent and outgoing” and that “wearing headscarves does not by any means mean ‘oppression’ and ‘violence against women.’” In this respect Ms. Al-Dawari has achieved much, and her accomplishments since her IVLP program, including her role as a project manager at the Fourth World Conference on Women and completion of a Hubert H. Humphrey fellowship, have illustrated her continued success.

While Ms. Al-Dawsari was quick to acknowledge the American host families and friends who helped her learn more about American culture, people, and political life as well as develop “an addiction to Minot, (North Dakota)” her comment that “the world is much better if you connect with others, accept and value them no matter what their background is” shows why she is a model for citizen diplomats everywhere. As such, it was not surprising that she concluded her speech by encouraging Americans to take advantage opportunities to experience the world as she had, and “complete the picture of the global community that this great program is creating.”

Next, Annette Alvarez, Executive Director, Miami Council for International Visitors, introduced Dr. Jemilah Mahmood. As a Muslim woman, Dr. Mahmood related that she was somewhat nervous when she first received the invitation to participate on the IVLP. But as would be expected of a woman who both founded a disaster relief organization, MERCY Malaysia, and is a fellow in the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Dr. Mahmood overcame the initial reluctance and took on the challenge. The trip ended up being an experience of, in the words of Dr. Mahmood, “three weeks of warm hospitality and selflessness.”

Dr. Mahmood was invited to the program following MERCY Malaysia’s tireless work aiding communities affected by the tragic tsunami of 2004. She turned out to be the ideal participant, embracing the program and going on to use what she learned for the benefit of others. She helped establish incident command systems and disaster preparedness programs based on those she studied here in the United States, along with partnership programs with other organizations. Since her experience with the IVLP, Dr. Mahmood has also been named to the Advisory Board of the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund and MERCY Malaysia has gained Consultative Status to the United Nations Economic & Social Council and was acknowledged for its accountability and transparency.

Dr. Mahmood offered high praise for the network, noting that “I can honestly say that the NCIV has among the most sincere and enthusiastic bunch of volunteers that I’ve met in my life.” Near the end of her remarks Dr. Mahmood touched on why so many people volunteer for the NCIV network, and why its work will continue to be so important: “This IVLP is what turns our future, which seems so bleak sometimes, into something that is hopeful, and I thank you for that, and I hope that someday my children, our children, will inherit this opportunity to learn more about each other. Perhaps only then, when more people are willing to invest more time in building bridges, like what you as volunteers have done, then maybe we still have a chance.”

PHOTOS:  (Top to bottom) Nadwa Al-Dawsari speaks at the IVLP Leadership Luncheon; Dr. Jemilah Mahmood is presented with the NCIV Gold Star and National Geographic Atlas by Eurica Huggins-Axum, NCIV Board Member

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