Visitor Programs

Community Connections

The Community Connections program, funded by the United Stated Agency for International Development, Bureau of Education Growth and Trade (EGAT)/Office of Education, brings international visitors from countries of the former Soviet Union to Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

The broad public diplomacy goal of the Community Connections Program is to contribute to economic and democratic reform and to promote mutual understanding through exposure to U.S. society and personal connections with Americans and participant countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

Through local community host organizations in the United States, like the World Affairs Council of Kentucky/Southern Indiana, men and women entrepreneurs, local government officials, legal professionals, and civil society organization leaders are provided a three-week home-stay based practical training program in the United States, tailored to their professional interests. The World Affairs Council is responsible for programming site-visits, meetings, host-family placements, local transportation, interpretation, and Experience America activities.