Virtual Exchange Underway for Belgian and U.S. University Students

CHARLOTTESVILLE –  The Presidential Precinct, in partnership with Meridian International Center, the U.S. Department of State, and Madison House at the University of Virginia, is proud to announce a brand new virtual exchange opportunity between Belgian university students and students at the University of Virginia.

Core participants include eight Belgian student leaders, some of whom traveled to Charlottesville for the March 2018 “Promoting Youth Leadership through Intercultural and Interfaith Relations” International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) project. Participating University of Virginia students were selected through a competitive application process implemented by Madison House.

This exchange is taking place over three synchronous sessions spanning a three-week period, with some asynchronous engagement before and between sessions. Conversations are focused on strategies for resilient leadership as so many countries around the world grapple with the “dual pandemic” of COVID-19 and systemic racism.

COVID-19 is having a devastating impact on communities around the world, with a disproportionate impact on the poor and marginalized.  The most recent cases in a long history of violence against Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in the United States have spurred ongoing protests and pressure for meaningful police and justice sector reform and a more equitable society. These events have galvanized citizens around the world to stand up for racial justice as a show of support and to press for change in their own countries.

After several meeting sessions via Zoom, the exchange is culminating in a photo project where participants contribute original images that illustrate and exemplify resilience in Belgian and American contexts. Highlights of the project and the exchange as a whole will be shared by the Presidential Precinct at a later date.