News & Impact

High school gym teachers in Kyrgyzstan are using sports to promote ethnic tolerance and increase gender equality.  Last month, teachers Svetlana, Natalia, Nurbek, Nurlan and Furkhat travelled to the United States as part of the Kyrgyzstan Innovations in Coaching Kids (KICK) program.  On their first visit to the United States, the coaches came to observe American gym classes and meet with their coaching peers to learn new sports training methodologies and tools for integrating conflict mitigation strategies and girls more effectively into their schools’ sports programming.

Women in Katerynopil Central Raion, Ukraine are changing their lives for the better thanks to the local library.  Through a grant from Bibliomist, the library hosts an emergency service for women called “Berehynia” (“Guardian”) and supports local residents suffering from family conflicts and unemployment.  Domestic violence victims have become regular library users and are benefitting from online psychological counseling; community members are mastering IT skills; patrons are obtaining employment.

I am pleased to share with you an excerpt from the written testimony I recently submitted to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs in support of the Department of State exchanges budget. Even in this current budget environment, it is critical to continue to invest in these programs which bring manifold benefits to US taxpayers. I strongly encourage you to find out more and contact your representatives in Congress to voice your support as well.