The Study of the United States Institutes (SUSI) for Azerbaijani Student Leaders on Civic Engagement program prepares a cadre of student leaders with the knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm to embrace and promote active involvement in Azerbaijan’s civil society among their peers.
Through coursework in the US and a study tour of important sites in American civil rights, Azerbaijani youth learn about civic engagement firsthand and become cultural ambassadors for the US and Azerbaijan. Funded by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs [7] of the U.S. Department of State and implemented by IREX in partnership with the University of Alabama in Huntsville [8] (UAH), the SUSI program brings qualified university students from Azerbaijan to learn about civic engagement through the lens of US civil right movements. At UAH, students are immersed in an intensive academic and experiential program exploring how Americans’ pursuit of civil rights has shaped the country—from the expansion of suffrage to the Civil Rights Act —and how the struggle for civil rights continues today, in movements such as marriage rights, immigrants’ rights, and Native Americans’ rights.
As participants learn about American history and government and witness democracy in action in the US, they develop action plans and learn leadership skills to implement civic engagement projects in their communities.
- Increase fellows’ leadership skills and their commitment to community engagement;
- Increase fellows’ understanding of US culture, traditions, government, and history; and
- Create sustainable links among Americans, Azerbaijanis, and their communities.
Since declaring independence in 1991, Azerbaijan has been working to build a strong democracy. Strong democracy requires a solid base of committed leaders and a citizenry engaged in the issues facing their communities. Given opportunities to explore civic engagement in practice and interact with all levels of US civil society, Azerbaijani student leaders can realize their potential to develop further Azerbaijan’s civil society and the democratic process.
Academic seminars and leadership sessions: Fellows trace the struggle for civil rights from the founding of American democracy to today, with a focus on the efforts of citizens and citizen groups to change conditions at the local and national levels. Leadership sessions prepare participants for civic engagement, building practical skills for management, conflict mitigation, and project design.
Service learning experiences: To complement academic seminars and leadership sessions, fellows participate in community activities directly connected to the program’s civil rights focus, such as volunteering for Habitat for Humanity or conducting interviews to measure public awareness and understanding of Alabama’s new immigration law.
Action research projects: Working in small groups, participants use their new skills and knowledge to develop plans for microgrant projects—with goals such as increasing volunteerism among schoolchildren, environmental awareness, and educating youth about health and hygiene. As fellows develop their action plans, IREX advisors in partnership with university faculty and peer mentors provide practical, real-world advice for developing and implementing durable projects in their home communities.
Regional study tour: After five weeks of intensive coursework and experiential learning, fellows embark on a Regional Study Tour in Alabama and Arizona. Both past and current US civil rights movements come to life as fellows visit historic sites, listen to experts, explore memorials and museums, and talk with current civil rights activists. On this tour fellows are also exposed to unique aspects of American diversity. The study tour culminates in Washington, DC, where fellows gain a national perspective on civic engagement. They participate in a panel discussion on advocacy and visit Capitol Hill, as well as prepare for their return home, ready to be engaged leaders in Azerbaijan’s civil society.