The month of June was a busy month for the programming team at Global Ties Miami with four International Visitor Leadership Program’s (IVLPs) successfully conducted.

An IVLP on Ending Gender Based Violence took place virtually with a group of 9 visitors from the Western Hemisphere. Countries included Andorra, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay. Participants were able to get guidance from subject matter experts in Miami on how to implement best practices in their own organizations and countries. Participants raved about the worksheets and resources that were provided by facilitator, Sandy Skelaney.

Additionally, a Trafficking in Persons (A special program for Guinea Bissau) virtual IVLP took place with the visitors brainstorming ideas for an action planning session facilitated by Sandy Skelaney.

Later in the month a Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing virtual IVLP involving visitors from Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Uruguay took place. During the virtual program participants discussed the importance of protecting specific species like sharks and rays where they identified strategies on how to track sea life when they are in other regions, especially migratory species.

Lastly, an IVLP on Building Resilience to Environmental Challenges and Preparing for Disasters took place with visitors from Bolivia, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. The group was able to meet with local experts in order to identify strategies to anticipate and be prepared for environmental challenges that may be encountered.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Global Ties Miami has continued to conduct virtual IVLP exchanges on important topics such as these listed, and continues to foster citizen diplomacy around the world — one wi-fi connection at a time!