Because of the success of the Library of Congress "OPEN WORLD" Russian Leadership Program (RLP) since its inception in Spring of 1999, the United States Congress has again authorized the Library of Congress to invite up to 3,000 emerging Russian political leaders to be hosted in cities and communities throughout the United States in order to gain significant firsthand experience on how American democracy works and how American citizens conduct their daily lives.

The National Peace Foundation's Russian Leadership Program is a continuation of the "Library of Congress OPEN WORLD Russian Leadership Program " previously administered by Peace Links. The opportunity for the National Peace Foundation to take on a lead role in the project came in July of 2001 as Peace Links began phasing out its organization's operations. At that time the National Peace Foundation agreed to assume the remainder of the contract Peace Links held with the Library of Congress for the year 2001. In a successful bid for the administration of the program for the year 2002, the National Peace Foundation was pleased to enter into a new partnership with the Library of Congress and continue their administration of the program.

The Russian participants are matched with host communities and professional counterparts that are comparable with their own communities and official positions. The host community provides a first-hand experience within the daily work experience and homestays; and gives delegates a view of the American experience through participation in a variety of community and cultural activities. Participants are offered programs focused on specific areas of interest, such as: the rule of law; federalism; banking, finance; environment; education; health; women as leaders. The principles of accountability, governance, rule of law, and the role of the citizenry in government are among the concepts emphasized in the program. Accompanied by escorts and interpreters, many participants are hosted in private homes across America. For the 1999 pilot, over 800 host families generously donated their hospitality and opened their communities to the Library's Russian guests, thus building a grassroots network of individual Americans committed to improving U.S.-Russian relations at a critical time. The 1999 RLP was one of the largest and most inclusive one-time foreign visitation programs to the United States ever. Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Library, was the chief sponsor of the authorizing legislation. The positive impact of the 1999 and the 2000 program has been made evident in interviews with participants, letters, e-mail, print and broadcast media coverage throughout the Russian Federation and provided the basis for an even broader and more vigorous nomination process for the 2001 and 2002 programs.

The host community will have an opportunity to spend seven days with the Russian professionals. The National Peace Foundation will guide the host organization on how to compose an interesting and productive program for the Russian guests. Staying in private homes enables the Russian delegates to share the daily cultural and community lives of their host families, providing them with the opportunity to experience a variety of American institutions such as schools, libraries, churches, theaters, hospitals, and commercial enterprises in a way that they might not ordinarily have traveling on their own. Additionally, the experience provides American host families and communities to learn more about the culture and life experience of their guests. As a result of previous Russian Leadership Programs, many strong friendships among Russian and American citizens have been forged.

To make a tax-deductible donation to this or any of our programs, Please mail your check made out to the National Peace Foundation to our address below. Credit card payments are also accepted (Visa/Mastercard/American Express). Please drop us a note with your name, address, donation amount and credit card information via regular post.We have a secure on-line payment process, and you can make donations at http://www.active.com/donate/nationalpeaceThank you

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