What We Do
Since 1963, WorldOrlando has served as the local implementer of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). Launched in 1940, the IVLP is a professional exchange program that brings up to 5,000 international leaders to the U.S. each year. More than 200,000 IVLP participants have engaged with Americans, including more than 500 current or former Chiefs of State or Heads of Government, 10 Nobel Laureates, and thousands of private and nonprofit sector leaders.
An IVLP participant’s journey starts when they are nominated by a U.S. Embassy in their country. Their 2-3 week program begins in Washington D.C., with a focus on the U.S. federal government, and continues with visits to 4+ communities across the U.S.
For each group of IVLP participants visiting Central Florida, WorldOrlando arranges 2-4 days of meetings with their local professional counterparts, cultural activities, volunteer opportunities, dinner with local hosts, as well as hotel and ground transportation.
The International Visitor Leadership Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and administered by members of Global Ties U.S.
Click here for a printable
fact sheet about IVLP.
Themes
IVLP project themes cover a wide range of topics including: cross-border safety and security, combatting human trafficking, countering extremism, cyber-security, democracy, journalism, entrepreneurship, education, human rights, global health, energy security, and more.
Goals
The goal of IVLP is to cultivate lasting relationships between current and emerging professionals around the world and their American counterparts, and provide opportunities for foreign opinion makers to gain firsthand knowledge about U.S. society, culture and politics.
Benefits
The IVLP advances U.S. National Security and boosts our economic competitiveness by connecting Americans with their international counterparts in business, government, and civil society to address shared global challenges.