IYLEP Wrap Up: The Closing Ceremony

IYLEP Wrap Up: The Closing Ceremony
Saturday, July 14th, 2012- A night filled with celebrations, dancing, and some tears wrapped up UCCD’s first-ever Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP).The participants and their host-families gathered at the home of Dave and Jerre Winder to celebrate a successful program. A dinner, awards ceremony and talent show followed. Salt Lake City Council Member, Soren Simonsen, presented each Iraqi student with a Certificate of Citizenship as an Honorary Citizen of Salt Lake City.

The Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy welcomed 10 Iraqi Students and 1 Iraqi adult mentor to Salt Lake City on June 6th. Their program was sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The next 10 days proved life-changing for all involved; friendships were made and barriers were struck down.

The group of Iraqi and American students visited the Utah State Legislature, the Park City museum and Olympic Park, attended workshops on Civic Activism, participated in art and theater lessons within the community and spent a day at Lagoon, among other activities.

A special thank you to the generous host families for welcoming the participants into your homes.

We hope this experience was one that you will never forget- we know we won’t!

*Look for the Salt Lake Tribune article on IYLEP, in the ‘Close Up’ section, Thursday, August 2nd.*