Photo credit: A.E. Landes Photography
During the Luncheon with the Ambassadors at the National Meeting, the IVLP Alumni Award for Social Innovation and Change is presented to an alumnus or alumna of the International Visitor Leadership Program for their achievements in driving social change through innovation in their home communities following the program. The award is generously supported by Vicente López-Ibor Mayor, an IVLP alumnus and member of the Global Ties Foundation Board of Directors.
This year, the award was presented to Mine Atli, a lawyer and activist from Cyprus who works closely with the Association of Women to Support Living (KAYAD), an NGO that lobbies to advance women’s rights and gender equality in the Turkish Cypriot community. Here are some notable quotes from her acceptance speech at the 2019 National Meeting:
“I’m humbled by this award. Over the last few days, it’s been ringing in my mind…that people together are power.”
“I went home [after the International Visitor Leadership Program] with a feeling of faith for concepts such as volunteerism. Amidst the backdrop of a rather ruthless political system, I was able to observe how perseverance, passion, and determination could significantly improve the communities that we live in.”
“I believe the IVLP is a great investment into improving relations, to contributing to a culture of peace, and in fact, it is diplomacy at its best…I think it’s the spirit of exchange that truly makes the program successful.”
Watch the full speech on Youtube.