U.S. Ambassador Richard Olson on Saturday addressed the International Young Alumni Conference, a gathering of more than 400 alumni of U.S. exchange programs from Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and the United States.
“The people in the room today are the future leaders of South Asia. I hope you will work together to find solutions to the regional challenges you will face,” said Ambassador Olson at the International Young Alumni Conference. The Conference is one of the largest U.S. government-sponsored young alumni gatherings in Pakistan. The theme, “The Faces of Change, the Changes We Face,” is meant to inspire students to make positive changes in their communities and equip them with tools to make those changes. The students from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India are all alumni of U.S. government-sponsored exchange programs.
Ambassador Olson emphasized America’s commitment to cultural exchange. “It is the common threads that we share that will help us build better relationships among our countries and our peoples,” the Ambassador said.
The U.S. exchange program in Pakistan is the largest U.S. exchange program in the world, with over 1,000 Pakistani students and professionals traveling to the United States each year. In addition to the flagship Fulbright program, the U.S. government also sends more than 200 Pakistani undergraduates to the United States each year for a semester of study. Exchange program alumni are encouraged to make positive changes in their home communities when they return to Pakistan.
Exchange programs are just one part of the comprehensive U.S. education assistance program for Pakistan, which includes building or rehabilitating more than 850 schools; launching new degree programs in education at 90 teacher colleges and universities; and expanding English skills for more than 5,000 low-income students.