Fourteen Iraqi students sat clustered around plush red, black and grey chairs and ottomans in Talley Student Union on Friday. As they whispered amongst themselves about what they had seen while touring and exploring NC State, giggles and excitement filled the air.
All between the ages of 15 and 17, the students were recruited from all provinces in Iraq. The students are part of the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program. For four weeks in the summer they take part in an exchange program in the United States. According to World Learning, the program focuses on bringing, “English-speaking secondary school students from Iraq to explore the themes of leadership development, civic rights and responsibilities, respect for diversity, and community engagement.”
“They’re having so much fun,” said Adrienne Smith, one of the leaders of the Raleigh group. “Each of the groups that come to visit focuses on something different. There’s a group that learns about the environment and another about pubic health. We’re here to learn about social justice and laws.”
The students from Iraq work with U.S. students, leaders and mentors to develop their own leadership skills and build action plans to strengthen the future of Iraq and the U.S.
“We’ve learned so much,” said Kawther Al-hajjaj from Muthanna and a student of the Ruqaia High School For Distinguished Girls. “[NC State] is very different from how things are where we’re from. You need perfect marks to go to a good school. Even if you’re close, it’s still not enough. I would love to go to a place like this.”
Al-hajjaj, along with her fellow students, asked questions beyond their years. They quizzed student leaders on some of life’s tougher questions.
In a question and answer session with Student Government and Student Media, the students asked questions such as, “Would you rather have a job that paid well but you hated it, or a job that paid only a little but you loved it?” and “Have you ever done anything that you’ve regretted?”
In a post on the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program Tumblr Sama H, a student who visted NC State, described how she felt about starting the program.
“I can’t even describe my feelings,” she wrote. “My dream came true, and now it will go and do the best to develop myself and my English. It’s really amazing to have this chance it’s once in a life time.”
Ian Grice, public affairs director of WKNC, gives a tour of the studio to members of the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program Thursday, August 13,2015. The IYLEP is an exchange program for Iraqi high school students and adult mentors that offers a leadership opportunity in the United States. The fully-funded scholarship program allows participants to develop leadership skills to strengthen the future of both Iraq and the U.S.
