Alumni Success Stories

Omar is a fervent advocate for mental health prevention, especially among male students in his community. He holds a leadership position locally and is engaged globally. His goals are, among others, to foster a supportive environment where male students can freely address their mental health concerns and to promote awareness about mental health issues.

His CEP centered around male students' mental health. A subject that he holds close to his heart. He thinks it is crucial to recognize the urgency of addressing this issue and believes it can no longer go unnoticed. 

Omar is in the process of implementing the MenTal Check project. After phases of networking and informing through various channels, the response was positive with a significant number of people expressing interest in joining.  

To spread the word about his project, he joined HERRITOPIA, a local school initiative focused on architectural heritage conservation, where he discussed the MenTal Check project with members of the initiative. He also was accepted into Global Shapers Rabat, a prestigious global leadership and civic engagement program.

Since the MEPI program, Omar has participated in a number of events, such as the Youth Exchange Programs Alumni Empowerment Day, the U.S. Embassy Morocco Alumni Summit (2024), and the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY Morocco)

"Upon my return from the U.S., my schedule has been bustling with a diverse array of events, conferences, and insightful gatherings. These engagements have spanned across platforms affiliated with the U.S. Embassy, MEPI, and other initiatives that share similar focuses."  

 

 

Ayoub is a dynamic and proactive youth activist from Algeria, deeply committed to driving positive change in his community and beyond. With a diverse range of experiences and achievements, Ayoub embodies a passion for social justice, environmental sustainability, and youth empowerment.

'I got selected to represent Algeria and attend the Climate Change Regional Conference of Youth in the Middle East and North Africa. In previous years, I used to see applications for climate change conferences, but I didn't apply because I believed that as a young person, I didn't have a place and voice in such gatherings. [...] the MEPI is what motivated me to apply, and maybe it was the reason why I got accepted."

Yui Nakama, Okinawa Global Leadership Program alumna, is a Ph.D. candidate in Public Policy and Public Administration at the George Washington University under the Fulbright scholarship. Her research focuses on Space Safety, Security and Sustainability Policy, drawing upon her background in Economics and International Politics gained at the University of Tokyo, Japan

In January 2024, she started a new job as an assistant for the Summit for Space Sustainability at Secure World Foundation in D.C.

Yui is also a Global Fellow at European Space Policy Institute in Vienna, a Senior Consultant at Euroconsult, and a Space Business Specialist at Green Carbon Inc. in Tokyo.

DuhaIrsheid joinedthe Student Leaders Program in the Summer of 2022. She completed her Political Science degree at the University of Jordan in February 2023. Duha took part in a number of seminars and discussions, focusing on networking and raising awareness on the subject of women's rights in Jordan.

Duha was also chosen to participate in a UNDP panel concerning the role of youth in Parliamentary elections, and the new electoral laws in Jordan. Duha gives a lot of credit for her recent achievements and professional ventures to the MEPI program and the skills she gained from the program. She also took part in UNESCWA'S first Arab SMEs Summit in Jordan last October. She credits her time in MEPI with providing her with the opportunity to develop both her leadership potential and her level of civic engagement and participation in Jordan's civil society. She routinely uses the communication and negotiation skills she developed while enrolled in the program. She used these skills to assist in raising awareness concerning the rights of the Uyghur minority in China during the screening of human rights activist Rushan Abbas's movie called "In Search of My Sister".  

Duha is currently actively working on executing her CEP, a program which focuses on aiding the mental effects of sexual harassment on women in the Jordanian society by utilizing psychoeducation through social media campaigns, establishing support groups for the victims of sexual harassment mediated by professionals, providing free therapy sessions for those in need, organizing interactive lectures for both genders discussing gender roles and the root of sexual harassment, and collecting data concerning sexual harassment in Jordan. 

Fares Rabah Joined the SLP program in the summer of 2022, at Montana State University. After his successful completion of the SLP program in the US, Fares continued his journey of leading change in his community. He wanted to share and implement the knowledge, insights and skills he acquired during the summer in his country. He volunteered with One Two Show association as a photographer in the international festival of Sfax for its 42nd edition, from July 29th to August 17th, 2022. His participation as a photographer did not stop him from also cooperating with other volunteers to clean up the Amphitheatre, that sizes to more than 10.000 people, from plastic bags and bottles after every performance. Fares joined the Junior Chamber International Organization in Tunisia to increase his civic participation and to serve his community. 

Thanks to the SLP program and the valuable conferences and classes he attended, Fares has become more confident of his leadership skills to be an effective leader in his career.

He is currently establishing his own business called "Margoum Ajdadi" that aims to preserve the local handicraft traditions of weaving handmade rugs, Kilims and carpets. These are made by highly talented Artisan women who are working in tough conditions in the southern region of Tunisia.

Fares has already, launched the project's Instagram and Facebook shop to sell the handmade products, and he is currently working to launch the first E-commerce platform for the margoum industry in Tunisia. Thanks to the SLP program supervisors at MSU, "Margoum Jdadi" sold handmade margoum and rugs that Fares had brought from Tunisia, in an online auction. 

Fares aims through his CEP, developed during the program, to create job opportunities, preserve the intangible heritage of weaving, and empower women in the economy. 

The initiative has allowed her to implement two projects. The first was titled “Mental Health in the MENA Region,” which consisted of a series of webinars about topics relating to how mental health has been affected by all the change brought by the pandemic. The project attracted participants from all over the MENA region, and there were speakers from Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan and Palestine, which made the discussions very diverse.  

In August, Sinda received a MEPI Leaders Grant that helped her implement the second project of MENNA Initiative called “MENA, Media and Mental Health”. She was the team leader for this project and along with another co-founder, she recruited a group of volunteers who joined different teams (social media, design, facilitation etc.). Her group facilitated four speaker sessions and two dialogue sessions. Currently, she and her team are working on a content creation phase where volunteers and participants can contribute with videos or written pieces about the topic of media and mental health.  

Nora Chaynane is an MSU 2019 MEPI SLP alumna who is passionate about social entrepreneurship. She started running her first company from her university dormitory at the age of 19. She is now the CEO and founder of Shine Space, an educational social enterprise that gives opportunities for young students to acquire skills beyond what the schools provide. All of this started in 2019 when she was selected for the MEPI Student Leaders Program(Montana State University). It was as a part of this program that she conceived and developed the idea for a project like Shine Space.

This project quickly turned into a company and a career that has taken her quite far. Her companies have been awarded +30 prizes including the Best Social Enterprise trophy, and recognized by the British Council, Ford Motor and Tony Elumelu. She was also one of 6 Moroccans to be selected at the biggest foundation for Entrepreneurs in Africa. 

Through all of this, Nora has been eager to give back to MEPI, where it all started for her. In 2019, she was a part of a MEPI reintegration seminar and a MEPI regional summit coordinator in 2020. She was selected as MEPI Alumni of the year in 2020 and remained connected to the program as a guest speaker and mentor to the present day.  

Currently, Nora is a UN Youth Delegate in New York. She mentors young leaders at MCW Global and leads sustainability efforts at United People Global. Holding a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Iowa, Nora is deeply committed to leveraging technology for positive transformation, advocating for human rights and youth perspectives at the United Nations, and championing impactful initiatives worldwide. 

As a UN delegate, she actively contributes to the promotion of human rights by focusing on raising awareness and fostering understanding of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). She collaborates with permanent missions, UN agencies, and activists worldwide, all of whom demonstrate commendable dedication to human rights and address urgent issues. She also takes part in various initiatives, such as UNGA side meetings, SDG Digital, and contributes to forums like the African Youth Climate Assembly. Additionally, she serves as a consultant to the Children and Youth Major Group to UNEP, where efforts are directed towards promoting environmental sustainability and addressing related challenges. 

Her daily job and focus are creating value and opportunities for under-served people, people who have no one to believe in them and no one to fight for them. Today, she is just glad because she’s still on the same path, heading towards the same vision, with different hats and responsibilities. 

Meet Gulrukh, a dedicated educator with a multifaceted role in shaping the educational landscape of Kyrgyzstan. Currently, she serves as a full-time teacher at Osh Sema School, as well as a part-time KashkarKyshtak Madrasah Access teacher to the 2023-2025 class. Additionally, she dedicates her time twice a week to teaching "English for Citizen Journalism" to 20 students. Beyond the classroom, Gulrukh is deeply involved in professional development and collaboration initiatives. As a teacher-trainer in the Kyrgyzstan Guild of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (KGTESOL), she plays a pivotal role in empowering fellow educators through monthly training sessions.

Gulrukh's journey is marked by notable achievements, including the completion of a Master of Arts in Teaching from the American University of Central Asia, and her role as Head Coordinator in the KGTESOL Association. Noteworthy among her accomplishments is her attendance at the prestigious TESOL Convention & Expo in Tampa, Florida, USA, underscoring her commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.

Driven by a passion for educational innovation and community empowerment, Gulrukh takes pride in her involvement in impactful projects such as the Uzgen and Kashkar-Kyshtak English Access Microscholarship Programs. Her dedication to equipping students with essential skills extends to initiatives like "English for Media Literacy" and "English for Citizen Journalism," reflecting her commitment to fostering critical thinking and communication in the digital age.

Through her experiences, Gulrukh has gained invaluable insights into global educational dynamics, which she seamlessly integrates into her teaching practice. This global perspective not only enriches her curriculum but also cultivates a sense of global citizenship among her students, preparing them to thrive in an interconnected world. Her connection across the world, through collaborations with educators from other countries, has equipped her with new teaching methodologies, approaches, and educational systems, facilitating the acquisition of innovative teaching techniques and insights into effective classroom management strategies.

Advice from Gulrukh

What skills do you believe are essential for success in today's work environment? 

• Leadership
• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Creativity

How do you tackle the challenge of remaining innovative in your work?

"By deepening my understanding of education and collaborating with others."

Recommendations

Book	Teach like a Champion - Doug Lemov
Resource	OPEN MOOC
Movies	The Ron Clark Story
Website	American English

"Vision without action is a daydream"

Wilson is a professor at a private university in El Salvador and an English and Computer teacher at a public secondary school. He is an administrator at public school in El Salvador. Additionally, he is the president of "Asociación de Becarios de Suchitoto - ABESUCHI,” an organization which supports young people with scholarships for higher studies who have very low economic resources and with few possibilities of a scholarship to go to University.

Wilson is a prime example of resilience and determination. His journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, fueled by a combination of academic prowess, relentless effort, and a steadfast dedication to integrity and humility. He approaches every endeavor with a profound sense of responsibility and organization, leveraging his skills and maturity to not just achieve, but surpass, his goals. Wilson's work ethic is characterized by a genuine passion and respect.

So far, he considers his biggest achievement his participation to the Fulbright TEA program during Fall 2023. It represents a dream come true for Wilson who thought participating in the program wat "too impossible to achieve."

Wilson is a dedicated advocate for education and community development, passionately investing his time and energy into meaningful projects that foster positive change in El Salvador. Through his pivotal role as a teaching assistant in the Teachers Up initiative, he has significantly contributed to the advancement of English education and technological literacy, providing invaluable support to teachers and students across the country. Additionally, his leadership as the president of the esteemed "Asociación de Becarios de Suchitoto– ABESUCHI" reflects his commitment to empowering low-income youth by securing scholarships and opening doors to higher education, thereby enabling them to pursue their dreams and realize their full potential.

This year, Wilson graduated with a Master's Degree in Virtual Learning Environments, an experience he considers one of the most rewarding in his life.

Thanks to his participation to the program, he has embraced his roles as a leader and a source of inspiration and motivation for others, through his resilience. He notes, that "after the program, [he] was able to demonstrate [to] and inspire children, adolescents, and adults around [him] that dreams can be fulfilled."

Today, Wilson's goal is to become a "voice of light and hope for others." He plans vocational workshops to guide high school graduates to figure out their future plans and goals. 

Advice from Wilson

What skills do you believe are essential for success in today's work environment? 

• Leadership
• Empathy
• Excellent interpersonal relationships
• Respect

How do you tackle the challenge of remaining innovative in your work?

"I have always thought that as an educator I have the duty to continue preparing myself academically more and more through research and self-learning of new learning technologies."

Recommendations

Movies	Front of the Class
Website	Liveworksheet.com

"Wanting is power and power is achieving. You want, you can, you will."

 

 

Dilshoda is an English teacher-trainer in Uzbekistan. After the program, upon returning home, she has changed her way of life: her lifestyle, her morning routines, her water intakes, and her self-perception. She embraced life.

Dilshoda is proud to be a FTEA program alumna. She has learned a lot about American culture, and especially Americans way of life.

Lately, she has given time to the ESN program, a project about Empowering girls to go to university.  

 

 

Advice from Dilshoda

What skills do you believe are essential for success in today's work environment? 

• Leadership
• Motivating
• Knowledge
• Flexibility

How do you tackle the challenge of remaining innovative in your work?

with patience.

"Be active."

Tatsiana lives in Soligorsk with her daughter. Soligorsk is renowned for its salt mines. 

Tatsiana works as an English teacher  She finds her teaching work quite interesting and allows her to be creative in lesson building. With her students, she participated in multiple contests, and always encourages her students to do so. 

In addition to her teacher position, Tatsiana is the curator of a youth UNESCO club in her district in Belarus. She also does volunteer work in her free time. 

Tatsiana considers her experience as a Fulbright alumna one of her biggest success to date.

However, that's not all. She has successfully organized Olympiads with and for her students. She has also had the chance to create effective training sessions for the youth through the UNESCO club she curates, and organized leadership leadership summer camp for young people. 

Tatsiana took away from her time at MSU the usefull leadership skills and technology workshops proposed during the program. To this day, she still uses the knowledge she has acquired during the program, especially with the UNESCO club. Moreover, she has created different leadership trainings that are implemented at her school. 

Additionally, starting the "Positive Mindset School" was a result of her participation in the FTEA program. This project aims to help student and teachers develop tolerance, respect, effective communication, and mental wellbeing among each other.

Finally, she notes using technology more effectively in her classes, adopting new ways to practice "speaking English" in class: through video-training.

 Today, Tatsiana is working on new projects: "InterConnectED" and "Tik Talk.by" with the purpose to gain knowledge in Artificial Intelligence and technologies to find new ways to create courses and trainings. 

 

Some programs Tatsiana has had the chance to initiate: 

1) Summer camp "Universe of leaders" for youth. Unique program, leadership trainings.
2) "Positive mindset school".
Development of effective communication, self-confidence, leadership skills...
3) Speaking Club for adults in Soligorsk.
Practising English and facilitating communication in English for adults who want to learn English.
4) "InterConnectED" project.
Intercultural project between the students of my school and the students of foreign countries.
5) "TikTalk" project.
Exchange project between students of different schools of Belarus.

Advice from Tatsiana

What skills do you believe are essential for success in today's work environment? 

• Communication
• Leadership
• Time-management
• Organization

How do you tackle the challenge of remaining innovative in your work?

"That's difficult. I do it by myself, set experiments. If it works well, I share. To stay motivated I communicate with the people who are
motivated to do new things."

Recommendations

Book	Magic of the Morning - Martin Joseph Non-Conflict Communication -
Resource	Pychological motivational channels on internet
Quote	"Do with Love"

 Tatsiana's mottos:

"Let's do it!"

"I don't chase, I attract."

"If I want, I can. If I can, I will."

"Happiness is the way..."

Kouba is involved in assuring and improving protection for children's rights and access to equal educational opportunities in his community. 

He established a non-profit organization in Côte d'Ivoire named Ngo We, dedicated to children's welfare. The organization advocates for gender equality and access to education. Additionally, it regularly conducts workshops and training sessions addressing gender-based violence in schools, particularly targeting young girls. The non-profit is proud to have helped the education of 30 girls from rural areas in the country. 

Since 2016, the FTEA program at MSU meets with the local Rotary club, the Bozeman Sunrise Rotary Club, and every year, between 1 and 4 participants are awarded a mini-grant to implement a new project at their schools in their home country. In 2022, Kouba was one of the lucky ones to receive $1,000 grant for his project, Lead'Girlship. This initiative empowered approximately 150 girls with leadership skills, enabling them to advocate for their right to education and speak out against gender-based violence in schools.

Kouba fondly recalls his time in Montana, particularly the field experience at Bozeman High School. Observing the active involvement of BHS students in various clubs, he was inspired to encourage similar engagement among his own students back home. In line with his commitment to promoting gender equality in education, he introduced a hygiene product station in girls' bathrooms, a concept he encountered at BHS during his stay in Montana.

Today, Kouba is actively working on his next project, preventing girls from online violence. Sensitizing girls on online violence and how to be protected against them is their main goal.

Advice from Kouba

What skills do you believe are essential for success in today's work environment? 

• Resilience
• Desire to learn

Recommendations

Book	Thriving through times - Deidre Combs
Movies	The Secrets

"The obstacle is the way"

Calado, an English as a Foreign Language teacher, regards his participation as a TEA fellow as his most significant achievement thus far.

At his school, Calado developed theater plays in English to improve his students language skills and fluency. Additionally, he actively promotes girls' engagement in entrepreneurship.

During the program, Calado learned about how to incorporate technology in the classroom. As well as how to develop speech and debate among the students to help them develop communicative and critical thinking skills. He continues to apply these strategies and methodologies learned at MSU in his teaching practice.

Currently, Calado is working on creating a Girl Engagement project to empower them. This initiative provides training and opportunities for them to thrive in society.

Advice from Calado

What skills do you believe are essential for success in today's work environment? 

• Teamwork
• Being a good leader
• Workshops

How do you tackle the challenge of remaining innovative in your work?
I see challenges as opportunity to show up my strengths and power

Recommendations

Book	The Power of Now, by Eckhart Tolle A Promised Land, by Barack Obama.
Movies	Angel Has Fallen

“Hope for the best, and prepare for the worst”. Be ready!

After completing my short-term study abroad program, I felt a strong desire to return to Montana, a place rich in nature and culture. I wanted to learn about the differences in educational philosophies in my field of study and improve my English by taking classes taught entirely in English. This led me to study at MSU for a year as an exchange student two years later, in 2017.

 

Academically, I not only learned about teaching methods and child development through lectures but also participated in a six-month internship at the Early Childhood Center affiliated with the university. This allowed me to learn extensively from theory to practice and understand the differences between Japanese and American education.

 

In terms of everyday life, I spent the first six months in a dormitory and the remaining six months in a homestay with the host family who had taken care of me during my short-term study program. Each experience had its unique benefits. In the dormitory, I became friends with many other international students through various events, not just my roommate. During my homestay, I spent a lot of time with my host family, celebrating birthdays and creating a family-like bond, making it very hard to say goodbye when I left.

I also deeply engaged with the local community. I organized a Kumamoto Ramen Party to share Japanese ramen with local residents, participated in community sports clubs, and even ran in a marathon. Additionally, at the food bazaar held on campus, I had the opportunity to introduce and share various Japanese dishes not only with students but also with members of the local community. My student life at MSU was fulfilling both academically and personally.

These experiences continue to impact me today. I am currently a PhD student in Japan, working on my research. I frequently engage in discussions with researchers from various countries through meetings and papers, and the foundation for this was built during my year at MSU.

I always refer to my life as before and after my MSU MEPI experience. When I left MSU after that summer of 2008, I had the itch for more, so as soon as I finished my undergraduate degree, I applied to come back for graduate school at MSU. Now five years after my MEPI program, I have earned a Master's degree in electrical engineering from MSU and am going for another Master's in international peace studies at Notre Dame. It is at MSU that I became what I would like to call a Peace Engineer.

Today I feel quite accomplished since I realized that single dream, but the continued journey towards reaching my goals, personally, academically and professionally, is what I truly revel in. Today, and thanks to my first experience in the U.S., I am a PhD Fulbright Visiting Scholar at Indiana University, Bloomington, trying to be a better researcher, a better teacher, and most importantly a better person.

The faculty members who instructed the classes as well as the MSU staff who coordinated and organized the program, showed a high level of professionalism, openness to criticism and opinion sharing, and respected the participants’ different backgrounds, cultures, and more importantly, they created a family environment where we as participants felt so appreciated and valued. Coming back to Montana State University for my Masters with the Fulbright scholarship is the best proof of how much I appreciate the place and its people.