PROJECT HARMONY HOLDS ONLINE EVENT FOR RUSSIAN, UKRAINIAN, MOLDOVAN, AND BELARUSSIAN EXCHANGE STUDENTS AND AMERICAN DIPLOMAT

WAITSFIELD, VT (PRWEB) April 26, 2003 - The U.S. Department of State and Project Harmony announce an online educational event for current Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) students from Belarus, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine. This online event brings Ms. Michelle Logsdon, Deputy Director of the State Department's Office of Public Diplomacy in the Bureau of European Affairs, together with over 100 current FLEX students to discuss the future of U.S.-Eurasian relations. The event will take place Wednesday May 21, 2003 from 2pm to 3:30pm EDT. The website for the event is: http://www.projectharmony.org/flexevent/index.html

The students involved in the online events are students from the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program. FLEX was established in 1992 as the centerpiece of the NIS Secondary School Initiative with FREEDOM Support Act funding from the State Department. Its goal is to provide an opportunity for high school students from the countries of the former Soviet Union to experience life in a democratic society in order to promote democratic values and institutions in Eurasia. Approximately 11,000 students from the former Soviet Union have spent one academic year attending schools and living with host families throughout the United States. During the 2002-03 school year, the U.S. schools and families hosted 1,265 participants. The recruitment and selection process for this program is conducted by the American Councils for International Education, website: http://www.americancouncils.org. To learn more about the FLEX Program, please visit the State Departments FLEX webpage: http://exchanges.state.gov/education/citizens/students/eurasia/flex.htm

According to Program Coordinator Katy Pearce, The FLEX students are exceptional individuals who have been given a unique opportunity to study in the U.S. The additional activities provided to them such as the online event with Michelle Logsdon allow the students to expand upon their knowledge and interact with a representative of the American government. Other computer-based programs have proved to enrich the FLEX program and add to the students understanding of important elements of a civil society. An Azerbaijani student remarked, I learned that not only Azerbaijans students are interested and worried about their countrys state, and that Armenian and Georgian citizens are also curious about our future relations and opportunities that peace can bring us. Lets strive for peace."

Project Harmonys mission is to empower individuals to create healthier communities through international training and exchange programs. Project Harmony was founded in Vermont in 1985 as a grass-roots exchange organization for Soviet and American high schools. Today, Project Harmony has 14 offices worldwide and staff of more than 130 employees. In its 18-year history, Project Harmony has facilitated educational, professional, cultural and community-based programs involving hundreds of families and individuals. Project Harmonys programs are funded by the U.S. Department of State. For more information, please visit our web site: www.projectharmony.org.

Journalists and interested community members, as well as program alumni, are welcome to observe the online event. Please contact Katy Pearce katy@projectharmony.org to register.