Do you get that feeling every now and again that you are experiencing something special? Watching a news or sporting event? (Think Phelps in the Olympics.) Attending a speech or even in a meeting? (Think Reagan: "Tear Down This Wall.") I've got that feeling.
Last week, we formally launched our Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded program, Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Program, with seven U.S. cities being selected to work in sanitation, health, and water issues with their African Sister City. This is going to be a historic program for Sister Cities International. Congratulations to:
--Boulder, Colorado and Kisumu, Kenya
--Corvallis, Oregon and Gondar, Ethiopia
--Fort Worth, Texas and Mbabane, Swaziland
--Grand Rapids, Michigan and Ga East/West Districts, Ghana
--Lansing, Michigan and Akuapem South Municipality, Ghana
--Louisville, Kentucky and Tamale, Ghana
--State of Maryland and Bong & Maryland Counties, Liberia
The program will bring municipal leaders from these communities together to identify and address issues that will improve conditions on the ground. But, this isn’t a government-to-government program. It includes citizen involvement, citizen support, and citizen leadership from the private sector, NGOs, schools, and community-based organizations to provide sustained technical assistance and community development strategies.
I've got that feeling. This is going to be a program where citizen diplomacy thrives.
Showing posts with label Swaziland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swaziland. Show all posts
Monday, September 14, 2009
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Mission-driven in Crisis
By Guest Blogger: Michael Hyatt, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Sister Cities International
Getting ready to go for two weeks in South Africa in the middle of the worst financial times since the “Great Depression” is beginning to seem quite challenging. Having looked forward to the Partnership and Peace Tour for over a year, I now wonder about the consequences of being away. However it appears the entire world is affected by this crisis and I’m anxious to see how we handle it.
In Egypt last year I was able to meet local, state and national officials who recognize the need for world peace in settings one can only dream about. On one occasion we visited with the Governor of Aswan over coffee late at night floating on the Nile. Our military backgrounds gave us a common base for our discussions while we talked about the need for peace and their efforts to locate a sister city relationship (One objective achieved: Aswan is now partnered with Sonoma, CA.).
Having been to South Africa before, I’m looking forward to meeting officials and bringing our message to them. Now more than ever, the need for Sister Cities International is evident. Trying times in the world brings the need for unity in order to find the solution. Governments are now working together to bring the markets back to an orderly fashion, yet my sister city friends from Swaziland have contacted me and asked me to bring information, policies and strategies from Fort Worth to help them. I’ll be meeting with the United States Ambassador, local officials and members of the Swaziland Parliament to let them know what we are doing that will ultimately help them.
Times aren’t easy but neither is our mission. I know the efforts we expend on these trips will be repaid many times.
Getting ready to go for two weeks in South Africa in the middle of the worst financial times since the “Great Depression” is beginning to seem quite challenging. Having looked forward to the Partnership and Peace Tour for over a year, I now wonder about the consequences of being away. However it appears the entire world is affected by this crisis and I’m anxious to see how we handle it.
In Egypt last year I was able to meet local, state and national officials who recognize the need for world peace in settings one can only dream about. On one occasion we visited with the Governor of Aswan over coffee late at night floating on the Nile. Our military backgrounds gave us a common base for our discussions while we talked about the need for peace and their efforts to locate a sister city relationship (One objective achieved: Aswan is now partnered with Sonoma, CA.).
Having been to South Africa before, I’m looking forward to meeting officials and bringing our message to them. Now more than ever, the need for Sister Cities International is evident. Trying times in the world brings the need for unity in order to find the solution. Governments are now working together to bring the markets back to an orderly fashion, yet my sister city friends from Swaziland have contacted me and asked me to bring information, policies and strategies from Fort Worth to help them. I’ll be meeting with the United States Ambassador, local officials and members of the Swaziland Parliament to let them know what we are doing that will ultimately help them.
Times aren’t easy but neither is our mission. I know the efforts we expend on these trips will be repaid many times.
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