WASHINGTON, DC: In partnership with the U.S. Department of State, Cultural Vistas is proud to announce fellowship placement hosts for the participants in the first cohort of the 2023-2024 Professional Fellows Program Oceania (PFP Oceania). This is the second year Cultural Vistas is implementing the Professional Fellows Program in the Pacific region.

The eight professional fellows represent five different Pacific countries and are part of the prestigious Professional Fellows Program (PFP), which facilitates these two way professional exchange opportunities all around the world.

The placements represent six organizations where fellows worked in tandem with the hosts this September on a four-week long fellowship tailored to their areas of expertise. With the guidance and support of their host organizations, fellows built their professional networks, expanded their skills, and made plans to implement a follow-on project in their home communities centered on the theme of Economic Empowerment. Later this year, host organizations will have the opportunity to engage in a reciprocal exchange program in the Pacific to support their fellows’ implementation of their follow-on project. All participant program travel costs and accommodations are covered by the program and coordinated by Cultural Vistas.

Please see below for the fellows’ name and their fellowship placement host:

• Nina Tokavou, Fiji – Opportunity Village, Las Vegas NV
• Hilda Hadashar Audubo, Papua New Guinea – HEAL 901, Memphis TN
• Grace Boker Mungkaje, Papua New Guinea – City of Des Moines Equity Office, Des Moines IA
• Serah Pyawa, Papua New Guinea – Recycle Hawai’i, Hilo HI
• Marie Enosa, Samoa – Opportunity Village, Las Vegas NV
• Unaloto Lolohea Aneta Sili, Tonga – Women’s Sports Foundation, New York NY
• Lola Liava’a Tonga, Tonga – Recycle Hawai’i, Hilo HI
• Iuma Bani, Vanuatu – SEDA Cog, Lewisburg PA

 

If you are interested in hosting a PFP Oceania Fellow or learning more about the program, please contact Cultural Vistas at pfpoceania@culturalvistas.org. Hosting a Professional Fellow is a great way to build relationships with these esteemed international professionals and learn more about the wide variety of programming facilitated by the U.S. Department of State.

About the Professional Fellows Program:

The Professional Fellows Program (PFP) is a two-way, global exchange program designed to promote mutual understanding, enhance leadership and professional skills, as well as build lasting, sustainable partnerships between mid-level emerging leaders from foreign countries and the United States. PFP participants are placed in intensive fellowships in non-profit organizations, private sector businesses, and government offices across the United States for an individually tailored professional development experience. They build a broad network with American and other program participant colleagues as they develop a deeper understanding of U.S. society. The PFP is a two-way exchange, with American participants who have hosted foreign fellows traveling overseas for participant-driven reciprocal programs.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) builds relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through academic, cultural, sports, professional and private exchanges, as well as public-private partnerships and mentoring programs.  These exchange programs improve foreign relations and strengthen the national security of the United States, support U.S. international leadership, and provide a broad range of domestic benefits by helping break down barriers that often divide us.  Visit eca.state.gov or contact ECA-Press@state.gov to learn more.