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Meet the First Cohort of the 2022-2023 Professional Fellows Program Oceania

WASHINGTON, DC: In partnership with United States (U.S.) Department of State, Cultural Vistas is proud to announce the twelve finalists selected for the first cohort of the 2022-2023 Professional Fellows Program Oceania (PFP Oceania).

These professionals represent seven 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.

This September 2022, PFP Oceania participants will complete four-week long fellowships across the United States where they will gain hands-on experience in their professional area of expertise. While in the United States, fellows will build their professional networks within their host organizations and prepare to implement a follow-on project in their home communities and organizations in the Pacific, centered on the theme of Economic Empowerment. After the fellowships have concluded, Professional Fellows from around the world will travel to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Professional Fellows Congress, where they will share their program experiences and provide peer-feedback on prospective follow-on projects.

This will be the first year Cultural Vistas is implementing the Professional Fellows Program in the Pacific region, and we are delighted to welcome such talented professionals from a wide array of backgrounds.

Please see below for the selected fellows’ names and professional areas of interests that will guide their placement and follow-on projects:

Aneet Aklesh Kumar, Fiji – Civic Engagement/Education, Youth Mentorship

Panapasa Buadromo, Fiji – Community Engagement/Education, Health & Wellness, Food/Beverage Marketing

Kanaan Ngutu, Kiribati – Software Development (SaaS), E-Commerce Technology, Small Business Development

Aaron Koto, Papua New Guinea – Agricultural Production and Exportation, Coffee Production/Importation, Small Business Development

Ronald Sofe, Papua New Guinea – Electrification, Economic Regulation and Infrastructure Development

Sophie Fredericka Kilipi, Papua New Guinea – Entrepreneurship, Female Empowerment, Business Management

Margaret Trevor, Republic of the Marshall Islands – Entrepreneurship, Female Empowerment, Small Business Management

Jackie Molea Chow, Solomon Islands – Female Empowerment, Community Engagement/Educational Programming

Sharon Inone, Solomon Islands – Information and Communication Technology, Wi-Fi Connectivity

Katrina Mau Fatiaki, Tonga – Community Engagement/Educational Programming, Female Empowerment

Viliami Takau, Tonga – Disaster Risk Management, Community Education/Training Programs

Tala Simeti, Tuvalu – Marine Resource Management/Economics, Advocacy/Policy

Following the exchanges, program alumni will be eligible for seed funding to complete a follow-on activity within their home communities in advancement of their professional goals. Additionally, alumni will also have the opportunity to host an American Fellow for an eleven-day reciprocal exchange in support of their follow-on activity. All participant program travel costs and accommodations will be covered by the program and coordinated by Cultural Vistas.

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 will be 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