GlobalPittsburgh Hosting Delegation of Environmental Leaders from Kazakhstan Through Open World Leadership Center at Library of Congress

GlobalPittsburgh is hosting a group of five environmental leaders from Kazakhstan through an exchange program sponsored by the Open World Leadership Center at the Library of Congress.

The energetic and highly enthusiastic group is in the Pittsburgh region between June 21-29 to meet their peers to learn more about environmental education, water issues, alternative fuels, ecotourism, conservation, and the impact of environmental protection and regulation on the economy and business, among other topics.

The environmental leaders participating in the program are:
- Ms. Zauresh Alimbetova, Director of the Republican State Institution “Barsakelmes State Nature Reserve” in Aralsk;
- Mr. Kuat Bakirov is the Manager of Environmental Projects, Public Association Karaganda Regional Environmental Center “ECOCENTER” in Karaganda;
- Mr. Mukhtar Ibrayev is the Chairman, Youth Public Association “Korkyt Eli Karmakshy" in Zhosaly;
- Mr. Aydar Kapasov is an Expert in Transport and Communications for the Public Association, “Consumer League” in Astana;
- Ms. Mariya Savitskaya is an Assistant to the Director, Project Coordinator, and Project Assistant for the Public Association, Center for Coordination and Information on Environmental Education, “EcoObraz ” in Karaganda.
-  Mr. Viktor Frolov is the facilitator accompanying the group from Kazakhstan.

Highlights of the first portion of the group’s program  included kayaking around Point State Park, a meeting with Jackie Erickson, Southwestern PA Regional Director for Sen. Bob Casey (see photo), and a discussion about Chatham University’s School of Sustainability and the Environment with Dr. Crystal Fortwangler and Ida Mansourian.

"This group is very committed to bringing new ideas to Kazakhstan and in developing future exchanges of information and research opportunities," said Gail Shrott, GlobalPittsburgh's Director, International Leaders Program. "This group is definitely one of the best Open World groups that our organization has hosted."

The three host families who are providing homestays for the visitors are integral to the project and have made their guests feel especially welcome in our community.

The Open World program enables emerging Eurasian political and civic leaders to work with their U.S. counterparts and experience American-style democracy at the local level. After the entire program is completed, it is hoped that the five environmental leaders will continue to nurture the linkages that they forged during their stay in the region.