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YES Students Stay Busy in Iowa

Iowa Busy

The past few weeks have been busy for YES students in Iowa, as they have participated in both the Iowa caucuses and attended the Iowa Student Global Leadership Conference (ISGLC). 

Seven YES students attended the Iowa caucus and had varying thoughts about the process. 

“It’s kind of sketchy,” said Areeb Irfan, 2015-2016 YES exchange student from Pakistan. “You guys trust people too much.” 

Salim Ahmed from Tanzania was surprised by how many people attended his precinct in Dubuque, Iowa. 

Another YES exchange student from Tanzania, Maria Mbura, was impressed by how organized the American political system is.  

In Tanzania, the public official running for office stands up and speaks in public at random times, so being able to hear first-hand from those wanting to be elected is just luck of the draw, explains Maria. 

The same week the caucus was held, from February 6-7, students attended the Iowa Student Global Leadership Conference, an annual event put on by the Stanley Foundation.

“ISGLC is always a highlight every year for students,” said Gina Zoss, YES Senior Program Assistant in Iowa. “It’s a way for students to connect with people from around the world and learn how they too can be a leader.”

Ten exchange organizations, including IRIS, brought 155 students from 53 countries to the 21st ISGLC. With the diverse range of countries present, the students attending the conference represented 75 percent of the world’s population. 

The conference hosted a variety of programming for exchange students. Friday night included country introductions, speed friending, and a dance. Saturday included breaking into small group sessions to discuss global issues. 

“IRIS encourages our students to attend the Iowa Student Global Leadership Conference every year because we see it as a valuable educational and social experience for them,” said Mary Hallman, YES Program Assistant in Iowa. “The Stanley Foundation always has great presentations for the students to learn about leadership and their role in the global society.” 

Saturday also included the Global Simulation Workshop, a simulation-game that divided the students into two different countries and global organizations. At the end of the game, the well being of each organization was compared between the two groups. The game’s purpose was to provide a real-world example of how the decisions of individuals affect the greater good. 

Aside from getting to know other foreign exchange students located in Iowa, students were given time to share their experiences. 

“This opportunity opens their eyes to new parts of the world, while also giving them a sense of togetherness in their shared experience here,” Mary said. “If nothing else, we know they'll have a lot of fun, meet new people, and make life-long connections that span the globe.”


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