PH International (PH) is hosting a group of Serbian professionals to Vermont from March 30 – April 20, 2011 under the “Promoting Inclusiveness for People with Disabilities” Community Connections Program. PH has designed a multi-faceted program for this group, to familiarize them with all aspects of the inclusion of people with disabilities and how these operate in "Mainstream USA" as well as special institutions, formal to non-formal education, adult education, skills development and job preparedness and training services. Serbian participants will learn what legislation, regulations, and protocols exist to ensure access and inclusion of all people with disabilities into the education and employment sectors as well as the importance of a multi-sector, community-driven approach to people with disabilities.

Recruitment has officially begun for Youth LAB, a program to foster leadership and cross-cultural understanding among Turkish, Armenian, and American youth. The sixteen-month initiative will bring together 75 young activists – 25 from each country – to discuss solutions to global and local issues.

Ten Belorussian professionals are being hosted in Vermont for three weeks under the Community Connections Program to learn about new models for serving children with disabilities in schools.

DOTCOM student Jacob Rasch of Bethesda, Maryland (USA) was featured in the Bethesda Gazette for his outstanding community service. Read Peggy McEwan’s article about Rasch’s acheivements.

The focus of this program will be on sharing and learning about “infection prevention and control and blood safety issues in hospitals, clinics and medical settings”. As such, the overall objective of this three week program is to expose healthcare professionals from the Kyrgyz Republic to the best methodologies and options available regarding blood safety, infection control and waste management issues in the U.S.