Sohanur Rahman, a youth advocate from Bangladesh and Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global, has recently completed the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), the U.S. Department of State’s flagship professional exchange initiative.

Organised under the inter-regional theme ‘Youth and Community Engagement for the Indo-Pacific’, the programme convened rising leaders from across the Indo-Pacific region for a comprehensive three-week exchange in the United States.

The IVLP, launched in 1940, fosters mutual understanding and long-term cooperation between the United States and emerging international leaders.

More than 230,000 participants, including heads of state, Nobel laureates, and cabinet ministers have taken part in the programme since its inception. Participants are selected exclusively through nominations by US embassies around the world.

The three-week professional exchange programme, which took place from May 17 to June 7 this year, began in Washington, D.C.

Participants took part in high-level dialogues, site visits, and collaborative learning sessions with U.S. policymakers, civic institutions, local governments and nonprofit leaders.

During the IVLP programme, Sohanur shared insights from Bangladesh’s recent youth-led civic initiatives, including the climate emergency campaign that prompted parliamentary action, the EcoMen initiative that redefines men’s roles in environmental stewardship, and the Y-Just campaign advocating for a fair and inclusive green transition.

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He also discussed youth engagement in movements for democratic reform and accountability.

In exchange, he learned about American models of youth leadership in public policy, climate justice efforts for marginalized communities and innovative public-private partnerships that uplift underserved youths.