Fort Worth, TX — The Congressional Office for International Leadership, an agency of the U.S. Congress, will send a delegation of young professionals from Estonia to Fort Worth from Jan. 26 – Feb. 3, 2024, through the Open World program. The delegation consists of five professionals who will be accompanied by a bicultural facilitator. While in Fort Worth, the COIL program participants will be hosted by Fort Worth Sister Cities International and the City of Fort Worth.

Prior to their arrival in Fort Worth the participants will complete an orientation in Washington, D.C.

In Fort Worth, delegates will collaborate on best practices for municipal leadership and community engagement from local leaders in Fort Worth. Activities, organized by Assistant City Manager Fernando Costa, include visits with city officials, the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Near Southside, Inc., Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., Camp Bowie District, Inc., T3 Partnership, and more. The delegation will stay in the homes of Fort Worth residents who serve as hospitality hosts.

More than 28,000 current and future leaders from post-Soviet era countries have participated in the Open World program. Open World offers one of the most effective U.S. exchange programs to promote mutually beneficial options for depolarized engagement between future national leaders.

Founded in 1999 by Congress, COIL maintains a vast network of more than 28,000 alumni in strategic countries including Russia, Ukraine, and others in the Balkans, Caucuses, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Open World supports legislative diplomacy efforts for Members of Congress by conducting exchanges that establish lasting professional relationships between emerging leaders and their U.S. counterparts. Program participants are provided with extensive exposure to American politics, accountable governance, and citizen diplomacy, while being home hosted by American families. To learn more about Open World, please visit www.openworld.gov/.