We are seeking volunteers to serve as citizen diplomats by welcoming one to two international visitors into their homes for eight nights, from Friday, June 13, to Saturday, June 21, through the Open World Leadership program.

This is a marvelous way to bring the world to your doorstep without paying for plane tickets! And citizen diplomacy is one of the most effective (and cost-effective) ways to improve U.S. relations with people around the world.

Visitors come directly from Washington D.C. to Buffalo, and the International Institute of Buffalo plans professional meetings, transportation, and accommodations for the group.

We ask that host families provide a separate bedroom for each person, access to a full bathroom with towels, transportation to and from the airport (first and last day) and the Institute’s offices (on weekdays, 8:30am drop off – 5pm pickup), reliable WiFi, breakfast and dinner every day and lunch on weekends. Host families also collaborate to organize activities on the weekend together. Your responsibility as a host is only mornings and evenings on weekdays, and on the weekend.

If you are interested in participating in hosting any of these delegates, or have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us! Call (716) 883-1900 ext. 321 or ext. 332.  

Please also share with your friends, colleagues, organizations, and school communities.

About the Program
This program is funded by the U.S. Library of Congress through the Open World Leadership Center for visitors coming from the Post-Soviet Bloc and Eurasian countries, with this group coming from Hungary. The goal is to develop a network of regional leaders who have gained exposure to America’s government and economic systems. Past topics have included human trafficking, domestic violence, refugees, trade, water management, and health. This group consists of five delegates and one bilingual facilitator, and their topic will be energy security.