Since 1946, the World Affairs Forum has outreached to the local Connecticut community to promote better understanding of America's role in global affairs. Its public programs include events such as lectures, film series, readings and briefings. In 2008 WAF began a new educational program to identify and develop future global leaders from within Fairfield County high schools; about 40 schools participated last year. Juniors receive nominations and, over the course of their senior year, attend and participate in WAF's Great Decisions & Forum Series, which helps them develop the skills and knowledge to be successful contributors to and leaders in international affairs. A panel of civic, academic, and business leaders selects one student as the Most Outstanding Future Global Leader to receive a $10,000 merit scholarship.
This is the first year GFA has participated in this program, and 2010 graduate Ramzi Nimr served as our 2009-2010 Future Global Leader. The events he attended include:
October 2009: A "Briefing" event at the Council on Foreign Relations, where the students learned about CFR's mission and relevant resources for their research interests. CFR President, Richard Haass, spoke on Obama's Foreign Policy Challenges, African Policy Studies Fellow, John Campbell, spoke on Democratization in Africa, and the Center for Preventative Action Fellow, Micah Zenko, spoke on conflict prevention.
December 2009: A High School "Roundtable" event with Ambassador Philip Wilcox, current President of the Foundation for Middle East Peace. Amb. Wilcox also served as the US Chief of Mission and US Consul General in Jerusalem.
February 2010: A "Great Decisions" lecture on "Preventing Genocide" with Dr. Ben Kiernan, Director of the Genocide Studies Program at the Yale Center for International and Area Studies.
March 2010: An Ambassadors' "Roundtable" event on "The New World of Cyber Threats" with Scott Borg, Director and Chief Economist of the US Cyber Consequences Unit.