FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CDS International’s Inaugural
My America Contest
Strengthening Intercultural Understanding Through Photo & Written Essays
New York, May 31, 2007-In 2006, CDS hosted its inaugural My America: A Country Through a Foreign Lens contest that invited CDS participants on the U.S. State Department J-1 Visitor Exchange Program to submit a photo or written essay about their experiences in the U.S. The winners, announced this spring, in each category received a US$1,000 travel voucher from STA Travel to be used for an international flight.
Submissions came from a diverse group of young people who participated in the exchange program and represented the following countries: Colombia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hong Kong, The Netherlands, Serbia & Montenegro, and South Korea. The My America Contest challenged program participants to artistically express their impressions of the U.S. Entries addressed a variety of topics that articulated the participants' thoughts and perceptions about America, its people, politics and culture, the company where they were trained, and the town where they lived.
"The submissions were incredibly powerful, positive, and moving," noted Cari E. Guittard, Executive Director of Business for Diplomatic Action and one of the contest judges. "When so much of the world is inundated with negative perceptions of the U.S., it is refreshing to see ourselves through the eyes of others who are actually experiencing American culture and life firsthand-their candid and fresh perspectives capture the complexity of America and provide a more complete picture of who we are as a people-truly diverse, empathetic, accepting, and hopeful."
With over 50 entries received in 2006, the first-ever My America Contest was a great success. Participants devoted tremendous time and care assembling creative essays through a variety of mediums, among them: calendars, homemade photo albums, and PowerPoint presentations.
"In a time when the U.S. is in the midst of selecting new presidential candidates, the U.S. is mindful of its global reputation. In terms of our national security, economic competitiveness, and the critical public diplomacy goal of mutual understanding," noted Rob Fenstermacher, Executive Director at CDS International, "CDS has found that the U.S. profoundly benefits from exchange programs as participants come away with a better understanding and appreciation of Americans and the American way of life." CDS' My America Contest is an extension of these exchange programs and aims to deepen intercultural awareness as well as promote international understanding through an accessible medium. CDS J-1 participants, after working in the U.S. for 3 to 18 months, recognize that the U.S. is a welcoming nation and one interested in understanding the rest of the world. All of the contest's submissions positively and uniquely portrayed America-the entries were striking, enlightening, and provocative.
Marius Renn, a German participant, won the written essay category. Renn describes how working in the U.S. changed his life. He states:
"Winning the My America Contest means so much to me, especially at this time when my studies are dragging on longer than I would like, and the thing that keeps me going is my dream of working in an environment like I did in America. The news that I have won gives me such a great deal of strength, and gives me hope that somehow in some way America will be a great part of my life in the near future. The contest was a fantastic way to let out the explosion of thoughts going on inside of me after the internship [in the U.S.]."
The winners' work as well as the 20 top photo essay finalists can be viewed by visiting www.cdsintl.org/myamerica.
The 2007 My America: A Country Through a Foreign Lens, invites international trainees on the J-1 Visitor Exchange Program to submit pictures they have taken depicting their impressions of the U.S. The 2007 Beyond My America: Capturing Experiences Abroad photo essay contest has also launched and invites Americans interning in Germany, Spain, and Argentina to share their experiences abroad.
CDS International, Inc., a New York-based, nonprofit organization, is committed to the advancement of international career training opportunities customized to provide individuals with in-depth practical knowledge of other nations' business practices, cultures, and political traditions. CDS offers a diverse portfolio of exchange programs, professional work internships, study tours, seminars, and language and cultural training programs designed to prepare individuals and corporations for an increasingly competitive international market. For more, visit www.cdsintl.org. The U.S. Department of State's Exchange Visitor Program is carried out pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended. Its purpose is to enhance understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of other countries through educational and cultural exchanges.
