From Atlanta to Savannah: The State Department’s Impact on Georgia
The State Department benefits the American people by advancing U.S. national security, promoting our economic interests, providing services, and reaffirming our country’s exceptional role in the world. These benefits directly impact the “Peach State” of Georgia in a number of areas including education, entrepreneurship, and food security.
Educational institutions in Georgia are increasing economic opportunities for communities in Latin America through exchanges focused on entrepreneurship and innovation. In 2017, an incubation boot camp held at Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute provided 10 Central American entrepreneurs through the La Idea Incubator program with advanced incubation services focused on training for entrepreneurs and providing networking opportunities and tours of Georgia-based businesses and institutes. Such exchanges encourage trade and commerce, and the increased sustainability of Central American entrepreneurs in their home countries. In another example, in 2018, Georgia State University hosted 10 exceptional students from Nicaragua for an English immersion program. The 10-week intensive program allowed students to improve their English language skills and cultural understanding of the United States. A working knowledge of English helps students thrive in the international community upon their return home, and an understanding of the United States helps build our relationships with our partners and neighbors in the years to come.
The State Department also impacts Georgia through the WiSci (Women in Science) Girls STEAM Camp program. WiSci is a public-private partnership that brings together a diverse group of female high school students from around the world for a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Design, and Mathematics) education camp with the goal of closing the gender gap through access to education, mentorship opportunities, and leadership training. In 2015, one high school student from Georgia participated in the first-ever WiSci Girls STEAM Camp in Gashora, Rwanda, which brought 30 American and 90 African girls together for a three week curriculum in computer science, robotics, leadership, and social enterprise. Since then, two more Georgia students participated in the 2017 WiSci Malawi Camp and in WiSci Namibia this past June. Today, WiSci continues to empower young women with the knowledge and skillsets to be competitive with their male counterparts during a time of rapid, technological development, providing them with access to high-tech resources, like-minded peers, impactful business connections, and inspiring mentors.
Finally, the State Department impacts Georgia positively through its participation in the U.S. Government’s Feed the Future initiative to combat the root causes of hunger and poverty abroad. The initiative works with the University of Georgia to advance science and research that benefits Georgia’s agriculture sector while leveraging its leading expertise and innovation to tackle problems faced by poor farmers in developing countries. This includes the development of drought and heat-resilient sorghum and research to improve peanut production and nutrition. More broadly, Feed the Future’s work to improve food security abroad opens new markets and opportunities to U.S. businesses and farmers in states like Georgia.
From Atlanta to Savannah, the State Department impacts Georgia, and in education and innovation, Georgia impacts the world.
Find out more about the Department of State’s impact in American communities at Department of State by State.
Editor’s Note: This entry originally appeared on DipNote.
