Representative Treefa Aziz attended the Great American CEE Ideas Fair in Washington, DC, hosted as part of the 2026 Community Engagement Exchange Program, a leadership and civic engagement fellowship sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by IREX.
The event brought together CEE Fellows, mentors, host organizations, and program leadership to celebrate the achievements of emerging civil society leaders from around the world. As part of the program’s End of Program Workshop, fellows presented the Community Engagement Projects they will implement in their home communities upon returning from their professional exchange in the United States.
The projects highlighted a wide range of community priorities, including mental health awareness, AI infrastructure development, youth engagement, civic participation, education, and other initiatives aimed at strengthening local communities. Through these presentations, fellows demonstrated the creativity, leadership, and practical problem-solving skills needed to address pressing social challenges.
With more than 25,000 applicants and only 102 participants selected from around the world, the KRG Representation in the United States was especially proud to see the Kurdistan Region strongly represented among this highly competitive global cohort. Four Kurdish fellows and two Kurdish mentors from the Kurdistan Region participated in the program, reflecting the talent, dedication, and growing international engagement of Kurdish young leaders and civil society professionals.
Representative Aziz commended the fellows and mentors for their leadership, service, and commitment to building stronger communities. She also expressed appreciation for programs such as CEE, which create valuable opportunities for cross-cultural exchange, professional development, and cooperation between emerging leaders from the Kurdistan Region and their counterparts around the world.
The KRG Representation remains committed to supporting educational, cultural, and professional exchange opportunities that connect the Kurdistan Region with the United States and the international community.
