Wright State hosting delegation from Kazakhstan

Officials from the central Asian country of Kazakhstan examining civic activism and volunteerism in the United States will be hosted by Wright State University.

The four-member delegation will tour Wright State’s Small Business Development Center and Friendship Food Pantry on Wednesday, Jan. 22, as well as meet with student activists and have lunch with President David R. Hopkins.

The Republic of Kazakhstan, with a population of more than 16 million, is ethnically and culturally diverse, with more than 130 ethnicities. It was the last of the Soviet republics to declare independence following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and has since pursued a balanced foreign policy.

“This is an opportunity for Wright State to show Kazakhstan how we promote civic activism and service learning,” said Michelle Streeter-Ferrari, director of Wright State’s University Center for International Education. “One reason they are coming to Wright State is because of our success in these areas.”

The Kazakhstan delegation is in the United States to examine community service and volunteerism that includes youth engagement. The visit is part of the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program through Wright State’s Dayton Council of International Visitors.

The delegation consists of Daniyar Bexultan, director of information programs and public relations for the Youth Information Service of Kazakhstan; Madina Chuakova, lecturer in the Graduate School of Organization and Management of Health of Almaty State; Assel Krykbayeva, director of the Center for Legal and Economic Reform Assistance of the Public Association; and Kaiyrbolat Sakhmetov, chairman of the Youth Public Association of the Business Council of Youth in Astana.

Their visit at Wright State include an open forum with student activists and college Democrats and Republicans from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Cambiar Room of the Student Union.