About Open hands initiative
Open Hands Initiative: Bridging the Gap between Cultures
Open Hands Initiative is a non-profit foundation based in the United States that is dedicated to improving cross-cultural and people-to-people understanding between the U.S. and developing countries. The organization achieves this through exchange programs and other projects that focus on our common humanity and shared values.
The Open Hands Initiative was founded in 2009 by Jay T. Snyder, a businessman, philanthropist, and former U.S. Ambassador to Belgium. Mr. Snyder recognized the need for greater understanding between cultures, particularly in light of global events that have highlighted cultural differences rather than similarities.
The mission of Open Hands Initiative is to promote mutual respect, trust, and cooperation among people from different cultures by providing opportunities for them to interact with one another directly. The organization believes that such interactions can lead to greater understanding of each other's perspectives, beliefs, customs, traditions, and values.
One of the primary ways in which Open Hands Initiative achieves its mission is through exchange programs that bring together individuals from different countries for cultural immersion experiences. These exchanges provide participants with an opportunity to learn about each other's culture firsthand by living with host families or attending language classes or cultural events.
In addition to exchange programs, Open Hands Initiative also supports various projects aimed at promoting cross-cultural understanding. For example:
- The "Bridges" project brings together young leaders from different countries for workshops on leadership development.
- The "Global Citizenship" project provides resources for educators who want to incorporate global issues into their curriculum.
- The "Cultural Diplomacy" project promotes dialogue between artists from different cultures through exhibitions and performances.
Open Hands Initiative also partners with other organizations around the world who share its vision of promoting cross-cultural understanding.
One notable partnership is with Seeds of Peace (SOP), an international non-profit organization dedicated to empowering young leaders from regions of conflict with skills needed to advance reconciliation efforts back home. Open Hands Initiative has supported SOP's work in the Middle East, South Asia, and the United States.
Another partnership is with the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). Open Hands Initiative has worked with ECA on various exchange programs, including the Fulbright Program, which provides grants for students, scholars, and professionals to study or conduct research abroad.
Open Hands Initiative is committed to making a positive impact on people's lives by promoting cross-cultural understanding. The organization believes that by bringing people from different cultures together and providing them with opportunities to learn from each other directly, we can build a more peaceful and prosperous world.
In conclusion, Open Hands Initiative is an American non-profit foundation that is dedicated to improving cross-cultural understanding between the U.S. and developing countries through exchange programs and other projects that focus on our common humanity and shared values. The organization was founded in 2009 by Jay T. Snyder with a mission to promote mutual respect, trust, and cooperation among people from different cultures. Through its various programs and partnerships around the world, Open Hands Initiative is making a positive impact on people's lives by bridging cultural gaps one person at a time.