Lam with children in Brazil

Imagine being 9-years-old and forced to flee the only home you know, traveling on foot for nearly a month. Imagine you had to do this to escape the atrocities of serving as a child soldier in South Sudan. Such a childhood could make one bitter and destructive, or in Lam Kueigwong's case - a respected musician and an ambassador for ending the violence in southern Sudan.  After dropping his gun and fleeing to Kenya, Lam as he is popularly known, decided to seek an education and ultimately a career in music. The challenges he faced as a refugee and former child soldier sharpened his perspectives for his music and his life. His music has given him a voice to deal with his ordeals as a child soldier and to build awareness about the effects of war on children and the importance of avoiding drugs and alcohol. In 2006 he released his first song, Child Soldier, and his success as a musician has continued to grow. His music was featured in the film Blood Diamonds.

Lam and 20 other talented musicians from throughout Africa will be coming Los Angeles the last week of July as participants in the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program. The group will be meeting with professionals in L.A. to discuss hip hop, civic engagement and reaching out to the disenfranchised.  IVCLA is currently seeking Los Angeles area professionals interested in meeting with the group. If you would be interested in meeting with the group or have any contacts in the industry, please contact Kim Le at kle@ivcla.org  or 213 388-1428 x22.    

Los Angeles City Councilman Tom LaBonge on the Annual Sister Cities Summer Solstice Hike in Griffith Park with Foreign Service Nationals from around the world

IVCLA was pleased to host sixteen Foreign Service Nationals, who are locally hired employees of United States embassies and consulates around the world. Most of them have had little or no experience in the United States, so this program was an opportunity for them to gain skills-based training and an introduction to U.S. government, society and values.

Participants spent the first week in Washington DC meeting with State Department colleagues to learn how to use public diplomacy's most important exchange programs and outreach products; and how to design effective programs geared toward U.S. foreign policy objectives in their countries. Participants also visited Washington cultural and educational institutions to learn about using public diplomacy media products effectively.

During their second week in the U.S., participants came to Los Angeles to gain first-hand knowledge of the American educational system, local and state government, cultural institutions and civic/community groups, giving them a context to share American cultural values and viewpoints back in their countries. In addition to their meetings and site visits, participants enjoyed dinner in the homes of IVCLA Citizen Diplomats and an active morning volunteering with Tree People.