United Sates Ambassador, Perry Holloway today met with Guyanese social worker Shaundell Shipley who recently returned from the U.S. after participating in the Embassy-sponsored International Visitor Leadership (IVLP) exchange programme – “Children in the U.S. Justice System” from January 11 – 29, 2016.
Ms. Shipley is the Programme Manager of Blossom Inc. and has been involved in child advocacy and community building work since 2005. Blossom Inc. is a non-governmental organisation that partners with the Childcare and Protection Agency as part of the Ministry of Social Protection to provide services of a Child Advocacy Center in Regions 2 and 4.
According to a press release from the Embassy, through in-depth discussions, workshops, and site visits, Ms. Shipley and her global counterparts had an opportunity to explore the U.S. judicial system, with special emphasis on the legal structures in place to protect children.
The programme offered exposure to the juvenile justice system in the United States and afforded participants the opportunity to compare best practices in treatment and rehabilitation, focusing on the needs of juvenile offenders and their families.
Ms. Shipley, in what she described as a “life-changing experience,” cited the extraordinary benefit of the global network of colleagues she met during the programme. She now has professionals from other countries with whom she can communicate in sharing and learning new pathways to success.
Ms. Shipley expressed to Ambassador Holloway her intention to apply the knowledge gained from her experience to benefit her organisation and most importantly, juvenile offenders.
The International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange programme. The IVLP brings together emerging leaders in their respective professions to learn how U.S. experts in their professions operate, and to share best practices with the other programme fellows who hail from across the globe.
