Open World Program

Program Structure

COIL administers rule of law, parliamentary, and civic program themes. Delegates have a one-day orientation in Washington D.C. before traveling to a hosting community. The delegates home-stay with local families and participate in a series of meetings, interviews, presentations, and panel discussions with experts in their fields.

Congressional Office for International Leadership

The Congressional Office for International Leadership (COIL), formerly known as the Open World Leadership Center, administers the Open World program. The agency is part of the U.S. legislative branch and is housed in the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

Every year, through the Senate and House Subcommittees on Legislative Branch Appropriations, U.S. Congress decides upon funding for COIL. The agency then confers grants to a variety of national organizations including Rotary clubs and other service organizations, community colleges and universities, sister-city associations, and international visitor councils.

COIL has a board of directors with eleven members. The founding chairman of the board was James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress. There are three members from the House of Representatives and three members from the Senate. In addition, there are four individuals outside of the government who have an interest in improving relations between COIL's focus countries and the United States.

References

References

1. "Open World Leadership Center".
2. "Message from the Executive Director".
3. "Open World Program Overview".
4. "Open World Awards Grant to the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation".