This summer, representatives from the Republic of Georgia visited Bedford as part of a delegation of foreign leaders who came to the United States as guests of the US Congressional Office for International Leadership. The name of this program is Open World and it brings leaders from countries formerly part of the USSR to the US to help them understand the American people and exchange ideas with their counterparts here in the US. For eight days, the visitors met with organizations working in New Hampshire concerned with diversity, equity, and inclusion. Three of the visitors stayed in Bedford at the home of Joe and Ginny Szymanowski. Joe and Ginny have been hosting visitors from abroad for over ten years working with the World Affairs Council of NH, whose mission is to raise awareness of global affairs among the people of NH. Of all the visitors they have hosted over the years, they described this group as “particularly inspiring since the challenges they face in their home country of Georgia are so great, yet their determination to advance diversity and inclusion is very strong.”

Established 2,500 years ago, the Republic of Georgia has for hundreds of years existed under Russian control, finally gaining its independence in 1991 after the break-up of the Soviet Union. Since then, it has advanced dramatically economically and culturally. The young leaders chosen to participate in this year’s Open World were selected based on their diligent work building tolerance and inclusion for disabled citizens, the LGBT community, and religious and ethnic minorities. Their visit serves to show them how US organizations, also concerned with these issues, operate and they gain insight into life in the US.

The visitors staying in Bedford included Mariami Kvaratskhelia, founder of Tbilisi Pride, concerned with inclusion and acceptance of members of the LGBT community; Pikria Baramidze, Chairwoman of Ozurgeti Independent Living Center advancing rights of disabled citizens; and Rima Beridze, US Liaison Open World Georgia, developing leadership opportunities for women.  Despite the challenges of traditional viewpoints and very limited funding, each of these women has brought their country many steps closer to being inclusive, treasuring the beauty of diversity. This year, their jobs have been further challenged by the influx of Ukrainian refugees and Russian emigres now entering Georgia in droves. Like the Ukrainians, Georgians are fiercely determined to remain independent. The visitors expressed concerns about threats to Georgia’s sovereignty, saying, “equal opportunity and preservation of multi-cultural history and beliefs is something we share with Americans, but without independence, we will be on a trajectory away from inclusion and equality, not closer.”

Their stay included visits with representatives from the NH NAACP, Building Community in NH, the Black Heritage Trail, and the Council on Developmental Disabilities, among others.  After their stay, Rima shared her satisfaction with the visit to NH, “This was a truly fascinating and unforgettable experience. We will return to Georgia very encouraged by our friends in NH, further advancing the rights and participation in community life by all of us representing diverse backgrounds. Our country is small, but we have big hopes for its future. The people of NH are doing wonderful things to change the world and I do hope that one day we can make it a better place to live for everyone.”

Over the past ten years, the Szymanowskis have hosted visitors from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, and Kazakhstan. Last year, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament stayed with them. New Hampshire has become a national leader in supporting the Open World program thanks to residents who have welcomed participants. By getting to know people in Bedford, these visitors have gotten a glimpse of life in the US. If you are interested in hosting foreign visitors in your home, contact Anise Jasmin-Sayers at ajasman@wacnh.org.