U.S. Department of State Launches Virtual Student Foreign Service Program
The Virtual Student Foreign Service (VSFS) Program, announced by Secretary Clinton at the 2009 New York University commencement speech, is part of a growing effort by the State Department to harness technology and a commitment to global service among young people to facilitate new forms of diplomatic engagement.
Over the summer, the U.S. Department of State partnered 37 U.S. diplomatic missions and associated projects with 44 current or former interns who are now students attending universities throughout the U.S. The VSFS projects these diplomatic missions and students will be working on in 2009-2010 include assisting in the development of the Iraq National Museum website; helping to teach the English language and American culture through social media outreach; environmental and conservation curriculum planning; and researching and promoting gender equality. Students who are interested in following or contributing to these and other projects can learn more at http://www.facebook.com/usdos.vsfs. The Department of State will continue to develop the VSFS program over the next year to increase engagement with the rising generation of citizen diplomats. More information is available at www.state.gov/vsfs.
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