United States—South Africa Leader Exchange Program, Inc.

Extract

Organised in 1958 and directed by a committee of 30 business, professional, and civic leaders in the United States and South Africa, the Leader Exchange Program increasingly is fulfilling its mission of building a ‘bridge of understanding and co-operation’ by means of private, non-governmental efforts. In both countries, lack of accurate information and often sensational news reporting have not contributed to an atmosphere of genuine understanding of each other's problems and of the progress being made toward solving these problems. No attempt is made by the Program to mould opinion. Rather, the aim is to permit ‘exchangees’ to see for themselves and to enable them to have frank, face-to-face discussions with a variety of individuals representing the widest possible range of outlooks. Not only have effective lines of communication been established between university professors, journalists, medical doctors, social workers, business executives, artists, authors, and scientists in the two countries, but these lines are continually being strengthened and expanded, due in large part to the enthusiasm of the exchangees, who do not regard their visit as a ‘one-shot’ contact with the other country.