Newsletter and Holiday Greetings from Fulbright Iceland
Fulbright Iceland Valsson
Wishing You a Happy Holiday
Message from Executive Director Belinda Theriault
Dear alumni and friends,
As the end of the year draws closer, let me thank you all for your friendship in 2024. It is truly a blessing to belong to this community of people who have not only ambition and drive to utilize their intellect for good, but a deep commitment to promoting mutual understanding and the values of Fulbright.
All the work that Fulbright does is meaningful and has a purpose. Sometimes, though, we get to take part in projects that have special meaning to us. I would like to mention a couple in which we at Fulbright Iceland have recently been involved. Firstly, it is very gratifying to note that Fulbright Arctic Initiative IV got underway in September, with the first meeting of the new cohort in northern Norway. Iceland is proud to have three outstanding scholars taking part in this important work, which brings together 20 scientists and researchers from across the Arctic to work on pressing issues in a multi-disciplinary setting.
Secondly, when ECA announced an opportunity to do a project focused on Ukrainian refugees in our respective countries, we at Fulbright Iceland immediately wanted to be part of it. We racked our brains for a few months trying to decide what type of project we thought would be most meaningful in our local context. In the end we asked the new film department at the Iceland University of the Arts to partner with us. They were planning a course in documentary filmmaking and we saw this as a perfect opportunity to collaborate. We received a Ukrainian American filmmaker, Andriy Semenyuk, to work with students to create short documentaries focused on Ukrainians in Iceland. The products of this collaboration, six short films, were shown at a special event hosted by the Commission, where Americans, Icelanders and Ukrainians came together to show support for Ukraine in its valiant attempt to resist a brutal and unjust invasion, to acknowledge the suffering and upheaval borne by the Ukrainian people and to celebrate their unbreakable spirit. The project has meant so much to us and is a reminder that we must not take for granted our own freedom and democracy, and that we must stand together against aggression.
Dear friends, as the holidays approach, let me wish you all a safe and peaceful holiday season. I ask each and every one of you to reflect on how Fulbright has impacted your life, spurred progress in your field and contributed to the greater community in which you live. If you are able, I encourage you to support Fulbright Iceland, either through our non-profit account in Iceland or the U.S., depending on where you pay taxes. You can find info on how to donate below.