Algeria Outbound Program 2024: Honoring the Past, Engaging the Present, and Shaping the Future
“My journey through Algeria was transformative, marked by profound personal and professional insights.” - Dr. Jay McCullar
The Professional Fellows Program (PFP) is a U.S. State Department-funded initiative that brings professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 to U.S. cities for hands-on professional experiences at a variety of host organizations. After the program ends, Americans that hosted the Fellows at their places of work are selected for the opportunity to travel to the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, visiting the home countries of the Fellows they once hosted.
As part of this exchange, three hosts who had guided Algerian Fellows in the U.S. traveled to Algeria. Dr. Jay McCullar hosted Saada Berdjouh at the Austin Justice Coalition, Kathryn Breisch hosted Yaakoub Benarab at GoPursue, and Taylor Kampia hosted Ikram Mekidiche at Make a Scene Media. This in-person experience offered the U.S. Fellows a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in their counterpart’s culture, where they learned about the history, culture, and economy of their Fellow’s home country. For the Algeria-bound group of U.S. Fellows, everything from visiting grand historical sites to engaging in everyday conversations inspired reflection and collaboration. Exploring Algeria’s rich heritage became a highlight of the journey, offering insight into the country’s ancient and modern identities.
U.S. Fellows grab a meal together.
One particularly impactful moment came when the Fellows visited the Roman ruins of Timgad, a city built nearly two millennia ago. Stepping into history at ancient archaeological sites provided one of several reflective opportunities. For Jay, the experience was especially moving. The legacy left behind by ancient empires left him to consider his own legacy, the one he could leave through his own contributions. “This connection to history reinforced the importance of investing in efforts that endure beyond our lifetime, both in professional and community endeavors,” he reflected. On a deeper level, he found that the ancestry associated with the African continent as a whole made the cultural experience particularly meaningful.
The journey was equally shaped by unexpected human connections, such as an impromptu discussion with 20 Algerians at the U.S. Embassy. Taylor recounts that talking to these locals was incredibly inspiring. “I was in awe of all that they had to say, and by the end I wanted to get to know every single one of them.” When connecting with the locals, Fellows noted the Algerian people’s kindness, hospitality, and genuine eagerness to connect. Taylor was grateful for the kindness expressed by everyone they met, from the people at the embassy to their own driver, Mohammad, “a star.” Their warmth showed the Fellows the universal power of building community relationships.
Taylor introduces a workshop on storytelling.
Algerian hospitality and community particularly impacted Fellows through their professional networks. One day, the group met with youth entrepreneurs in Batna and Algiers. The Fellows saw in the youths an infectious determination, passion, and initiative; all of the young people looked to foster positive change in education, governance, and sustainability. Fellows took these conversations as inspiration to integrate more youth voices into their work and to mentor these young leaders to build a better future.
The Fellows are back in the U.S. for now. However, they are determined to apply the new knowledge they gained. Kathryn strives to share what she has learned about the country and its people. She wants to spread her positive memories of Algeria, including aspects underemphasized or unknown back home. Starting with her own social network, she’ll fight misperceptions of Algeria and other foreign countries. Kathryn also found that the program inspired her to continue traveling to new places. Looking forward, she’s excited to check off more countries on her bucket list, both in Francophone Africa and worldwide. She feels not only empowered to journey to different places but also to make worldwide connections with the people she meets abroad.
(from left to right) Kathryn, Yaakoub, and Algerian PFP Alumna Ikram Mekidiche.
Through all facets of Algerian life, whether personal or professional, young or old, past or present, the Fellows’ experiences led to deep reflections that crafted a broader global vision. Jay reflected that learning from the place and people around them “was a reminder that every interaction, whether through history, people, or food, holds the potential to inspire growth and foster lasting connections.”
About the Author: Elise Bourmatnov is the Spring 2025 International Program Development and Communications Intern for the PFP, a U.S. Department of State initiative administered by Legacy International.