ISLAMABAD - The Cultural AttachT of the US Embassy to Pakistan, Constance Colding Jones Monday stressed the need for finding commonalities rather than focusing on the mostly superficial differences between the education systems of the countries across the globe. Speaking at a pre-departure ceremony for Pakistani educators here organised by the Idara-e-Teleem-O-Agahi (ITA), Pakistan, the diplomat said, "Only if we understand each other better, and are prepared to treat each other with tolerance and mutual respect, the world would become the place that we all truly desire and aim for." "You have a unique opportunity not only to enrich yourselves with this experience but also to be ambassadors for your country in the United States," added Jones. Twenty educators comprising secondary-level teachers, head teachers and trainers from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), North Western Frontier Province (NWFP), Punjab, Islamabad, and Sindh are participating in this four-week-long Pakistani educators leadership Institute (PELI) programme at Plymouth State University, New Hampshire. The American diplomat said that the 100 teachers trained under this programme have potential to benefit more than 10,000 students per year. "This programme has helped them not only in their professional development but also broadened their personal view about our culture, our people, and our diversity," Ms. Jones remarked. Highlighting the 'unique opportunity' to inspire the minds of young students, the Cultural AttachT called upon the teachers to expose their students to various viewpoints and facts so that they may arrive at informed conclusions. Orientation kits and air tickets to the 20 successful participants who will be departing for a four-week-long training programme at the Plymouth State University, NH USA on June 28, 2008. The daylong pre-departure orientation session was organized for 20 educators from FATA, NWFP, AJK, Punjab, ICT, and Sindh. The Pakistan Education Leadership Institute (PELI) Program has been launched in collaboration between Plymouth State University, USA and Idara-e-Taleem-O-Aagahi (ITA) and School Improvement Network Pakistan. The positive outcomes of the institutes convinced the US Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, to extend the programme with a new grant entitled "Active and responsible citizenship through education in cultural heritage preservation and environmental stewardship". These areas of focus will be embedded in the subjects of language, science and environment, which are extremely pertinent for the educational and democratic challenges faced by Pakistan at present. The 2008 programmes entails both out of country training and in country application of the skills learnt during the post-training phase in Pakistan. Zaeem Chaudhry, on behalf of the Ministry of Education thanked ITA for helping the Government of Pakistan to achieve its goals for quality education in these challenging times. Baela Raza Jamil, Chairperson ITA and Beena Raza Coordinator SINP and PELI thanked all the participants for their collaboration and commitment to Quality Education For All and becoming ambassadors of change and dynamic members of a movement of teachers without frontiers for Pakistan.