Through USAID's Community Connections, 157 Azerbaijani professionals and leaders have traveled to the United States to gain exposure to the U.S. free market system, cultivate public-private partnerships, and create lasting community linkages be-tween Azerbaijan and the United States.

For each exchange theme, Community Connections provides eligible professionals from government, non-government, busi-ness, education, journalism, law, and medicine the opportunity to live with an American family and to participate in three weeks of practical training.
 
Following an open, merit-based competition, Samir Akhundov, Chairman of Lenkaran’s Intellekt Youth Enlightenment Public Union, was selected to participate in the July 23–August 13, 2008 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) exchange.  Held in Kansas City, Missouri and hosted by the International Visitors Council of Greater Kansas, Akhundov learned about local CSR business strategies, partnerships, and achievements.  He met with representatives from the Kauffman Foundation, Commu-nity Foundation of Greater Kansas, Rockhurst University Helz-berg School of Management, and the Local Investment Commission (LINC) on CSR and its impact in education, envi-ronment, and health.

Determined to apply his Community Connections experience back home in Azerbaijan, Akundov recognized his country's lack of access to information regarding CSR business prac-tices.  Through education, Akhundov believes "all businesses, regardless of size, can become more socially responsible." 

In addition to discussing CSR with Azerbaijani NGOs and edu-cational institutions, Samir Akhundov sees himself as a role model for CSR in action.  As Intellekt Youth Enlightenment Pub-lic Union Chairman, Samir Akhundov recently collaborated with the Lider Ltd. chain of computer stores, to provide technology training for more than 25 public school teachers.  Through this CSR initiative Lider Ltd. is closing a critical educational training gap while, at the same time, raising its profile within the Lenkaran community.