"Through the Washington Ireland Program, I was able to enhance my networking and communication skills which are key talents for any business. On a different level, my work placement at the World Bank gave me an invaluable opportunity to view the world of finance from a new perspective."

Neil Flanagan, Entrepreneur, WIP '06

"For me, one of the most valuable aspects of WIP was the contact that I had with other young people from Northern Ireland, Whether we like it or not, partition is a psychological reality as much as it is a historic phenomenon. I believe programs like WIP, that have an all-Ireland dimension, play a critical role in growing the next generation of Irish Leaders."

Leo Varadkar, TD (WIP '00), Member of the Irish parliament.

The Washington Ireland Program Alumni Network (WIPAN) connects over 380 talented and diverse young people from all over Ireland. Together, they form a cross-community, cross-border, team of leaders that will remain connected to each other and work together to shape tomorrow's Ireland. WIPAN takes an active role in supporting community outreach activities and facilitates alumni-led public service initiatives such as; the Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES), an Active Citizenship Expo, the "What is Ireland?" symposium and an annual Charity Ball.