Of this job is the chance to meet political leaders from other states and countries. Today, I spent some time with Ferdos Ameen, a young political leader in Iraq.

Ferdos has been here for three months, working with the National Democratic Institute. She received the Andi Parhamovich fellowship, named in memory of an NDI staffer who was killed in Baghdad.

Ferdos has been working to bring more women into the political process in Iraq. She and others like her are on the very front lines of democracy.