In August of 1962, 112 youth delegates from 42 countries traveled in 11 separate groups throughout the United States as participants of a Red Cross program called Operation VISTA (Visit of International Students to America). They lived with host families, attended workshops, and participated in volunteer activities. Their visit culminated in trips to New York City for a visit to the UN and Washington, D.C. for a meeting with President John F. Kennedy at the White House. One of the many notable participants in the Operation VISTA program was current UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who credits the program with inspiring his diplomatic career.