Youth Ambassadors Program

The Youth Ambassadors Program, sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, enables high school students, educators and youth leaders from Latin America the opportunity to experience the United States first-hand and to broaden their understanding of U.S. culture, education and society. Through thematic three-week community stays and service projects in various parts of the United States, the program is designed to help prepare these participants in youth leadership development, civic education and community service, and it promotes mutual understanding between the people of the Americas,

Through the International YMCA, Colombia and Mexico will each send 2 groups of public high school students and youth leaders to visit the United States, with one group each in 2010 and in 2011, to participate in this intensive cultural immersion experience related to the theme of ‘grassroots democracy’ and civic engagement. The Colombia program has a secondary theme of ‘substance abuse prevention’ and the Mexico program has a secondary theme of ‘violence prevention/reduction’. All programs will provide opportunities for participants to interact with American youth and educators and to experience life in a host family.

The three-week international exchanges will take place between January 2010 and December 2011, with each group involving 14 high school students and 2 adult participants. The first group from Mexico is slated to travel to the U.S. during Mid-July to August 2010, and the group from Colombia is slated to travel to the U.S. during Mid-November to Mid-December 2010.

The program includes: (a) recruitment, selection and orientation of the participants from Colombia and Mexico to the United States; (b) hosting the participants from Colombia and Mexico in American host families and group settings in New York, Washington, D.C. and other host communities of the United States while they engage in teen-to-teen interaction, community service-learning projects, and activities geared to expose participants to American culture and the democratic values and institutions key to the history, culture and society of the United States.

To assist in the effective facilitation of this program, the International YMCA will be working with the Mexican Federation of YMCAs and the ACJ (YMCA) de Colombia in Bogota on the recruitment, training, orientation and follow-on elements of the program. Additionally, the International YMCA will work with YMCAs in the United States to facilitate the hosting portion of the program.

TO APPLY: The program is open to Colombian and Mexican high school students aged 15-18 from families of limited economic means who are outstanding students, have demonstrated leadership qualities and an interest in improving their local communities, have some knowledge of English and have never been to the United States. Adult participants will be teachers, school administrators and/or community leaders who work with youth, and will service as participants as well as chaperones.

The International YMCA brings almost 100 years of proven experience in the management, facilitation and operation of international educational and cultural exchange programs. It is our desire to help bridge barriers of prejudice, stereotypes, culture and geography as we aim to foster peace and tolerance amongst young people from around the world.

For more information please contact:

COLOMBIA: MEXICO:

Alveiro Valencia Patricia Jimenez

National Executive Director Director of International Relations

YMCA Colombia YMCA Mexico

+57 (1) 285-7111 X104 +(52) (55) 5243-2359

avalencia@ymcacolombia.org patriciajimenez@ymcacdmex.org.mx

GENERAL INQUIRIES:

Chad Nico Hiu

Program Director

International YMCA

+1.212.875.4328