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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:
GENERAL INQUIRIES:
Alveiro Valencia
Patricia Jimenez
Chad Nico Hiu
National Executive Director Director of
International Relations
Program Director
YMCA Colombia YMCA
Mexico
International YMCA
+57 (1) 285-7111 X104 +(52) (55)
5243-2359
+1.212.875.4328
avalencia@ymcacolombia.org
patriciajimenez@ymcacdmex.org.mx
chiu@ymcanyc.org
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