2010 YOUTH
AMBASSADORS PROGRAM
Ultima fecha límite de aplicación 26 de febrero
2010
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 of YMCA
of Greater NY, Colombia YMCA 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 ‘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 Colombia is
slated to travel to the U.S. during the third week of
November and second week of December 2010.
The program includes: (a) recruitment,
selection and orientation of the participants from Colombia
to the United States; (b) hosting the participants from
Colombia in American host families and group settings
in New York, Washington, D.C. and Seattle in 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 Colombian Federation of YMCAs 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 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.
Requisitos
imprescindibles:
