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TAKE A LOOK AT THE PHOTO ALBUM Youth Ambassadors from Paraguay Explore the United States Teens tour Washington and other American cities Released by America.gov February, 2008 - Eighty secondary school students from South and Central America participated in a State Department-sponsored program

 -- called Youth Ambassadors -- that brought them to the United States for two weeks during the 2007-2008 academic year.

Recently, 20 students from Paraguay and Uruguay concluded their visit. Students from Brazil have also completed the program, and others from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Venezuela will arrive later in 2008.

The program, funded by the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs and the Office of the Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, divides the students’ visit into two parts.  First, they arrive in Washington for the first week of their visit and engage in a variety of activities -- sightseeing, visiting museums and monuments and meeting with U.S. officials, such as Thomas Shannon, U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs. 

Over the years, Youth Ambassadors have met with first lady Laura Bush, secretaries of state Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell, Supreme Court justices and various members of Congress.

Youth Ambassadors also are taught about the culture of volunteerism in the United States.  “I liked how people volunteer here; the people don’t wait for change -- they work in the community to improve things,” said Paraguayan Youth Ambassador Alhelí Aranda.

The second part of the trip involves spending a week with a host family in a U.S. city and attending a local secondary school.

The Youth Ambassadors program was launched in 2002.  Applicants must attend public schools, demonstrate academic achievement, be involved in community service, come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and have no previous overseas travel.  The program offers participants the chance to broaden their knowledge of U.S. culture, improve their English, exchange views with U.S. counterparts and be Youth Ambassadors for their countries. 

NAVIGATING WASHINGTON

Regarding their visit to Washington, the teenagers from Paraguay and Uruguay said they were very impressed with the architecture and museums of the nation’s capital.  “It’s the most beautiful city I’ve ever seen,” said Nathalia González.

They also were excited about ice skating in the city’s Sculpture Garden on the National Mall, an activity that is new to most of them, said González.  She added that she was impressed with the memorials to Presidents Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Delano Roosevelt: “You could read what they said; they are still alive because what they believed in came true.”

The Paraguayan and Uruguayan Youth Ambassadors also met with U.S. government officials, including Assistant Secretary Shannon.  They discussed issues such as climate change, free trade, democracy and education.  Many expressed an interest in improving the democratic institutions in their countries and improving the lives of their fellow citizens.  Many also indicated a desire to study in the United States.

González and Aranda concluded their meeting with Shannon by singing Paraguayan folk songs with guitar accompaniment.  González also presented Shannon with a ñandutí, a piece of traditional embroidered lace that symbolizes the beauty of Paraguay.

VISITING AMERICAN HOST CITIES

In the final leg of the trip, the Paraguayan Youth Ambassadors went to Lawrence, Kansas, and Uruguayan Youth Ambassadors went to Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota. 

During their first day in Lawrence, the Paraguayans were introduced to an American tradition -- the “snow day,” a day off from school due to severe winter weather.  They had to miss school that day, but they said they were excited about seeing snow for the first time.

In telephone interviews, the Youth Ambassadors described Americans as nice, friendly and happy.  It was also a welcome discovery that the American students were interested in the Youth Ambassadors’ countries and cultures, they said. 

Attending U.S. high schools for a week helped them understand American teenage culture, they said.  Many commented on the strong youth culture in America, saying American students had much independence, can drive at age 16 and usually are allowed to wear what they want instead of school uniforms.

Overall, the Youth Ambassadors said they felt they had learned much from their U.S. experience.  Several, like González and Aranda, said they plan to use the knowledge gained in America to establish volunteer projects in their own countries.

ACADEMIC FUTURE

The Youth Ambassador program opens doors for its alumni to attend college in the United States.  Former Youth Ambassadors have received more than $1.5 million in scholarships from schools such as the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, Smith College in Massachusetts, and New York’s St. Lawrence University.

Alan Martino and Deborah Rufino, two Brazilian alumni of the program, both study at American colleges -- Rufino is at Smith, and Martino attends St. Lawrence University.  The two helped found the Youth Ambassadors Alumni Association, which connects alumni of the program and helps new Youth Ambassadors prepare for travel to the United States.

Recalling his visit in 2005 to Washington and Chicago, Martino said it was an eye-opening experience. 

“You can see both Brazil and the U.S. from the inside and outside, and I had the chance to represent Brazil.  I got money and books donated for my volunteer project of teaching English to the elderly in Sao Paulo,” he said.  Martino currently is studying in the United States on a full scholarship.

Rufino said the Youth Ambassadors experience “broadened my horizons.  Before, I thought studying abroad was beyond what I can do.”  Now, three years later, she is attending a top U.S. liberal arts college.

As these two can attest, the Youth Ambassadors program offers teenagers from Latin America not only a free trip to the United States, but also a potentially life-changing experience.