The Youth Ambassadors program, a cultural exchange initiative by the U.S. Department of State, recently marked its 15th anniversary in Ecuador. The program focuses on high school students from low-income families and has impacted 211 students in the country. The celebration brought together over 100 alumni to share their experiences.
Sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and Consulate in Ecuador and administered by World Learning in collaboration with Friends of the Americas and Plan International, the program aims to develop leadership skills among participants while promoting community development.
One of the program's alumni, Ángel Granda, reflected on his experience as a Youth Ambassador in 2019. “It was a very educational experience," he said. "We went to Miami, [and] from there to Madison and Washington. My community project was to create an art school offering dance and music workshops." He added that he is currently studying both technology in virtual human resources talent management and medicine in Argentina, aspiring to work with Doctors Without Borders.
Jeidy Flores, another alumnus from 2018, conducted education workshops on sexually transmitted infections within her community. “I wanted to do something to help people make better decisions about their health and their lives,” she stated. Her participation led her to study political science after being inspired during her travels through California, Wisconsin, and Washington.
Recently returning from a three-week exchange in the United States, the 2022 Youth Ambassadors graduated last week. They presented an informational fair showcasing results from various community projects addressing issues such as gender violence, water pollution prevention through soap production using domestic oil, Shuar culture preservation, English teaching for young children through play, and creating recreational spaces for rural children working with their parents.
These exchanges aim to strengthen ties between countries by allowing participants to gain insights into U.S. culture and foreign policy while enhancing communication skills.