Youth Ambassador Program: Trilateral North America
Sister Cities International is a proud implementing partner of the Youth Ambassador Program, a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, with specific focus on North America.
This recent expansion of the Youth Ambassador Program now includes all of the countries of North America, bringing students together from Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The focus of this program is local, national, and international discussion of the environment and poverty. Through workshops, site visits to NGOs, and cultural activities, students will explore these issues and gain a sense of what cities, countries, and individuals are doing to alleviate the negative effects of both. The program will include visits to sister cities in the US and Mexico, and a week in Washington, D.C. By the end of the program, students will be tasked with utilizing their experiences to implement a local outreach project in their city.
The Exchanges
Mexican Exchange
June 24 - July 14, 2012
For three weeks, 15 U.S. high school students from the three U.S. participating cities traveled to Mexico. The first two weeks involved exploration of Toluca, San Miguel de Allende, Queretaro, and Mexico City. In each city the participants visited local NGOs and took part in community service projects. During the third week they were home-hosted in their Mexican sister city and were able to learn more about Mexican culture and family-life.
U.S. Exchange
July 18 - August 7
For three weeks, 12 high school students from Mexico, the U.S., and Canada traveled to the U.S. to gain knowledge of the local, state, and national initiatives being taken to address social issues. For the first week they traveled to a summit city to meet the whole group. The second week all were home-hosted in the participating U.S. city. The third week brought the whole group to Washington, D.C. to meet members of Congress, U.S. State Department officials, and additional NGOs.
Sister City Participants
2011
Mesa, AZ - Guaymas, MX - Burnaby, CAN
Phoenix, AZ - Hermosillo, MX - Calgary, CAN
Scottsdale, AZ - Alamos, MX - Kingston, CAN
2012
Los Angeles, CA - Mexico City, MX - Vancouver, CAN
Culver City, CA - Uruapan, MX - Lethbridge, CAN
Modesto, CA - Aguascalientes, MX - Vernon, CAN
For more information on the Youth Ambassador Program, please contact Jennelle Root Martell at jrmartell@sister-cities.org.
2012 Youth Ambassadors at the Sister Cities International Washington, DC office
U.S. high school students enjoy an Otomi Ceremony in Mexico
2011 Youth Ambassador Program participants visit Capitol Hill, Washington DC
Youth Ambassadors participate in a community service project
