This spring over 100 Bay Area students applied for the Youth Ambassadors Program and 13 exceptional youth were selected based on their demonstrated leadership, commitment to community service and desire to connect with other young leaders around the world.  As part of the application process,  each Youth Ambassador had to submit a proposal for a Community-Based Initiative (CBI) that would make a positive change in their home community.  The selected 2012 Bay Area Youth Ambassadors traveled to Paraguay this July and spent 3 weeks developing action plans for their CBI’s.  They also participated in community service activities, learned about the CBI’s being implemented by their Paraguayan counterparts and expanded their definition of “community” by integrating into the everyday lives of host families in both the capital city of Asuncion and in rural communities of Paraguarí.  The Youth Ambassadors have now returned to the Bay Area and they are each working to carry out their CBI.

Check out just a few of the Projects on Our Youth Ambassadors Blog:

• ¡Let it be Known! Cynthia's project create a positive school community that values motivation, education and a strong sense of community.
• Camp JACK Gianna's project to to create environmental understanding and educational opportunities in Jack London State Park.
• Move for Love Ashley's project to raise awareness about the struggles of the LGBT community and to eliminate bullying.
• Project F.U.T.U.R.E Jhordy's project to re-open his community's teen center