who:

Youth Participants are competitively selected high school students who have demonstrated leadership aptitude and an interest in community service; exhibit flexibility, maturity, integrity, good social skills, and open-mindedness; have the motivation necessary to be active and successful exchange participants; and will attend at least one more semester of secondary school after the exchange program.

Adult Participants are teachers, trainers, school administrators or community leaders who work with youth.  They have the role of exchange participant, chaperon and post-exchange mentor.

what: 

The Youth Ambassadors Program is one of the many exchanges sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs (ECA).  The Youth Ambassadors Program brings together high school students and adult mentors from 25 countries across the Americas to promote mutual understanding, increase leadership skills, and prepare youth to make a difference in their communities.  The three-week exchanges are focused on civic education, community service, and youth leadership development.  After participating in the exchange, all Youth Ambassadors work on Community Based Initiatives in their home communities.

AMIGOS administers the Youth Ambassadors Program in Paraguay, Uruguay and the San Francisco Bay Area.  In Paraguay, AMIGOS partners with Fundación Paraguaya's Junior Achievement Team and the U.S. Embassy in Paraguay to carry out the Youth Ambassador Program. In Uruguay, AMIGOS collaborates with Fundación DESEM del Uruguay and the U.S. Embassy in Uruguay to coordinate the program. 

when: 

The 3-week international exchange for SF Bay Area Youth Ambassadors in Paraguay will run from July 10- August 3, 2012.

UPDATE!

More Information:

• Program Objectives
• Meet the Program Staff
• Interested in becoming a host family?
• Interested in being a youth ambassador or adult mentor?