Leslie Eme, Youth Ambassadors Program Manager

Leslie first became involved with AMIGOS as a Chicago North Chapter Volunteer in León, Nicaragua in 2003. She returned to AMIGOS in 2006 as a Project Supervisor in Peréz Zeledón, Costa Rica and again in 2009 as Associate Project Director in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. In 2010, Leslie served as Project Director in Cotopaxi, Ecuador.

Born and raised in Evanston, IL, Leslie attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and graduated with a BA in International Studies and a minor in Latina/o Studies. She spent her junior year studying abroad in Ecuador with the University of Minnesota’s MSID program. Since getting her degree, Leslie has lived in Washington, DC, where she interned with the International Labor Rights Forum, and in Quito, Ecuador, where she worked as the International Sales Manager at Pacari Chocolate.

Currently, Leslie lives in San Francisco where she manages the Youth Ambassadors Program and travels frequently to Paraguay and Uruguay to work with AMIGOS partner agencies and program participants in both countries. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with so many inspiring youth accross the Americas! When she's not working, Leslie loves exploring the outdoors and enjoys hiking, cycling and camping.

Emma Smith, Youth Ambassadors Program Coordinator, SF Bay Area

Emma volunteered with AMIGOS in La Paz, Honduras in 2003 and, upon returning home, stayed connected to the organization as an East Bay Training Staff Member in 2004. After supporting the Youth Ambassadors Program as a Training Assistant in 2012, Emma is thrilled to continue working closely with the Program as a Coordinator.  In 2008, Emma graduated from Lewis and Clark College in Oregon with a degree in Hispanic Studies and Gender Studies, living in the Dominican Republic and Chile for part of that time. During her studies in the Dominican Republic, Emma volunteered as a counselor for a maternal-infant health center. This passion followed her back to Oregon where she worked as the Youth Programs Coordinator for a reproductive rights education teen group. In Oakland and Nevada City, CA, Emma has continued to work with high school-aged groups, particularly those with a focus on personal empowerment and community engagement. 

Currently, she is working towards her M.A. in Non-Profit Administration at the University of San Francisco and continues to coach youth at a local circus arts center.  Every experience with youth leadership seems to solidify Emma's desire to continue supporting education, communication, and compassion among young people--especially cross-culturally. In her spare time, Emma loves to ride her bike, spin fire, and spend lots of time outdoors.

Bianca Benitez, Youth Ambassadors Program Coordinator, Paraguay

Bianca, grew up in Asunción, Paraguay.  She first became exposed to US culture when she received a scholarship to study English at the Centro Cultural Paraguayo Americano (CCPA.)  It was during her studies at the CCPA that she learned of the Youth Ambassador Program. In 2010, Bianca was selected to represent Paraguay as a Youth Ambassador and travelled to Kansas and Washington, DC with the program.  After returning from to Paraguay, Bianca worked with fellow Youth Ambassadors to co-lead a reforestation project titled ‘Green Care’ project. Green Care volunteers successfully planted two thousand trees, and they organized workshops in 5 different cities about the importance of environmental conservation.

In 2011, Bianca began volunteering as an intern at Fundación Paraguaya office.  Her work as an intern included support for the Youth Ambassadors Program. In March, 2012 Bianca had the opportunity to represent Paraguay again.  She was selected as one of the top young leaders in a world-wide competition entitled Your Big Year.  In April 2012, Bianca transitioned from her role as an intern to a full-time role as Youth Ambassadors Program Coordinator.  In her spare time, Bianca enjoys photography, reading and spending time with her friends.

Maria Noel Clerico Pasca, Youth Ambassadors Program Coordinator, Uruguay

Noel was born in Montevideo, but grew up and lived in the town of Las Piedras, department of Canelones, Uruguay. She is a Notary Public and graduated from the University of the Republic, in April 2010. Her contact with volunteer work and youth and adolescents started at an early age, when she began volunteering with the Salesians of Las Piedras.  Noel has extensive experience working with at-risk children and teens.  Noel is passionate about working with young people and motivating them to become leaders in their communities. She is currently the national delegate of MJS (Salesian Youth Movement) for her city. In addition to all for her volunteer activities, Noel works as a trainee professor in the field of Notarial Technique IV in the University of the Republic.

In August 2012, Noel began her work at DESEM as Coordinator of Exchange Programs, specifically Coordinator of the Youth Ambassadors Program. In her spare time she enjoys reading historical novels, watching movies and spending time with her friends and colleagues.