2016
Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellows share their
experiences and lessons learned after six weeks of training, immersion
at an incubator, accelerator, or civil society organization, and a
summit in Washington, D.C., to facilitate mentoring, networking, and
investment opportunities, in April 2016.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT - Young people are taking a stand all over the world, claiming their right to be an active part of the system because we have learned just how much we can be affected. We demand a place in decision-making processes because if it concerns us, we must be a part of the conversation.
SOCIAL MEDIA - This is one of the most powerful tools that youth have been utilizing to engage with the global goals. The incredible momentum that led up to the adoption of the global goals was spurred in part by young people and the use of social media apps, such as Twitter and Facebook.
YOUTH EMPOWERING OTHER YOUTH - The ECOSOC Youth Forum was important for the hundreds of youth from all over the world that gathered because they were able to hear from experts and people on the ground, but most importantly they were able to hear and interact with other youth. I truly believe this is the most effective and inspiring way youth are engaging with the global goals because young people are not only doing their work for the global goals, they are also bringing other youth into the conversation and uplifting the global community of young generations.
At least 200 million women and girls are thought to be living with the consequences of female genital mutilation/cutting…That’s why it’s so important that we break through the silence on this issue and get people talking about it
“We’re not going to win the battle for millions of young people – these swing voters in the struggle against violent extremism – if they grow up without an education, without values, without opportunities for a better life.” - Secretary Kerry at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
From the Philippines to Pakistan, the international women of the U.S. Department of State’s espnW Global Sports Mentoring Program (GSMP) are making a significant impact in their home communities. Whether helping communities that have faced natural disasters recover through sports initiatives or encouraging families to support girls soccer teams, GSMP alumnae complete their month-long mentorships with action plans that engage, inspire, and empower.
“Whether they are moving mountains, blazing trails or breaking ice, the change agents of the Global Sports Mentoring Program are creating a lasting legacy of empowering women in every corner of the world.” Assistant Secretary Evan Ryan on Empowering Women Through Sports.
Calling ALL American high school students interested in studying abroad! The deadline for the U.S. Department of State’s YES Abroad program is December 1, 2015.
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad program offers American high school students and recent graduates full scholarships to study for one academic year in countries with significant Muslim populations. YES Abroad students serve as “youth ambassadors” of the United States and live with a host family, attend a local high school, acquire leadership skills, and engage in activities to learn about the host country’s society and values.
Like all of the U.S. Department of State’s exchanges, the adventure does not end when participants return home. Using skills gained through exchanges, alumni pursue fascinating careers and work to make our world a better place. Don’t believe us? Take a look at just a few facts and figures about the international exchange alumni community. Not impressed by dozens of Nobel Laureates and Pulitzer Prize winners or hundreds of past and current world leaders? FLEX alumni have clocked 1 million hours of community service and 16 Fulbright alumni have received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Interested in the program? Get to know YES Abroad alumna Savannah Wooten:
Savannah Wooten is a 2012-2013 Kennedy-Lugar YES Abroad program alumna. She lived in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina with a host family during her senior year of high school and attended Druga gimnazija high school as a part of her exchange. Savannah’s exchange sparked a deep interest in the power of policy and diplomacy to prevent, mitigate, and comprehensively respond to international conflict and mass atrocity crimes.
She applied to college with these interests in mind and currently attends both the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University through a collaborative scholarship program called the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program. During her first two years, Savannah completed comparative human rights coursework and research in Chile, Jordan, Nepal, and Rwanda where she has studied a variety of pressing human rights and conflict-related subjects.
Ultimately, Savannah hopes to bring her academic experiences, research interests, and outside engagement to culmination in a career in human rights law and policy. She is considering careers in diplomacy, human rights and civil society. Savannah’s overall experience and trajectory was shaped by her initial exposure to international conflict and human rights violations during her exchange year in Sarajevo.
Ready to make new friends around the world and have the adventure of a lifetime?
High school exchange students achieve amazing things when they are in the United States. Some achievements are team building, like helping high school sports teams to victory. Some build people-to-people connections, such as sharing favorite meals with host families. And some leave indelible marks on communities where these students live, like community service projects. As we celebrate International Youth Day – and this year’s theme of civic engagement – I want to highlight just a few talented young people who came to the United States on State Department exchanges to learn a new culture, and gave back in the process. Read more: http://go.usa.gov/3HBmw
Thousands
of indigenous participants from all regions of the world are converging
on UN Headquarters in New York this week to focus on youth, health and
climate change at the annual session of the Permanent Forum on
Indigenous Issues.
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