Youth Ambassadors with Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Neda Brown at the U.S. Embassy.

U.S. Embassy Nassau is pleased to announce that six students from Cat Island have been selected to participate in the 2016 Youth Ambassadors Exchange Program in the United States August 8-26, 2016. The program is fully funded by the U.S. State Department. This year’s Youth Ambassadors are: Ashley Major; Wesinque Emmanuel and Annjerneva Linden, 9th and 11th graders respectively at Arthur’s Town High School; and Keshano Brown; Marshanique Saunders; and Alexandria Brown, 11th grade students at the Old Bight High School. The students will be accompanied by Ms. Ethel Turner, an adult mentor and teacher at the Arthur’s Town High School.

From June 27-29, the Youth Ambassadors visited New Providence for their pre-departure orientation facilitated by the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section. They discussed the program with Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Neda Brown, participated in interactive team building exercises at the American Corner in the Harry C. Moore Library and Information Centre, and assisted with The Bahamas Red Cross Society’s meals on wheels program.

Youth Ambassadors with officials of the Bahamas Red Cross Society.

Participants in the three-week Youth Ambassador Exchange Program from The Bahamas and other Caribbean countries will develop their skills to be effective leaders in their schools and communities. The students will visit Brattleboro, Vermont, and then be split into groups to visit several other host cities including Pensacola, Florida, Rapid City, South Dakota and Seattle, Washington. The Bahamian participants will conduct a yearlong community service project on Cat Island upon their return to assist in the development of that community.

The Youth Ambassadors program addresses three primary areas for the students: civic participation, appreciation of multi-ethnic diversity, and youth leadership. For the adult participants, it addresses adult leadership and mentoring. Students and educators will participate in workshops, community service activities, team building exercises, meetings with community leaders, and leadership development exercises.

Youth Ambassadors participate in interactive team building exercises at the American Corner.

Source: U.S. Embassy, Nassau