Brazilian Youth Ambassadors pose in front of the U.S. Capitol Building while touring Washington monuments January 10..

Washington — Thirty-five outstanding Brazilian teenagers participating in the 2010 Youth Ambassadors Program arrived in Washington on January 9 eager to represent their country abroad and interact with their U.S. peers.

Launched by the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia in 2002 to promote social responsibility, the Youth Ambassadors Program offers participants the chance to broaden their knowledge of U.S. culture, improve their English language skills, live with an American host family, exchange views with their U.S. counterparts and serve as “ambassadors” for Brazil.

The 35 participants in the 2010 program represent 23 of Brazil’s 26 states and were selected from among 4,000 applicants for their exemplary leadership, positive attitude, social consciousness, academic achievement and English language ability.

Lucas Penna, from Minas Gerais, said he hoped to “learn a lot about the U.S., improve [his] English and see a real U.S. family.” He said the U.S. is more complex and diverse than the Hollywood version that the world sees in movies. To capture their reactions, the participants will be blogging about their experiences (in Portuguese) throughout their trip to the United States.

MEETING THE FIRST LADY

During their first week in Washington, the students visited the White House and met with first lady Michelle Obama, who Nazareno Araújo of Ceará called “amazing and very friendly.”

The students presented Obama with traditional gifts from Brazil: a handicraft for the first lady and Havaiana flip-flop sandals for her daughters, Malia and Sasha. The first lady answered several questions from students on topics ranging from volunteerism to healthy eating and introduced them to the “first dog,” Bo.

The students began their program with a four-day immersion in the civic and cultural life of Washington complete with briefings on entrepreneurship, nongovernmental organizations and the workings of the U.S. government. They also visited Washington landmarks and attended a performance at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. At the World Bank, they tackled the complexities of the global financial crisis in a simulation exercise.

Brazilian Youth Ambassadors gather for an enthusiastic group photo outside the White House after meeting first lady Michelle Obama.
EXPERIENCING LOCAL HISTORY AND CULTURE

After their tour of Washington, the 35 young Brazilians will be divided into four groups, each traveling to a different American city — Charlotte, North Carolina; Bozeman, Montana; Seattle, Washington; and Tulsa, Oklahoma — to live for one week with a host family and attend a U.S. secondary school where they will give a presentation about Brazil and participate in community service. Alongside their U.S. peers, the Brazilian teens will participate in school activities, visit volunteer-based programs and learn about local history and culture.

Jennifer Phillips, the program officer for the Youth Ambassador Program at the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, said the program allows students to “learn about themselves and life in the United States … and helps to build a hemispherewide network of exceptional young leaders.”

On January 26, the youth ambassadors will return to Washington to meet Thomas Shannon, the American ambassador to Brazil. The students will then re-group to discuss social justice and entrepreneurship projects that they can bring back to their home communities.

For profiles of the Youth Ambassadors in Portuguese, visit this blog.

The Youth Ambassador Program is the U.S. State Department’s flagship youth exchange program for the Western Hemisphere. Pioneered by U.S. Embassy Brasilia in 2002, it is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

by Erica Marrero
Staff Writer
America.gov