Results of the First-Ever Youth Ambassadors Summit

December 3-5, 2010

Partners of the Americas convened 50 youth leaders from 19 countries from December 3-5, 2010, in Panama City, Panama to launch the first-ever International Youth Ambassadors Network at the Youth Ambassador Summit. The YA Summit was focused on creating innovative opportunities to help youth develop leadership skills and cultivate a new generation of leaders in the region.

Over three days, the 50 youth leaders participated in panel and small group discussions to share volunteer service project ideas and learn about organizations and existing resources available to youth in the region. They participated in the Soy Voluntario workshop to better understand how to work with and engage volunteers. And they debated and dialogued on how to form a regional network uniting youth from various countries to support each other and to create new opportunities for development in their countries.

Throughout the Summit, the youth heard from leaders such as the US Ambassador to Panama, Phyllis Powers; Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy, Fabiola Rodriguez; and the Chair of the Partners of the Americas Board, Tasso Lugon. They disseminated their message through interviews with local TV stations and newspapers.

“Today’s Youth Ambassador’s will be the leaders of tomorrow. In the Western Hemisphere alone, nearly one-third of the population is under the age of 20. We must engage with these young people now as they develop the skills, ideas, and values that will shape our future,” said Ann Stock, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. 

The YA Summit culminated in the election of a Central Leadership Council and seven Working Committees to refine the governance and objectives of the new International Youth Ambassador Network (IYAN) over the next six months. They also signed a declaration of commitments to guide their work.

The Central Leadership Council is comprised of five regional representatives, including: Mauro Caliba (Argentina 2009) for the Southern Cone; Giovani Rocha Batista Santos (Brazil 2009) for Brazil; Mia Stroutsos (US 2010) for US/Belize; Raul Alfredo Mejia Hernandez (El Salvador 2010) for Central America/Mexico; and Francisco Abad (Ecuador 2007) for the Andean region.

Over the next six months, the Working Committees will draft resolutions for approval by the broader YA network in all 19 countries. The Working Committees include: Structure, Planning, Commitment, Projects, Communication, National Networks, and Support.

Before returning to their home countries, the participants at the YA Summit all signed on to the following Statement of Commitment:

“We, the Youth Ambassadors of the Americas, based on the democratic principles of equality, solidarity, and camaraderie, commit to: a) build the International Youth Ambassadors Network; b) consolidate National Youth Ambassador Networks; and c) work together to reach our dream of a region united for the well-being of all people.”

We will post updates as the Central Leadership Council and Working Committees move forward to advance the goals of the IYAN. For more information about the IYAN or the YA program, please contact Elizabeth Auciello at eauciello@partners.net or Lauren Berntsen at lberntsen@partners.net.