The Buenos Aires Provincial Youth Leaders Program (BAYL) brought together 22 youth and three mentors (adult participants) from across the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina to build understanding between the people of the United States and Argentina, increase leadership skills, and prepare youth to be positive agents of change through service.
The program engaged youth in an international exchange to learn about new cultures, build understanding among their peers, and participate in community service. Additionally, the program provided new experiences and resources to program participants so that they can build on new knowledge gained through the exchange and utilize the talents and energy of youth in their home communities. Throughout the program, youth served as ambassadors of their own country and learned to become more active and engaged global citizens.
Goals:
- Promote mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and the people of Argentina;
- Prepare youth leaders to become successful professionals and responsible citizens contributing to their communities;
- Equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead change by influencing peers and to be actively engaged in addressing issues of concern in their schools and communities upon their return home; and
- Foster relationships among youth from different ethnic, racial, religious, and national groups and create hemispheric networks of youth leaders, both within Argentina and internationally.
Program Design:
The program began weekly virtual exchange activities, which focused on program themes. These themes included civic education, social impact through enterprise, and youth leadership. Activities incorporated reflection, discussion, and action planning through the virtual exchange component to activate and energize participants to contribute to their communities.
After actively engaging online to learn core skills, participants met their peers at an in-person camp to further create memories and build a sustainable network. Over three nights and four days, the in-person camp experience concluded the program with recreational activities, team-building exercises, an opportunity to reflect on the impact of the program, and a celebration of everyone’s achievements.
Upon returning home from the in-person camp experience, the youth implemented a community project with support from their peers, BAYL mentor, and program staff. Additionally, they received guidance on how to remain connected to the virtual exchange community they are a part of.
Check out the 2022 Buenos Aires Youth Leaders finalists here.
