Consulate General Toronto Meets with Youth Ambassadors

Toronto Consul General Juan Alsace welcomes Youth Ambassadors to the Consulate. (Credit US Consulate Toronto)

On March 9th, Toronto Consul General Juan Alsace and the Consulate’s Public Affairs Section hosted alumni of a recent Youth Ambassador Program (YAP) for a debrief and a roundtable discussion of their three-week exchange in the United States in 2015. Also joining the group was the Youth Ambassadors Program Coordinator from the State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, Amy Sotherden. The high school students, who represented the Toronto, Markham and Thunder Bay region, used the opportunity to share their experiences in the program and talked briefly about their community service projects. In addition, the students invited the Consul General to speak at their high schools sometime in the future. The YAP alumni and the U.S. Consulate in Toronto is currently soliciting nominations for the 2016 YAP exchange program. The YAP brings together students, ages 15 to 18, and adult mentors from across Canada to promote mutual understanding, increase leadership skills, and position youth to make a difference in their communities. Program themes include: civic education, community service, youth leadership, and social inclusion.