U.S. Embassy Presents 2009 Youth Ambassadors

February 18, 2009

Youth Ambassadors with Ambassador Ayalde.

Ambassador Liliana Ayalde hosted a ceremony at the Chief of Mission’s residence to present the 2009 Youth Ambassadors.  These young Paraguayans will travel to the United States to participate in a two-week, comprehensive, cultural and educational exchange program.  Ambassador Ayalde took the opportunity to congratulate the following students:  Lesly Noelia Araújo Pino of Luque, Romina Montserrat Cabrera Ruíz of Asunción, Camila Raquel Ferrés Navarro of Fernando de la Mora, Rebeca Mariel Flor Granada of Asunción, Alma Camila Gaona Ferreira of Ypané, Fátima María Morys Barrios of Asunción, David Riveros García of Hernandarias, Hansell Rojas Rotela of Asunción, Ronald Alejandro Von Knobloch of Asunción, and Gabriele Alana Wentzel Knaak of Hohenau.  The ten Youth Ambassadors, chosen from a pool of over 230 applicants, presented a delightful cultural presentation, which included the signature and crowd-awing Paraguayan bottle dance – a skill that requires one to balance bottles on one’s head while dancing to music, featuring the harp and guitar.

The U.S. Department of State’s Youth Ambassadors program enables outstanding Latin American youth to expand their knowledge of U.S. society, culture, and educational system, while sharing the same about their countries with American citizens.  While in the United States, Youth Ambassadors practice using the English language, receive instruction on leadership, live with an American host family, and participate in discussions on common themes of interest to young people today.  Selected from a group of students between the ages of 15 and 18, Youth Ambassadors have excellent school grades, show leadership capabilities, speak English, come from families with limited financial resources, and show an interest in improving their communities.