The U.S. Embassy Montevideo announces the opening of its 2010 Youth Ambassador Program. The purpose of this program is to offer students in public high schools new international opportunities and experiences that will broaden their knowledge of U.S. culture, society and education. The selected candidates will experience life in a U.S. high school environment, live with an American host family, exchange views on topics of common interest with U.S. youth and serve as “Ambassadors” in projecting a positive image of Uruguay in the contacts with the American people they meet.

14 Uruguayan students will be selected to participate in the 2010 edition of the program. They will represent Uruguay in the United States for two weeks as they spend one week in Washington, D.C., and two weeks in the state of Minnesota where they will live in home-stays with local volunteer families. During the home-stay, the Youth Ambassadors will attend school with host family members, participate in community events, learn about their host state and give presentations about Uruguay.

While in Washington, the Youth Ambassadors will participate in guided visits to landmark national institutions such as the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Abraham Lincoln Monument, the Smithsonian, as well as briefings at the U.S. Department of Education on similarities and differences between education programs and meetings at the U.S. Department of State.

Upon returning home, the Youth Ambassadors will be encouraged to participate in social activities, community events and share their experiences with friends, teachers and neighbors.

Students wishing to participate in this program have until November 25 to apply. A list of prerequisites and the application form are available in Spanish.

More information on the Youth Ambassador's Program throughout Latin America, see the Partners of the Americas website.