The Youth Ambassadors Program is an initiative of social responsibility of the U.S. Embassy in Brazil, in partnership with public and private organizations.  Among our key collaborators are the National Council of State Secretaries of Education – CONSED, the Brazilian Ministry of Education – MEC, and the large network of U.S.-Brazil Binational Centers. Also important to the program's implementation are AmCham São Paulo and AmCham Rio de Janeiro, and companies with clear commitment to corporate social responsibility: Federal Express – FEDEX, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Dow Chemicals, Microsoft, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, United Airlines, and Bradesco Bank, the first Brazilian company to support the Youth Ambassadors Program.

Created in 2002, this program targets Brazilian students who are examples in their communities – in terms of proven leadership, positive attitude, proven social consciousness, academic excellence, and English language ability. The Program's main goal is to value and promote the strengthening of public education through these students, transforming them in models to their colleagues and communities.

The winners of this contest travel in January to a three-week program in the United Sattes. During the first week, they visit the U.S. Capital and its main landmarks, participate in meetings in public and private sector organizations, visit schools and social projects, and take a course on youth protagonism. After that first week in Washington, D.C., they are divided into smaller groups that go to different States in the US, where they stay with host families, attend classes in local high schools and interact with Americans of their same age, take part in cultural and social responsibility activities in the community and deliver presentations about Brazil.

The experience of being a Youth Ambassador gives these outstanding students the opportunity to expand their horizons at the same time as they help us strengthen the ties of friendship, respect and collaboration between Brazil and the United States.