BSC Chiefs of Mission Propose BSC Youth Ambassadors Program

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 000814

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR U/S Karen Hughes, WHA A/S Tom Shannon, WHA PDAS Charles
Shapiro, WHA DAS Patrick Duddy, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA Director Mary Deane
Conners

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC KPAO SCUL BR
SUBJECT: BSC Chiefs of Mission Propose BSC Youth Ambassadors Program
for FY'2007


Message from BSC Chiefs of Mission - Ambassador James Cason,
Ambassador Lino Gutierrez, Ambassador Craig Kelly, Charge Phil
Chicola, Charge James Nealon


1. SUMMARY: Recently the Counselors for Public Affairs from our five
BSC embassies met for consultations in Santiago, Chile, to discuss
common issues and to exchange best practices. All of us were
impressed by reports on the success of Brazil's Youth Ambassador
Program -- a one-country youth exchange that targets talented youth
from disadvantaged backgrounds. Recognizing the importance of youth
exchange in all BSC countries, we would like to propose that R and
WHA work together to launch a BSC Youth Ambassadors Program, based
on the successful Brazilian model, for youth from Chile, Argentina,
Paraguay, Uruguay and Brazil.


2. JUSTIFICATION: The level of anti-Americanism in the Brazil &
Southern Cone region is the highest in all of Latin America. In many
cases, the negative image of the US stems from the perception that
America is a self-interested superpower that acts unilaterally and
with a heavy hand on the world stage. To ameliorate this image, we
need to show the US in a different light - as interested, engaged,
and dedicated to proposing policies and finding solutions that help
average citizens improve the quality of their lives. There is no
better way to do this than to demonstrate our investment in youth,
the next generation of regional leaders. We anticipate that this
program will generate excellent coverage by major media in all
participating countries, as it has every year in Brazil, and will
produce public affairs benefits for a long time to come.


3. SCALE OF THE PROGRAM: The program would involve an equal number
of participants from each of the five participating countries, 5
students each, for a total of 25 students plus one adult escort from
each of the countries, preferably a Foreign Service national
employee, for a total of 30 participants. The participants will go
to the United States for a two week program. The entire group will
begin the program with a week in Washington and then break up into
five smaller groups -- five students, one from each of the
participating countries, and one adult escort -- that will go to
another state where the students would do home stays and school
visits. Based on the Brazilian model the cost per participant for
the two week program is approximately USD5000. Total amount
requested for this program, therefore, is 150K. It is expected that
funds for the program will come from a mix of post PD program funds,
WHA/PD funds and private sector support.


4. SELECTION: The language of the program is to be English, so there
will be no language gap among the participants who will be native
speakers of either Spanish or Portuguese. Students selected must be
highly motivated and accomplished secondary students between the
ages of 15-18 who have excellent English and come from disadvantaged
backgrounds. Service to the community would also be a strong
qualifying factor. Posts will work with a variety of partner
organizations such as Bi-National Centers, Ministries of Education,
English Teacher Associations, English language schools, Fulbright
Advising Centers, etc. to select the finalists for the five
positions. It is recognized that the selection process may differ
among the five countries, but the standards for selection in each
must be comparable to ensure that all 25 students are of equal
caliber. It is especially important that the level of English for
all participants be up to the program standard. Following the
Brazilian model the process is to be highly competitive and involve
a written exam, oral exam / interview and home visit leading up to
the final selection. Final selection of each country's list of five
candidates will be made by the PAO and the Public Affairs Section of
that country's embassy.


5. PARTNERSHIPS: Essential to the success of the program will be the
cooperation and assistance of appropriate partner organizations and
sponsoring corporations. The Brazil program partnered with the NGO
Partners of the Americas and several private sector corporations
including FEDEX and Continental Airlines. A successful BSC Youth
Ambassadors Program will likely follow that same model.


6. TIMETABLE: Posts would have to begin the candidate selection
process during the northern hemisphere summer months, and finalize
selection by mid- to late-fall in order to send the group to the
U.S. in early 2007.


7. The BSC Embassies -- Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and
Uruguay -- look forward to continued discussion in order to realize
this new regional venture in Youth Exchange in cooperation with R,

BRASILIA 00000814 002 OF 002


WHA/BSC and WHA/PDA. On behalf of the five BSC COMs, thanks and
regards.

Chicola