The Young Ambassadors.2

Thank you for your support of the Young Ambassadors Transatlantic Summer Camp for Peace this past summer. We are seeking your assistance to expand. The success of the summer program has created a movement to promote peace, intercultural competence, and motivation to help young people living in distressed areas in the city of Chicago to become citizens of the world. As a result of the summer program, the Young Ambassadors Program.2 has been established and is seeking to become a year around program. Its goals are: 1) a summer exchange program in Berlin, Germany for youths; 2) establishment of German language programs in the local schools in the Roseland area of Chicago; 3) year around youth development that focuses on internationalism and cultural diplomacy; and 4) the intercultural summer sports camp.

The summer program, which many of you supported, demonstrated how to help youths make this transformation. How did we do it? Our camp had a intercultural holistic framework. It consisted of a sports segment that attracted youths, who would not have otherwise signed up for the program; an intercultural competency view, where the American youths were introduced the German language and culture; and the German youths were introduced to American and African American culture.  The groups were exposed to positive role models. The principal of the host school interacted with the youths. Judges, professors, and police officers also talked to the youths. Our basketball camp played a major part in breaking down cultural barriers and creating friendships. The camp stressed fitness, teamwork, sportsmanship, and interrelation skills.

With your assistance, we will be able to expand the program to include more students from the Roseland area.

Dr. John Long,
Retired, Faculty, University of Illinois at Chicago
Director, Lilydale First Foundation World Citizen Initiative
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Lilydale First Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois