Youth Ambassador alumni lead environmental efforts in their local communities
By Eric House
The 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP 29, is taking place November 11–22 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The conference is an opportunity for global business, government, and civil society leaders to address solutions to climate issues and invest in a livable planet for all.
In light of this, we’re showcasing some of our program alumni who are helping improve the environment right in their own communities.
Each year, Youth Ambassadors return to their home cities and neighborhoods equipped with new skills, connections, and drive to tackle issues they care deeply about. Many of them volunteer with or lead unique projects. Here are two Youth Ambassadors alumni whose projects are leading their communities toward cleaner environments.
“By educating those around us and inspiring future generations, I believe we can create a brighter and more sustainable future — the very essence of the Youth Ambassadors program.”
Aseja Lakisha, a 2022 Youth Ambassador to the United States from the Caribbean, launched a major climate project in her community throughout 2023 and 2024. The goal of “Kids Can Take Climate Action Too!” was to promote advocacy among local youth under the age of 15 through different learning activities.
Alongside her fellow Youth Ambassador alumni, she led an educational session about plastic pollution followed by a learning game and a craft session where children repurposed plastic bottles into planters. She also led an activity that inspired kids to write poems and create crafts that represented what they had learned about the environment and the importance of climate action.
Since participating in the Youth Ambassadors program in 2020, Diego Chavez has been volunteering with Reusamás Foundation in his home country of Venezuela. The nongovernmental organization is dedicated to promoting the “3R culture” (reduce, reuse, and recycle), as well as environmental sustainability and the preservation of urban forests.
He has organized and participated in workshops and training sessions on environmental sustainability, waste lifecycles, and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. He also participated in recreational activities and sessions using recyclable materials to teach eco-entrepreneurship and inspire young individuals to dream of a sustainable future.
“Being a Youth Ambassador and participating in the 20th-anniversary summit of the program allowed me to see beyond and continue making a positive impact,” he said. “By educating those around us and inspiring future generations, I believe we can create a brighter and more sustainable future — the very essence of the Youth Ambassadors program.”
Youth Ambassadors is a program of the U.S. Department of State and is administered by World Learning in partnership with Amigos de las Américas and Georgetown University Center for Intercultural Education and Development.
