Youth Ambassadors Paint Island Mural

Details

Art

Thursday, 11 August 2011 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St John's - Ten visiting US Youth Ambassadors worked with their Antiguan counterparts to paint a Map of the Caribbean at the Piggotts Primary School on Tuesday.

Principal Theoline Croft has since said the mural not only beautifies the school, but will be a useful teaching aid.

The group is part of the US Department of State-sponsored Partners of the Americas Youth Ambassadors Programme. The youth, aged from 15 – 18, have been visiting Antigua from July 24, having been selected on the basis of their voluntary involvement, academic achievement, and leadership potential.

The contingent also made courtesy calls on Governor General Dame Louise Lake-Tack, and Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer. They received an overview of Antigua and Barbuda’s educational system from Director of Education Jacinta Pringle, and the parliamentary system from Speaker of the House D Gisele Isaac. The youth also received cultural exposure by visiting the pan yard of Halcyon Steel Orchestra and the Revellers mas camp; and participated in a workshop on Afro-Caribbean dance.

Three of the US youth were honoured to play with the reigning panorama champions, Hellsgate Steel Orchestra, for Jouvert and Last Lap.  In addition, all of the visitors received a tour of Antigua’s historical sites: Betty’s Hope, Shirley Heights and Nelson’s Dockyard.

Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture John Maginley will host the farewell dinner in their honour on Friday August 12. The ambassadors are from Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Wyoming, and Utah.

Youth Ambassadors is a program of the US Department of State’s Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) Bureau.Partners of the Americas was awarded a grant from ECA for 2010-2012 to support the participation of 75 youth and adult participants from Antigua & Barbuda, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago in three-week exchanges on civic education, leadership development and community service. The grant will also support the participation of 22 American participants in reciprocal exchanges to Antigua and Barbuda and Belize.

The youth will return to the United States on August 14 to share their experiences with their respective communities.

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