Cindy Villalobos

Central American Youth Ambassador program has had a profound impact on alum and her community

Cindy Villalobos was a Central American Youth Ambassador and the experience had a profound impact on her and her community. The CAYA program provided Cindy with a new perspective on waste and how to become an entrepreneur. Thanks to the jewelry making workshops she attended in Idaho and the environmentally focused community building classes she took in Texas, Cindy is using her newfound skills and knowledge to make sustainable changes in her community.

Since returning to her hometown of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, Cindy has continuously worked on spreading the word on reusing and recycling. Through workshops in her community and school, Cindy has been able to teach young adults ways to reuse items and possibly earn a living. By creating jewelry, coin purses, and handbags from utilizing waste, Cindy has been able to teach about reusing in her community.

The Youth Ambassadors Program was sponsored by Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.

Related Programs

Central American Youth Ambassadors

The CAYA Program is a U.S. Department of State youth exchange designed to strengthen the leadership skills of young people from Central America and the United States. This multi-national exchange also builds bonds of friendship and understanding between people of Central America and people of the United States. CIED continues this work as a partner in the Youth Ambassadors consortium.

Youth Ambassadors

Youth Ambassadors is a cultural exchange program designed to strengthen the leadership skills of young people from the Caribbean, Latin America, and the United States. It builds bonds of friendship and understanding between people of the Americas and is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.