Providence Students Prepare to Flex Leadership Skills at Youth Camp

Mayor Taveras sends off five students to participate in the Youth United for Global Action and Awareness Leadership Camp.

On Wednesday, July 13, Mayor Angel Taveras joined representatives from Plan International USA to award five scholarships to Providence students that have been chosen to attend the Youth United for Global Action and Awareness (YUGA) Leadership Camp at Camp Aldersgate in North Scituate from July 17-23.

The Mayor congratulated students - Andrei, 13 of Paul Cuffee, Ebonee, 16 of Hope High School, Elisa, 17 of Providence Career + Tech Academy, Kiana, 15 of Paul Cuffee, and Voravong, 14 of Roger Williams Middle School - who will get to attend the camp for free this summer. They are among the students from 19 US states and five countries participating this summer, joining other youth from Haiti, Netherlands, Liberia, USA, and the Dominican Republic.

"I am proud to send our kids from Providence off to this very exciting and important camp to tackle issues that affect communities on a global scale," said the Mayor. "Thank you to Plan International USA and YUGA for making it possible for our students to attend."

At camp, students will learn, share, and discuss global issues and how they can take action in their own communities. YUGA youth will be empowered to take action on local and global issues including HIV/AIDS, global poverty, child exploitation, environmental sustainability, and girls' rights/ gender inequality through workshops, activities, guest speakers, and loads of fun activities. During down time, campers will take part in art projects, canoeing, a high ropes courses, and other outdoor games.

"Plan reaches out to young people to take local action on global issues. We are very proud of what our YUGA camp accomplishes each year-it's always inspiring to watch young people from different cultures unite around the common goal of taking action to shift others' thinking about important issues affecting everyone." said Corrie Mook, Plan International USA's Youth Engagement and Action (YEA) coordinator.

About YUGA
YUGA - Youth United for Global Action and Awareness is a network of young people around the US who aim to promote global change through increased understanding, awareness and action on local and global issues.

YUGA members run campaigns in their schools and communities throughout the year to get their peers involved in global issues and engaged as agents of change in our world.

YUGA is an initiative of Plan International USA's Youth Engagement and Action Program. The YEA program seeks to build and strengthen a network of young people, youth groups and organizations, and adult allies who raise awareness and take action on issues that affect children and youth around the world.

For more info, visit www.planusa.org