The Public Affairs Section, in partnership with the American Field Services Intercultural Programs Philippines and its local volunteer chapter in General Santos City, conducted a one-day intensive "Citizenship Academy” for alumni of U.S. Government (USG) programs in Mindanao on December 12. Twenty alumni of Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Program, Philippine Youth Leadership Program (PYLP) and Fulbright exchange programs participated in the milestone activity that focused on citizenship education to foster alumni engagement initiatives and cross-cultural understanding, reinforce leadership values, and promote peace activism and advocacy through application of democratic best practices in the participants’ communities. At the conclusion of the workshop, the participants renewed their commitment to reconnect and work together to increase the group’s visibility in promoting goodwill for U.S. initiatives.

The original article was published on the US Embassy blog Peace, Prosperity and Partnership in Mindanao