In October, JWW launched a new initiative aimed at bringing high school students together from schools throughout L.A. County to develop a cohort of educated teen activists: the JWW Teen Ambassador Program, or TAP.
The 2016-17 TAP group, comprised of 21 student Ambassadors from 11 public and private high schools, will meet monthly to learn, share ideas, plan events and discuss current developments in the continuing crisis areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, South Sudan and Syria.
Drawing upon the expertise of JWW staff, educators and guest speakers, TAP teens will develop leadership, community-organizing and advocacy skills which they use to encourage their peers and other community members to join them in taking actions, including participation in the annual Walk to End Genocide.
Students will mobilize their campuses through speaking events, pen-pal programs with Congolese students, and participation in meetings with local legislators to advocate for US involvement in humanitarian aid and political action to help those affected by genocide and mass atrocities.
There are still nine Teen Ambassador positions available for the 2016-17 academic year. Interested high school students should check out the TAP page and download an application.