Global Youth Ambassadors Program
About G.Y.A.P.
The Global Youth Ambassadors Program (G.Y.A.P.) is at the heart of our youth development initiatives. The GYAP MISSION IS TO DEVELOP STUDENT ATHLETES AS LEADERS. Creating an international volunteer networks of clubs, camps and clinics organized and ran by student athletes Coach| mentors, educators, and volunteers; dedicated to EMPOWERING and breaking the cycle of poverty in underserved communities globally.
The program completely supports all requirements within the “5 Pillar Crime Reduction Strategy” implemented by the Jamaican Ministry of National Security. The Global Youth Ambassadors Program promotes crime prevention and reduction through activities including: (1) Service Learning (2) Travel Camps (3) Coerver Youth Academy Sports (4) Education (5) Mentorship (6) Soft Skills and Agri-preneurial Outreach. The Global Youth Ambassadors Program aims to increase volunteering opportunities for professional athletes within Jamaica and to provide scholarship and higher education opportunities for Jamaican student-athletes. Participation reduces youth crime and creates a “Winning Culture” for all G.Y.A.P participants.
G.Y.A.P key Objectives
- Reduce incidence of disruptive children in after schools’ hours.
- Reduce use of violence as a means of resolving disputes by increasing mentor availability.
- Increase school sports involvement for improved health and wellness.
- Increase the number of sport and education scholarships for low income and at-risk youth from our targeted communities.
- Increase self-worth among participants.
- Developed a football career pathway program for certified Coerver Coach mentors and elite players
- Increased respect for self, school (including authority figures) and community through sport Academy team and a variety of Travel and Train™ camp.
The Global Youth Ambassador project addresses key problems, school violence, retention rate in schools, higher education opportunities for At-Risk Youth, building self-esteem through mastery of sport, and developing professional student athletes to re-imagine Brand Jamaica. According to a recent study “JAMAICA: a famous, strong but damaged brand” published by Hume N. Johnson. Image, brand and reputation are the new capital for nations in the twenty-first century. In this new global marketplace, nations, regions and cities are forced to compete for tourists, investment, aid, students, for buyers of their products and services, and for talent. Scholars now agree that nations themselves have become brands and are now obliged to manage their images in order to influence people’s decision in terms of purchasing, investing and traveling.
Nations with little or no reputational capital, including those enduring prolonged crises are thus likely to suffer marginalization and will not easily witness economic success (Viosca et al; Avraham and Ketter). Jamaica’s outstanding brand achievements in sports, music and as a premier tourism destination, is being negated by its rival brands – crime, economic instability (debt, poverty unemployment), corruption and perceptions of declining human rights. The consequence is a contradictory, perplexing and problematic public image of Jamaica, with severe consequences for investment, tourism promotion as well as economic and social progress. In recent times St. James has become the epicenter for crime and violence that involves scamming illegal drugs and guns. The likes of gangs have been identified in high school such as Spot Valley, Grange and Halle Selassie High School level. Even more disturbing similar behaviors have been identified at Primary Schools within our targeted communities.
How Can I help?
Our Global Youth Ambassadors Program is available for anyone with the time and motivation to participate positively.