Global Youth Service Day

This week marks the 2014 Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), which celebrates and mobilizes the millions of young people who improve their communities each day of the year through service. This special day is celebrated each year in more than 135 countries, with young people working together - alongside schools, youth organizations, civil society organizations, government agencies, national service programs, and more - to address the world's most critical issues and change their communities. Established in 1988, Global Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world, and the only day of service dedicated to children and youth. While this day has always been near to my heart, it is extra special this year because I am actively participating in it.

Yesterday I was contacted by a press officer from Peace Corps Headquarters inviting me to be teleconferenced in to the Global Youth Service Day Conference being held in Washington DC. Two other PCVs and I will be broadcast live to the National Mall to talk about our service and do a Q&A for viewers. We will represent the 7,209 currently serving Peace Corps and, hopefully, inspire youth to continue giving back to this interconnected global community.  Wow.

I feel very honored and extremely humbled to have been asked and a little bit intimidated by the task. But I am up to the challenge. I am inspired every day by the work we are doing abroad and I believe in the capacity we each have to help. I  have seen the impact in Botswana. This is my chance to share it with a much larger group at home. How very exciting!

If you want to learn more about GYSD, please check out their website at http://www.gysd.org/ and if you're in the Washington DC area on Friday and see my face up on the screen, send me a wave!