Youth Service America and Festival of Children Foundation announce that Christopher Cao, 16, of Fairfax, will serve as a National Child Awareness Month Youth Ambassador. As one of 51 Youth Ambassadors selected from a nationwide pool, Christopher will receive funding and training to lead an initiative to provide technology for underprivileged students all over the world.
Christopher’s work begins in September—National Child Awareness Month— when he travels to Washington, D.C., for leadership training and meetings with members of the state’s congressional delegation. He then returns home to launch a campaign to refurbish and repair old computers as donations to impoverished children.
Christopher was selected through a competitive application process, and chosen based on the quality of his project proposal and its potential to create substantive, large-scale change on behalf of young people around the world.
Now in its eighth year, National Child Awareness Month is a program spearheaded by Festival of Children Foundation to raise awareness about issues affecting children and encourage the nation’s youth to take action.
The 51 Youth Ambassadors will work in their communities, and form a collective network to raise awareness around issues important to young people. Youth Ambassadors receive a national-level platform for their cause; a $1,000 grant to develop a service project his or her home state; ongoing training and project guidance; and networking opportunities with other Youth Ambassadors across the country.
“These teens and young adults are the future of philanthropy. They understand the importance of making a difference and giving back. Festival of Children Foundation’s collaboration with YSA allows us to give these kids the tools to create a powerful youth network that will create lasting change across the country,” said Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, founder and executive director of Festival of Children Foundation.
A rising junior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) and resident of Fairfax, VA, Christopher is the founder of Reboot for Youth. The idea for the organization sparked in late 2013 when he was volunteering at a free tutoring program targeting low-income families called GIVE, where he met a young student who did not have a computer to complete homework. The lack of technology in this student’s home forced the constant usage of library computers, which does have limited access. Christopher hopes to revolutionize the educational opportunities available to underprivileged students worldwide through increased access to technology.
YSA (Youth Service America) helps young people find their voice, take action, and make an impact on vital community issues. Through international campaigns such as Global Youth Service Day and Semester of Service; funding and grants programs; resources and training opportunities; and recognition programs, YSA helps build a global culture of engaged children and youth committed to a lifetime of meaningful service, learning, and leadership. For more information, visit www.YSA.org.
Festival of Children Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves to bring together and coordinate the efforts of charities, companies and individuals who actively work to improve the lives of children. Festival of Children Foundation gives a voice, guidance and support. 100% of the administrative costs are covered by designated funding, allowing donations to go further in direct support of programs and services that improve the lives of children. For more information, please visitwww.festivalofchildren.org.
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