Sports Diplomacy: Youth Ambassadors in Action

Using sport to build international connection and youth leadership. Through mentorship, bilingual exchange, and storytelling, young runners from Oaxaca become ambassadors between Mexico and the United States.

Support This Program

Overview

This project uses sport as a tool for international connection, youth leadership, and cross-cultural understanding. Through athlete mentorship, bilingual exchange, and storytelling, Oax Sport Inc. empowers young runners in Oaxaca, Mexico to serve as youth ambassadors between Mexico and the United States.

Participants gain personal development and become visible examples of diplomacy in action—promoting shared values like teamwork, perseverance, and equity. The program aligns with UN priorities in youth empowerment and the U.S. Department of State’s public diplomacy goals.

Why This Project Matters

Global challenges require human connection. This project builds bridges—not through policy, but through people. When a young athlete in rural Oaxaca receives a message from a U.S. runner, joins a bilingual run, or shares their training journey with a global audience, sports diplomacy becomes real. It reshapes perceptions, uplifts marginalized communities, and fosters international solidarity through a common language: sport.

What This Project Supports

• Mentorship Circles: Sessions with U.S. and international runners and coaches.
• Bilingual Cultural Exchange: Virtual runs, storytelling, and media collaboration.
• Ambassador Training: Public speaking, leadership, and community representation.
• Community Dialogues: Local events sharing lessons from cross-border engagement.

2025–2028 Impact Goals

• Engage at least 30 youth athletes as cultural ambassadors.
• Facilitate 50+ virtual and local exchange events.
• Connect rural Oaxacan communities with global mentors and supporters.
• Build a sustainable network of athlete-led ambassadors from southern Mexico.