Sydnee Jones, from left, Donovan Cisneros and Jazmine Thornhill served as Central American Youth Ambassadors to the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua for Global Ties Alabama. Amanda Harrell, at right, served as mentor/chaperone. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – This summer, three local teenagers served as 2015 Central American Youth Ambassadors for Global Ties Alabama.

The ambassadors are Sydnee Jones, Bob Jones High School; Donovan Cisneros, Columbia High School; and Jazmine Thornhill, Oakwood Academy. Amanda Harrell served as mentor and chaperone while representing Global Ties Alabama and the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

The ambassadors began their journey in Washington, D.C. with visits to Nicaragua’s and Dominican Republic’s embassies. While in those Central American countries, the teenagers met with local students and participated in a reforestation activity and an entrepreneurial project.

The ambassadors also visited the rain forest for ecological tours and meet with Peace Corps volunteers in the Dominican Republic.

Jacquelyn Shipe serves as Executive Director of Global Ties Alabama, which was formerly named the International Services Council of Alabama.

Global Ties Alabama’s office is in the Humphreys-Rodgers House, 102 Gates Ave. SW in Huntsville. For more information, call 256-532-3560 or visit iscalabama.org or Facebook/ISCAlabama.