Students from the Young Adult Borough Center (YABC) evening school program at Herbert H. Lehman
High School, as well as day school students from Herbert H. Lehman traveled to Israel this past November. This amazing opportunity was made possible by the America - Israel Friendship League (AIFL); a non-sectarian, non-political, not-for-profit organization strengthening ties between the people of the United States and Israel. Through the AIFL’s student exchange program, high school students are able to become true youth ambassadors, bridging distances to reveal the beauty and humanity of both nations, as well as the modern democratic values that define them.
This year’s American youth ambassadors represented the tremendous diversity of our nation coming not only from the Bronx, New York, but from Tucson, Arizona, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Bartlesville, Oklahoma. In addition to visiting Israel and discovering more about the Israeli government and culture, these students were given the opportunity to observe and appreciate many cultural differences that exist within our own country. Most importantly, the students were able to comprehend the commonalities that define us as Americans and citizens of the world, regardless of geographic origin. Denasia Gilley, student at Lehman’s YABC, said "It was the most amazing experience of my life." This journey was certainly a life altering experience for everyone involved and it is the hope of the YABC program at Lehman High School to continue working in concert with the AIFL so that more students from New York City can broaden their horizons and learn about the world we share. When asked what attracted him to partner with the AIFL, Martin Smallhorne, Director of the YABC program at Lehman high school said "As educators it is our responsibility to provide opportunities to our students both inside and out of the classroom. We all share responsibility as citizens of the world and this becomes more evident when we dare to venture outside the borders of our own nation."
Photo taken on Mount Carmel in Northern Israel.
Chaperones: John Rader, Stephen Bland
Young Ambassador Students: Jose Tejeda (YABC), Denasia Gilley (YABC), Fatoumata Kabu, Britney DeSousa, Aziza Shakoor, Sobia Abdullah, Anthony Mamali, Shannae Heywood, Sheana Budhoo, Taylor Fogle and Melissa Kaye Neel.
If you have a school story you'd like to share, e-mail us at mystory@schools.nyc.gov.
Please include a photo with your story. Photos of students require a signed media consent form, which you can email to the above address or fax to (212) 374-5584.