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Foreign Service Youth Foundation

Community Service Award

Members of the U.S. Foreign Affairs Agencies do so much to protect American interests abroad and help keep our country secure. That’s why Clements Worldwide has been giving out several awards. Since 2002, we’ve been a proud sponsor of the Foreign Service Youth Foundation and its annual Community Service Award honoring the children of Foreign Service members who have seized opportunities to make the world around them a better place and shared their talents through philanthropic acts.

This award honors Foreign Service youth who have demonstrated outstanding volunteer efforts overseas, either in community service or in service to their peers, while facing the challenges of growing up living an international, mobile lifestyle.

Winners receive a certificate of recognition for their volunteer work and the following prizes sponsored by Clements Worldwide: first place $2,500, second place $2,000, honorable mention $1,000.

2024 Winners

Join us as we celebrate the inspiring stories of this year’s winners, selected from a pool of 8 exceptional entrants, all of whom have left an indelible mark on their respective communities across the globe. Our heartfelt congratulations go out to these outstanding individuals for their unwavering commitment to service and their dedication to making the world a better place.

Paulina Bacchi, Quito, Ecuador, 1st Place

Paulina’s Project Ruruy is an initiative that tackles the critical issue of financial inclusion, providing access to banking services to Ecuadorian women. 43% of women in Ecuador do not have access to a bank account. This project has the potential to significantly improve the lives of countless women!

Joseph Lange, Pristina, Kosovo, 2nd Place

Joseph started a school that teaches tech and robotics for the children of people forced from their homes by Boko Haram terrorists living in Karon-magiji Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Abuja, Nigeria.

Heulwen Rowlands, USA, 3^rd Place (tie)

As president of her school club “Girl Up”, Heulwen led initiatives to provide feminine products to girls who attend her school. Girls who do not have access to feminine products can suffer from “period poverty” and miss school, perform worse in school, and are more likely to report moderate to sever depression because of menstrual insecurity.

Samantha Kent, The Hague, Netherlands, 3^rd Place (tie)

Samantha’s project was building awareness for sustainability projects from improving waste management education and the actions needed to help solve the mindless waste. She also worked hard to focus education and action on the destructive environmental problems of “fast fashion”, to educating students on Fairtrade principles and toward working to make my school more Fairtrade.

Congratulations to this year’s winners!

About Clements

Our journey in becoming a preferred global insurance provider began in 1947 with the creation of the first expatriate program providing international insurance for the U.S. Foreign Service exclusively. With clients served in 170+ countries, we now manage worldwide insurance portfolios for ambassadors, diplomats, foreign service officers and specialists, the military overseas, contractors, educators, and professionals abroad. Additionally, we provide a range business insurance solutions targeted to cover organizations’ operations in high risk and emerging areas.

Past Award Winners

2023 Winners

Malia Skaret, Paraguay, 1st Place

Malia moved to Post Asunción, Colombia and discovered a leper colony nearby. Witnessing the harsh realities, she founded Project Willing to help the residents. The project provides resources and human interaction to improve the lives of those forgotten by society.

Joy Clark, Fiji, 2nd Place

A high school student, Joy, organized a Midwifery Conference in Fiji to address a lack of updated knowledge and equipment. With support, she brought in experts to train local midwives, impacting over 100 participants, inspiring future conferences, and making a positive impact on Fijian maternal healthcare.

Saha Irwin, Bangladesh, 3^rd Place

Saha, concerned about the mental health of teens who move frequently due to Foreign Service work, created a guidebook and website called “New City, New Issues”. This resource offers practical tips and strategies to help teens adjust to new environments.

2022 Winners

Alessandra Veveiros, Kenya, 1st Place

Alessandra made a significant impact at Fruity City Schools in Nairobi through fundraising for school supplies, planting fruit trees, establishing a library, and planning scholarships for financially disadvantaged high schoolers.

Asher Stock, Qatar, 2nd Place

Asher’s volunteer work at a U.S. Army camp in Qatar involved assisting Afghan refugees, distributing essential items, organizing a soccer ball drive, and contributing to the establishment of an education center, bringing communities together and raising morale.

Brent & Elizabeth Haney, 3rd Place

Siblings Brent and Elizabeth Haney founded Team Ascension Martial Arts, the first unofficial U.S. State Department sports team, providing a virtual platform for their fellow Foreign Service youth to stay connected, develop martial arts skills, attend events and summer camps, and raise funds for charitable causes through campaigns like “Punching4Ukraine,” making a positive impact on their community.

2021 Winners

In 2021, there were 4 winners of the award, all of whom went above and beyond to serve their communities during a time of global turbulence.

Allie Frerichs, Panama, 1st Place

Allie organized a successful fundraiser with the Embassy in Panama, raising $3,000 to purchase essential supplies for quarantined police officers and dedicated several hours per week over three months to coordinate the procurement and delivery of the supplies.

Cesar Lionel Miranda, Mexico, 2nd Place

Cesar, stationed in Ciudad Juarez, established the NGO Youth4Youth International, created a blog, visited Casa Uedes shelter to assess the needs of 44 young girls affected by violence and trafficking, collaborated with The Social Good Fund to raise funds, and personally delivered essential materials during the pandemic, prioritizing the well-being of the girls at the shelter.

Ann Carew, Ecuador, 3rd Place Tie

Ann, stationed in Ecuador, identified underserved areas lacking health information and supplies during the pandemic, and through funding from the J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust, she diligently assembled and distributed over 500 “gift bags” containing medical supplies and virus-related information to community members, with plans to continue expanding her efforts.

Micah Dieterle, China, 3rd Place Tie

Micah, residing in Beijing, learned of the needs at the Yingkang Elderly Apartment and selflessly organized the construction of a spacious arboretum, raising funds and contributing his own savings to provide outdoor shade and a vegetable-growing space for the retirement home.

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Clements supports numerous awards and recognition programs for expat youth and foreign service officers serving around the world.

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