MEEHAN AMBASSADOR: Mr Secretary, welcome to Confiteria Torres. I’m thrilled to introduce 4 really inspiring and wonderful alumni, Chilean alumni of the YLAI program, the Younger Leaders of the Americas Initiative. I had the chance to spend a couple of minutes with them, studying from them about their initiatives, their communities, the influence this system has had on them, and I actually cannot wait so that you can hear all the good work they do and the concepts they’ve. So I wish to invite you to say a number of phrases to get us began, after which we’ll begin the dialog.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Nice. Thanks, Ambassador. Thanks all for being right here. One of many issues that conjures up me probably the most is the trade applications that we have now had and have constructed over time. And I’ve seen these highly effective bonds which are shaped between the folks within the applications and my nation, they usually’re normally lasting bonds. And so, I strive very laborious to discover a approach to join with the individuals who had been there, to study what the expertise was like, what you bought out of it, but in addition, critically, what you do now and the way your participation in this system might have had an influence on this.
However what I significantly anticipated right this moment was to speak to all 4 of you, as a result of the entrepreneurs, which you all are, are actual engines of progress in our two international locations. And also you’re targeted on problem-solving (inaudible), however you are additionally social entrepreneurs, which suggests you are additionally making an attempt to make a distinction in your communities, and that is a really highly effective factor. If we will marry these two issues collectively, it creates alternative, it creates progress, and it creates optimistic change, and I do know every of you does that in numerous methods. So I used to be particularly keen to listen to, and because the ambassador mentioned, we’re – loads of it’s about studying from you, studying out of your expertise, studying what has labored, what did not – and in addition, going ahead, how our governments might help or maybe step apart and never assist, because the case could also be. (Chuckle.)
However I feel it additionally struck me as a result of I had the chance to spend time with President Boric right this moment and different authorities colleagues. And so many issues that we attempt to do, each in the US and in Chile, with regards to constructing extra equitable societies, inclusive progress, that is additionally what you do (inaudible).
So I am rather more serious about listening than speaking. (Laughs.) It is nice to have you ever all right here. Thanks.
MEEHAN AMBASSADOR: Nice. So, Mr. Secretary, I wish to invite every of the fellows to introduce themselves briefly, to share a little bit of the influence that YLAI has had on them and their work. And we’ll begin with Camila Roa. Please.
MS ROA: Secretary Blinken, Ambassador Meehan, we have been anticipating you. (Chuckle.)
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Sure.
MEEHAN AMBASSADOR: (Excluding microphone.)
MS ROA: So it’s such an honor for all of us to be right here with you right this moment and to share the significant experiences we have now with YLAI. My identify is Camila Roa. I’m an English instructor. And I participated in YLAI in 2017, with Paulina. And I participated in a venture known as Desde Fuera del Centrowhich is an academic and cultural venture that goals to decentralize modern music by workshops and concert events in (inaudible) faculty for kids.
Right this moment I’m the president of Becarius for Impression, which is one in all two alumni associations we have now. And with them, I am engaged on a brand new venture known as Wilegeau, which suggests “making a future” in Mapudungun. Mapudungun is the native language of the Mapuche neighborhood, and we supply out our venture with workshops on Mapuche tradition by English in order that youngsters can have a larger appreciation of their very own tradition, corresponding to feeling happy with their tradition, and in addition study a language that may enable them to share the tradition with anybody on the earth, and naturally enhance – our job and profession alternatives.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: That is great. It is attention-grabbing too, as a result of English is about connectivity. We have now digital connectivity, however we even have private connectivity. For this second in our collective historical past, English is a approach to join us, it is very highly effective that you simply do that on the similar time.
I am curious to know – (inaudible).
MS ROA: Sure.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Inform us a bit about how the Music Entry Program works.
MS ROA: Effectively, we began at an area faculty. My husband is a composer, and he composes modern music, which is a bit – it is non-traditional so it may be troublesome to entry it, as a result of you need to reside in an enormous metropolis the place you possibly can have a like , a live performance corridor, you possibly can – you want cash to pay for tickets. So we understand it is one thing you possibly can solely discover right here or at universities the place they’ve music applications. So it is (inaudible), you see. So we do not need – I imply, for some folks, music is simply one thing they will, like, purchase – like a commodity. However for us, music and artwork are issues that kids have the proper to have entry to.
So we take musicians to colleges, and – and composers – they usually compose music. The primary time was for toy devices, so it might be nearer for kids. I’ve the photographs right here. So it was the ears of all these college students who participated.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Oh, that is great.
MS ROA: As a result of one of many gentle expertise we taught was listening – not simply music, however one another. It is so necessary. So right here we have now the composer with the toy devices.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: That is great.
MS ROA: And all the kids. It was great. And we solely had concert events for them. They had been the viewers.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Is that this program persevering with or —
MS ROA: Not anymore, sadly. Sure, it is an issue, continuity.
MEEHAN AMBASSADOR: One thing to debate, yeah.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: One thing to look at and in addition – but in addition an inspiration to me too, as a result of how – we will do extra (inaudible) in the US to create higher entry.
MEEHAN AMBASSADOR: And the secretary is himself an ideal music lover.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Sure I’m. I’m significantly intrigued by this.
MEEHAN AMBASSADOR: (Excluding microphone.)
MS ROA: OK. (Chuckle.)
MEEHAN AMBASSADOR: So thanks Camille.
MS ROA: Thanks.
MEEHAN AMBASSADOR: And I wish to thank the Chilean and American press for sharing these tales and I look ahead to seeing you at future occasions. Thanks so much.
SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thanks everybody.