USAID: What People Are Saying

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What People Are Saying

"Today's youth have much to learn about the world, but they also have much to give. This program would allow thousands of young people to become involved with the world around them and to learn, at a young age, that the world is indeed their home."
Jules Hersman
American Refugee Committee Worldwide
"Such a program, implemented on a broad scale, would surely enhance public understanding of the need for connections with the world beyond our shores."
Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton
Minneapolis, Minnesota
"In a world where we are getting to a point where we can no longer accommodate the growing population of youngsters, we need to see youth as participants, actors, not just receivers. We need to engage youth as part of the solution."
Rick Little
CEO, International Youth Foundation
"I want to commend USAID for its leadership role in the Operation Day's Work pilot project. This is a great program for America's future."
Senator Patrick Leahy
U.S. Senator, Vermont
"It's a big world, but then, its not. When you meet people. . . they have exactly the same dreams as I have. This gives me a chance to do something to help them to get the same chance to do something for their own."
Kare Dag Mangersnes
Former President, Operasjon Dagsverk, Norway
"As I travel around the globe, I am reminded that people of nearly every country look to America for leadership. Global poverty and environmental degradation are a greater threat to America's future than was the Cold War. Somehow we must find the vision and commitment to lead the world in solving these problems."
Andrew Young
Former Ambassador to the United Nations
"Young people all over the earth, we have something in common and that is the future. We are the ones that are supposed to run this tiny planet for the next years. And if we are going to do that in a good way, we have to talk, we have to communicate with each other. We just can't be sitting in our little countries and just watching the others across the borders."
Bergdis Joelsdottir, Aged 20
President, Operasjon Dagsverk, Norway
"I think kids can make a difference because the majority of people in the whole world are kids, and we're smart. If we can get through to the parents and the teachers and the adults, they can do all kinds of stuff to help Operation Day's Work. When I get back home, when I go to school, I am going to present the information I learned here so that the whole school can learn about Operation Day's Work."
Dianna Gottschalk, Aged 12
Washington, DC
"To make this project a success, kids will have to be passionate about the project and so will adults."
Kimesha Winn, Aged 14
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
"I just never really thought about the countries that were out there, and being involved in Operation Day's Work makes me think more about the things that we have that they don't have. That all our little things are so big to them, and their big things are small to us. It makes me feel good knowing that little things that I can do can make such a good difference in their lives."
Alyssa Johnson, Aged 13
Minneapolis, Minnesota
"I learned that it takes a lot of patience to be in Operation Day's Work and to get the program started and you have to work together to get the program going, growing."
Sara McGauvran, Aged 13
Grand Forks, North Dakota
It gives them all the elements that we are going to want in our people that represent our businesses... I guarantee you, you can count on the business world to be there because this is what business to business is all about. It's people, it's caring, it's making sure that we're seen in the best light possible. You in business know it -- Operation Day's Work is opportunity knocking."
David B. Hermelin
United States Ambassador to Norway

Last Updated on: July 11, 2001