The World Vision Youth Ambassador (WVYA) program began in 1995 as the dream of then executive director of World Vision Taiwan, Dr. Jerry C.L. Chang. Over the next 6 years, 245 talented youth from 50 different countries studied, traveled, and performed together as a choral ensemble with a mission to promote world peace, by seeking common ground and teaching conflict resolution. The program officially ended in 2000, with encore performances in Europe.  However, the impact of the program lives on and continues to grow from the hearts and souls of each Youth Ambassador.

Dr. Jerry C.L. Chang and his wife Ruth Chang both grew up in war-time Shanghai.  After World War II, they immigrated to the United States as university students, studying engineering and social work, and playing violin and piano, respectively.  Over the next 3 decades, Dr. Chang served as a Consultant for the United States Agency for International Development in Nigeria and Ecuador, as the Vice President for the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand, and as the United Nations Ambassador to Paraguay.  Dr. Chang was appointed Executive Director of World Vision Taiwan from 1989 to 1998. 

Dr. Chang was deeply moved by the suffering caused by human conflict.  Starting with his childhood, and continuing with visits to Palestine, Sierra Leone, and Rwanda; Dr. Chang concluded that the source of greatest pain and suffering was often man-made as humans are capable of great extremes, from profound compassion to unthinkable cruelty. He prayed and searched for a way to make a difference. 

In the early 1990s, Dr. Chang turned his efforts to youth leaders whom he believed are the hope for our future. In bringing such young leaders together, he chose music as a symbol of harmony and common ground. He believed that in being part of a small global village, young students can learn to live in peace with peoples of different backgrounds and origins. They would be taught to understand, accept, and appreciate their differences: to find common ground in the midst of diversity, in the spirit of love, peace, hope, justice, reconciliation, and forgiveness – values embodied by Christ and espoused by many other great spiritual teachers as well.

Dr. Chang formed the first World Vision Youth Ambassador program in 1995.  Each summer, for the next six years, the 12-week program assembled 50 youth from 50 different nations to study and work together. Each of the 50 local World Vision partner offices searched for talented candidates from 18 to 20 years of age. Youth Ambassadors were chosen based on their musical talent, public-speaking skills, academic excellence, and moral character.  A number of them were former World Vision-sponsored children.

The annual summer program started with an intensive 5-week education and training curriculum, followed by 6-weeks of performance tours - often across several continents. Dr. Chang brought together 12 staff (half of whom were dedicated volunteers), including music, education, and activity directors, counselors, nurses, and administrators. The curriculum focused on life values, justice, reconciliation, and forgiveness. The Youth Ambassadors prepared music, dance, and drama programs and rehearsed as a performing art troupe and choral ensemble.  For the subsequent 6 weeks, they traveled to different countries, meeting presidents, ministers, government officials, and community leaders, performing in churches and community centers, and interacting with local students to promote what they had learned.  When opportunities presented, they performed service work for the community.

For the first 2 years (1995 and 1996), the group trained in Taipei and performed throughout Taiwan, including Taipei, Taizhong, Taidong, and Kaoshiung. In the years thereafter, the group typically returned to perform in Taiwan. The local World Vision Taiwan staff enthusiastically supported and served the team each year. Eventually, 16 countries were visited over the 6 years of tours in Europe, North and South America, Asia, and Africa.

The WVYA program was a collaborative effort within the global World Vision International Partnership. The student’s home World Vision office recruited and supported their respective candidates both before and after the program. The 16 countries which hosted the Youth Ambassadors as they toured were true partners in every sense of the word. They provided food and accommodations, planned the itinerary and schedule, arranged performance venues, coordinated transportation, scheduled visitations with government officials, and explained local protocols. They gave generously of their time and resources.  

At the completion of the program each year, the 50 youth ambassadors became a close-knit group, through living, learning, and performing together.  They began as strangers and parted as family.  Each developed a sense of responsibility not only as a citizen of their own country, but as citizens of the world.  They returned home to practice and teach others what they had learned. 

The program ended in 2000 when 50 former YA were chosen to return for an encore performance in Europe. At the World EXPO in Hanover, Germany, millions of visitors to the Hope Pavilion (also known as “The Whale”) saw the WVYA program and heard the message of love, peace, hope, justice, reconciliation, and forgiveness. 

In a speech delivered at Dr. Chang’s retirement ceremony on January 12, 1998, Dr. Dean Hirsh, CEO of World Vision International said this: “One of your biggest contributions to the World Vision International Partnership is the miracle of the round-the-world message from the World Vision Youth Ambassadors.”