We are proud to announce that Maria Clara Almeida, Board Chair of AFS Intercultura Brasil, is officially representing AFS in the NGO-UNESCO Liaison Committee‘s Youth Working Group. This key role ensures that AFS’s mission—to foster active global citizenship and intercultural understanding—is represented in this international platform.
AFS has held consultative status with UNESCO since 2015, and the two organizations have partnered on numerous initiatives with shared goals. The Liaison Committee is the nexus for cooperation between UNESCO and its network of more than 400 official NGO partners. Elected biennially, this body is tasked with fostering dialogue and organizing international forums on priority global issues. By participating in the Youth Working Group, Maria Clara will contribute to global dialogue focused on ensuring meaningful youth participation, advocacy, and leadership within this expansive network.
AFS’s engagement with the Liaison Committee is a part of our commitment to youth leadership and global citizenship education. Being represented on the Youth Working Group allows AFS to contribute to UNESCO’s broader agenda, highlighting critical areas such as quality education, youth empowerment, and intercultural learning. It provides an opportunity to shape the global conversation and ensure that the needs and perspectives of young people are central to international policy and strategy.
Maria Clara Almeida’s decade-long dedication to AFS, coupled with her professional background, makes her an invaluable representative.
Her journey with AFS began as a volunteer in 2014, followed by her participation in an AFS high school exchange program to Belgium. Since then, she has not only led national strategies as Board Chair of AFS Intercultura Brasil but has also served as a qualified facilitator for the AFS Global STEM Academies initiative, focusing on programs that promote changemaking and sustainable development.
Professionally, Maria Clara works as an immigration lawyer and holds postgraduate studies in human rights. This unique blend of experience allows her to bring a perspective grounded in law, human rights, and international cooperation to the Committee’s work. Her role ensures that AFS’s voice on youth leadership and intercultural competence resonates powerfully within the global civil society community partnering with UNESCO.