Canadian leadership Dream Team heading for Panama
A dream team of future world leaders will be arriving in Panama on Friday July 20, for a seven day visit to meet entrepreneurs and government officials.
Led by Terry Clifford, who founded Global Vision 20 years ago, 30 outstanding young university students known as "Junior Ambassadors" will spend a hectic week studying Panama’s economy and lifestyle, before returning to Canada to write detailed reports for their sponsors.
They are part of a program that conducts leadership training seminars and selects only the brightest to participate in unique missions linking Canada to countries around the world.
Since the first trip to London and Europe in 1992, “missions” have visited Australia, China, Malaysia most of Latin America, the United States and many stops in between. At each step of the way they are obliged to meet unforeseen challenges and present a a positive outlook .
They have met with political and business leaders and invited to make presentations at APEC aconferences, (an economic forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries stretching from Australia to Canada) and participated in Group of 8 and Group of 20 conferences.
Along the way Clifford, a former Canadian Member of Parliament, was awarded the Order of Canada and former mission members have made their mark in diplomacy and business including the youngest ever vice president of the World Bank.
Part of the pre-tour challenge for each Junior Ambassador, whether from a small or large town, is raising $5000 in donor money. They reward their sponsors with seeking business opportunities while away, and providing detailed reports and presentations on their return.
The current Junior Team Canada mission started in Colombia and arrives in Panama on June 20, and will immediately kick into high gear heading straight for a Scotiabank and Canadian Embassy briefing.
During the week they will meet with businessmen and visit Panama Pacifico, The National Assembly, the Foreign Ministry and the Presidential Palace, Minera Panama, The Free Trade Zone, The Bio Diversity Museum designed by Canadian Frank Gherry, farms and coffee plantations in Chiriqui and The University of Panama. In between they will continue to be challenged by Clifford and his training team including an “Amazing Race” that will take them on a timed information gathering safari around Panama City, including Casco Viejo.
They leave on Friday, July 27,and head home to write their reports and make their sponsor presentations
The complete story of Global Vision will soon appear in The Less traveled Road a book by Newsroom Panama Editor David Young, in collaboration with Terry Clifford.
