Alexis Almeida, 16
The Latin School of Chicago

At age 16, Alexis is already a seasoned world traveler. She has studied Spanish in Spain and has visited countries in Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia. In December 1999, Alexis and her family visited a CARE project in Chang Mai, Thailand. As a result of this experience, she applied to CARE's Youth Corps 2000 program in Peru. Her hopes for the trip? "I expect it to be a learning experience that many people, not just the members of the Youth Corps, will benefit from," she says.

Carina Ayala, 16
Bowen High School

Throughout her life, Carina has been immersed in Hispanic culture -- her family is Mexican, and she was raised speaking both Spanish and English. In addition, many people in her community speak only Spanish. She sees her trip to Peru with CARE as a way to improve this community, since it will show her how to encourage people to help others. At Bowen High School, Carina also has shown her leadership ability. She is a member of the National Honor Society and co-captain of the cheerleading squad, and she has performed community service at Hot Meals for the Homeless.

Nichole Bush (left), 17
Whitney Young Magnet High School

A student of Spanish since the second grade, Nichole is constantly searching for an opportunity to use her foreign language ability. Although she has traveled to Mexico and Puerto Rico, the Youth Corps trip will be her first visit to South America. "I'm always looking for a way to better myself," she says. "Visiting Peru will provide me with a very educational opportunity." At Whitney Young Magnet High School, Nichole is a cheerleader and member of the National Honor Society. She also is a tutor and an active member of her church.

Jeremy Chavis, 15
University of Chicago Laboratory School

a young photographer and artist, Jeremy will document the trip with pictures of Peru. He hopes to use his creative ability to help others. "I would like to capture the culture and scenery of Peru and immortalize it in a photograph," he says. "By doing this, I can use visual aids to encourage people to help CARE help others." Jeremy's six years of Spanish study undoubtedly will help him communicate while in Peru. In addition, he also is active in his church and a volunteer for Jesse Jackson's Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.

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Wills Glasspiegel, 17
Francis W. Parker High School

Before applying to CARE's Youth Corps program, Wills already had immersed himself in Hispanic culture. His foreign travels have taken him to Mexico, Spain and Ecuador, and he is an aficionado of Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez. "Being an adaptable person is perhaps one of my best attributes," he says. Wills has shown this at Parker High School, where he is the head of the Visitors Club and a student representative on the Board of Trustees. "CARE has put together an incredible opportunity for us," he states. "This trip is going to be awesome."

Carlos Guzman (right), 16
Francis W. Parker High School

At Parker High School, Carlos has proven himself a leader who is determined to make a difference. He founded the school's Hispanic Culture Club, and he is a representative for the Adopt-a-Land-Mine Field Fund. Carlos's Puerto Rican heritage has helped him become fluent in Spanish, and he has focused his language studies on Hispanic culture. "If I were to choose words that best describe me they would be 'humorous, intelligent, caring and adventurous,'" he says. "I love meeting other people and learning new ideas."

Elisa Harkness, 17
York Community High School

When deciding how to spend her summer vacation, Elisa had no difficulty choosing to visit Peru with CARE. "Rarely does the opportunity present itself to really have a hand in making a significant positive change in the world," she says. At York Community High School, Elisa also is making a difference. -- she is the founder of the As Is Gay-Straight Alliance and school coordinator for Amnesty International. Of the Youth Corps trip, she predicts tremendous success. "Aside from the amazing cultural enrichment which I will benefit from, I know that this program will provide me with a unique opportunity to help others."

Katie Jenness, 16
Francis W. Parker High School

"This program is the perfect opportunity for me to get involved with an issue that actually has relevance to the large picture," Katie says of CARE's Youth Corps 2000. She is no stranger to helping others, however. Katie has volunteered her time to service organizations throughout Chicago, including the Christopher House and the St. Vincent DePaul Resale Shop. At Parker High School, she is a member of the Student Senate and head of the American Field Studies program. Her interest in Spanish has taken her to Costa Rica, and she currently spends her free time "soaking up all of the Hispanic culture in the city of Chicago."

Polina Kropacheva (left), 17
The Latin School of Chicago

Polina is well on her way to pursuing a career in international relations. Her mother, a Russian-Spanish interpreter, helped Polina become familiar with Spanish. During the five years that she has studied Spanish, Polina has traveled to Spain and Mexico. "Going with CARE to Peru will give me first-hand knowledge and understanding of what helping people on an international level is really like," she predicts. Polina also is a member of The Latin School's track team and environmental club.

Erica Serrano, 16
The Latin School of Chicago

A self-described "citizen of the world," Erica is already fluent in Spanish. Her family is from Puerto Rico, and for most of her life she has lived with her grandmother who speaks only Spanish. At the Latin School, Erica is involved in the Latin American Student Association. She also is an athlete (a member of both the swim team and the U.S. Golf Association), and she has worked on numerous community service projects. "I think there is nothing more important than being a part of helping others find solutions to their problems and assisting others in improving their own communities," she says.

Tova Baruch
Photographer
A native of Brooklyn, NY, Tova currently works as a free-lance photographer in Atlanta. Her photographs have appeared in LIFE, The New York Times Magazine and PEOPLE, among other publications. During the summer of 2000, Tova is teaching photography at Camp Sunshine, a camp for children with cancer.

Kimberly Davis
Videographer
Kim is associate producer of CARE USA's Video Production Unit, based in Atlanta. She helps create many of CARE's video materials, including the annual television public service announcements. In 1999, Kim traveled to Honduras to film CARE's housing reconstruction and other rehabilitation efforts after Hurricane Mitch.

Ruth Fuller
Writer
An experienced journalist, Ruth joined CARE in March 2000 as a public relations consultant in CARE's Chicago office. She has studied Spanish in Spain and Mexico, and she also works as a free-lance reporter for the Chicago Tribune. This is her first trip to Peru.

Loren Leidinger
CARE Chicago
Loren's career at CARE began in 1996. She has worked in the organization's San Francisco office, and she currently is office manager in CARE's Chicago office. Loren has been instrumental in planning the Youth Corps' trip to Peru. In May 1999, she traveled to Haiti, where she visited CARE's development projects.

Lisa Smith
CARE Chicago
As director of development in CARE's Chicago office, Lisa is responsible for organizing and implementing the Youth Corps program. She joined CARE in 1998 after working for the City of Chicago. Lisa's personal and professional travels have taken her throughout Western Europe, North America, South America and the Caribbean.