Last year, Global Ties KC brought in eight different nonprofit professionals from around the world to learn more about Guadalupe Centers (GCI) in the hopes of inspiring ideas that they could take back home to their organizations (see here). This year, Global Ties KC introduced Gina Coronado, GCI's Youth Awareness Coordinator, to Néstor De León, Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellow & CEO of Grupo Sentidos SAS from Colombia, South America. 

The YLAI is a fellowship program that matches young leaders to organizations across Latin America, the Caribbean, Canada, and the United States. The selected young leaders spend one month with their designated organization learning best practices and obtaining new knowledge. Guadalupe Centers was selected as a perfect fit for Néstor, thanks to Global Ties' previous visit.

During his time here, Néstor shadowed the Youth Development Team (YDT) as his organization, Grupo Sentidos SAS, also works closely with youth. Néstor worked on graphic designs, flyers, photography, and shared his own skill sets by organizing two workshops teaching youth about digital marketing.

"Even though he is from somewhere far away, that human connection is so real and so cool," said Gina Coronado. "I thought I would be teaching him all kinds of things, but he has been teaching me. I would highly recommend this experience and I would do it again in a heartbeat."

Aside from shadowing the YDT, Néstor also had the opportunity to visit the different departments within GCI to meet and learn some more about their roles.

Néstor hopes to continue the partnership with GCI even though he'll be a country away but sees a hopeful connection that was made here. "I've felt blessed for the opportunity to learn about the work that Guadalupe Centers is doing and what they are doing with the community. I've loved my time here in Kansas City, and to give back a little of what I know. I'm overwhelmed with emotions about leaving but I have had a life-changing experience and I'm ready to apply what I've learned to my projects and programs," said Néstor De León.

You can view Néstor's work down below:

GCI Soccer Program Photos
GCI Spring Break Activities

We wish Néstor the very best in his future endeavors!