For the next several months, Sydney Millerd will be spending her days in Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates, far from the familiar comforts of University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu, where she graduated in spring 2021.
Millerd was selected to be one of 75 Youth Ambassadors to the USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai (also known as the World Expo).
“My time at UH West Oʻahu provided me the experiences that have prepared me for a global event like this,” Millerd wrote in an email. “For instance, serving as student body president allowed me to practice leadership, coordination and communication skills necessary for this role where there is a lot of interaction with the public and fellow youth ambassadors.”
Expo 2020 Dubai, which features 192 country pavilions, promotes “Connecting Minds and Creating the Future” through sustainability, mobility and opportunity. The expo began October 1, 2021, and will run through March 31, 2022. It was originally scheduled to begin in October 2020, but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a sustainable community food systems and political science student, I feel as though I was prepared to speak about sustainability—as it is one of the core topics of this expo—and about our country in a professional manner,” Millerd said.
Youth Ambassadors at the USA Pavilion are the “Faces of America” to the millions of visitors at Expo 2020 Dubai, serving as greeters and exhibit guides. They create an authentic and engaging experience for visitors, sharing detailed knowledge of exhibits and a deep understanding of U.S. culture and diversity.
“Through this World Expo, the world is coming together for a celebration of culture and innovation after a year-plus of challenges and sadness that came with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Millerd said. “Being here allows me to be a part of this healing celebration where I can help to facilitate this healing by, not only sharing my life as an American and person from Hawaiʻi, but also learning about others from around the globe to build relationships between our countries and each other as individuals.”
UH Mānoa graduate Hanna Claerbout will join Millerd in Dubai as a Youth Ambassador in January.
Read more in Ka Puna O Kaloʻi.
—By Zenaida Serrano Arvman
