English

Meet the delegates

Antonio Palazuelos Prieto

National Leader

Hello! My name is Antonio Palazuelos and, as a designated National Leader of the Spanish Delegation, it is a honor to introduce my team for this 24th edition of the Ship for World Youth. We were all selected from a large list of candidates with outstanding profiles and, thus, we are all really motivated to do our best and contribute to this program overcoming challenges and going beyond expectations.

About myself, nowadays I am serving as a Communication Officer in the Resident Coordinator Office of United Nations in Cape Verde, West Africa. I am passionate about youth cooperation and international development and in my last years I have focus on Europe-Africa Cultural Dialogue and Communication for Development, when working for United Nations Volunteers, Spanish Development Agency and several NGO's. I have participated in many youth exchanges as the Universities for Youth and Development, the District Conferences for youth leaders in Europe and Africa, or the European Union exchanges as Erasmus and Leonardo programmes. I have been awarded with several scholarships and invitations for institutions as Menendez Pelayo International University, Helsinki Europe, Foreign Affairs Ministry of Spain, Rotary Youth Leaders Award, Council of Europe and several National Youth Councils and Federations.

I am graduated in Journalism and Audiovisual Communication and specialized in Communication for Development with 8 years of professional experience. My post-graduate studies focus on conflict resolution and international cooperation. I have been working in several African and European countries and I have participate in short term missions in Latin America and Asia. I feel inspired by volunteering for the community in places where my support is needed. Even if sometimes I can be more limited than in my origin country, I am happy to live in developing countries and contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals as well as to a better and more balanced world with my daily work.

Likewise, I am also proud to participate in such diverse, multicultural and genuine space for sharing values and exchange visions and projects as the SWY. I am very happy to lead and serve my country delegation and offer my experience and cultural baggage as my personal contribution for the SWY program, as I really appreciate this opportunity for this unique life experience and learning space. Thank you!

Paloma Fernández de la Peña

Assistant National Leader

I am a 27-year-old girl from Madrid (Spain). I studied Translation & Interpretation in the university because languages have always been my passion and whenever I have the chance I go abroad to participate in some courses. I have worked as a translator and interpreter, in the field of international relations and protocol as well as a teacher of Spanish as Foreign Language.

My perfect job position would be anything related to international cooperation and Spanish language and culture promotion.

I love travelling, although I have already visited several countries, there is still a lot to discover...

Jaime Barrera Piñal de Castilla

Assistant National Leader

Graduated in Law from the University of Seville and a has a degree in Advertising and Public Relations from the University of Wales. He also has the title of Institutional Relations Specialist, Corporate Communications and Protocol by the University Pablo de Olavide. He worked in international issues, as part of the organization of "NYDRMUN" a United Nations model for young people in New York in the United Nations Office and Fordham University. He went to work to Dominican Republic Dominican Association of the United Nations Coordinator oas a Marketing Strategies. Organizer. In this period he organized the International Conference of the Americas (CILA), and he did the UNESCO Regional Forum.

In 2009 he joined the Mexican Association, Espacio Vinculación A. C. Socio-Political organizing forums for young leaders throughout Latin America, where the event include "Vanguardia Iberoamericana", which is held every year in the framework of the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government.

Assumes the Secretariat General of the "Vanguardia Iberoamericana Network", a network of young people across Latin America to develop youth projects in the different member countries. The proposals and outcomes are raised each year to the Heads of State at the Iberoamerican Summit. In July 2010 he was named "Ambassador of Colombian Youth" by President Uribe.

Natalia Hortigüela

I am a 27-year-old girl from Burgos (Spain). I’m graduated in Psychology, Social and Cultural Anthropology and International Humanitarian action. I participated in various youth programs and at the moment I’m working for a Finnish development NGO.

Santiago Castellano Sanz

I was born in Madrid, I am 25 years old, graduated in Political Sciences and Public Administration regarding International relations as a specialization. I was living in London for one year in order to learn languages, I have acquired varied experience with international issues after working as an intern for two European Members of Parliament by helping in various committees such as EU Youth, Latin-American affairs, etc. I also worked as an international aid worker helping young war refugees in Burundi, Africa during a summer. Besides, I am more experienced in this field after developing skills with diverse Spanish and French NGO for long time. I was always very motivated and interested to work outside my own borders.

As a curiosity, I worked for almost two years as a steward for Spanish high-speed trains and after 22-M regional elections, I became Deputy Mayor of a small town which I fell very proud to do the best and give a hand managing ordinary issues and tasks.

I am completely convinced that Swy-XXIVth is going to be an unforgettable and amazing experience and a good opportunity to discover new views, realities and personal growth.

Pablo Castiñeiras Cuadrado

I come from Valladolid though my heart is shared by several regions of Spain and Europe trying to be a citizen of the world. Sometimes non-formal education trainer, sometimes project manager, sometimes writer, consultant and coach on youth and socio-cultural issues, new technologies and personal development (I have participated and worked at international programmes related to youth, intercultural learning and non-formal education in around 20 different countries).

My passions are the diversity of the people, learning new things and living new meaningful experiences so traveling, international relations and the sea are a must in my life. I am in continous need of stimulus getting involved at new projects and endeavours. You can know more about my passions and areas of expertise at europas.es

I feel privileged to be selected for The 'Ship for World Youth' which I think is a unique opportunity to experience a 'global village' where I could offer all my experience mainly in the field of education and youth in Europe as well as learn and share knowledge and good practices about living at different cultures and dealing with nowadays 'glocal' issues.

Rocío Martín Reina

Who is Rocío? Rocío (her name means something like a “drop dew”) is a girl 26 years old and she comes from Málaga. She is graduate in Audiovisual Communication and postgraduate in Digital Journalism.

What are her skills? She is specialist in Intercultural Dialogue, Communication and Volunteerism through Mass Media. She loves painting, designing, writing and filming every instant with her camera.

What does she do? Currently, she lives in Marseille (France) and she is working as Communication Assistant in a NGO creating and developing projects related to multimedia and to young concerned by social exclusion and handicap situations. At the same time, she is Project Coordinator in a young organisation in Spain that promotes the mobility, respect and solidarity among young people around the world. Rocio has worked for two years in the News of a national television and recently in Eurodesk (Brussels), the main provider of information on European policies and opportunities for young people in Europe.What is her motto? Enjoy every second. Every moment in your life is a picture that you had never seen before and that you will never see it again.

Alberto Medina del Olmo

I was born in Guadalajara, Spain, 23 years ago, and I am currently finishing my studies in Business Management and Tourism. I've always liked travelling, learning languages and meeting new people. In fact, my first exchange was when I was just 12 years old, followed afterwards by places such as the UK, Canada and Brazil.I worked for some time in a Belgian airline, first as an intern and later on doing a substitution, and I really know that is the sector I want to work in the future.

In the last years, I've been colaborating with the European Federation for the Williams Syndrome, FEWS, organizing European camps for people affected by such syndrome, which has been one of the most gratifying experiences of my whole life.

Mª Ángeles López de Bayas Alcántara

Juan González Fleta

Violeta Sáez Garcés de los Fayos

Top Spain week by week

Every week on board we will reveal the highlights of our national culture and heritage under the eye of our delegates. You can get an appetiser below

Proposals for Seminars

• How to be a UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEER

Inform about this UN programme and share experiences on how volunteers can play an important role for the development.

Contents: What is a UNV, kinds of UNV, mission and values of UNV :: Volunteers experience exchange :: Why to be a volunteer :: Short Documentary exhibition and group dynamic :: Assignments and requirements to be a UNV

• • REALITY, HOLISTIC LEARNING & PSYCHOSHOPY

Education and learning to realise the inner 'I' in order to change the 'We'.

Contents: We only use the 10% of our brains :: We don´t need no Learning to learn :: It is all about focusing not about consumering :: Holistic education :: Be the change you want to see :: Proposal for a global science: Psychoshopy

• CULTURE, IDENTITY AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Contents: to think about the elements which constitute culture. Differences between attitudes based on culture and on individual personality and how does culture affects communication within the globalization process.

• THE COFFEE BREAK

In Meetings, Coffee Break is one the most interesting parts for networking. The goal is to make this time the most productive as possible: carrying out a partner search with the target of making netwoking and sowing the seeds of future international projects related to any field.

Club of the Spanish Delegation

• SPANISH DANCE: FLAMENCO

Let´s start dancing Sevillanas together! An amazing experience that will allow you to learn Spanish while experiencing Spanish culture through its most fascinating cultural element. Just feel free to come to take 75 min open class to see how to start dancing Sevillanas and Alegrias. It is also incredibly atmospheric - even in a class setting. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

Proposal for Voluntary Activities

• SPANISH for BEGINNERS

If you want to learn basic vocabulary in Spanish, learn a little bit about this fascinating language and, above all, have fun we will wait for you in the course of Spanish for Beginners. It doesn't matter if you know absolutely nothing because we will teach you!

• ASTRONOMY WORKSHOP

Would you like to enjoy a quiet night under the stars and, what is more, being able to put name to everything you see? So, with no doubt, this is your workshop! In the tranquility of Fuji Maru, somewhere in the ocean, we will learn something else about stars. Besides, you will have the chance to build your own star map and a sundial.

• PLAYING WITH SCIENCE

We will have fun and learn a lot about science throughout different scientific games, optical and mind illusions we will experience on board.

• INTERNATIONAL POETRY

Share, express and exchange feelings and experiences using poetic tools. We will work with different formats and genders, since traditional and modern haiku to social, vanguardist and posmodernist poetry from each country.

Proposal for Post - Programme activities

• • International Platform for future projects. Information on international, mobility and job opportunities for youth.