UPA Junior Ambassador
Applications are now open for the UPA 2026–2027 Junior Ambassador Program!
Youth ages 12–17 who are connected to porphyria are invited to apply to the United Porphyrias Association's Junior Ambassador Program.
This program empowers young people to become informed advocates, build connections within the porphyria community, raise awareness, and make a meaningful impact through volunteer service.
As a Junior Ambassador, you'll have the opportunity to:
Make a meaningful difference in the porphyria community
Build leadership skills and gain valuable experience for college or job applications
Earn volunteer hours for school or community service requirements
Become eligible for a $500 Junior Ambassador Scholarship
Application deadline: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Junior Ambassador Training: Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET (find your local time here)
The Details
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The program is open to young people ages 12–17 who live with any type of porphyria, have a sibling, parent, or close family member with porphyria, or want to support the community as an ally.
A parent or guardian must provide consent to participate.
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After completing required launch training, each Junior Ambassador participates in the program from August through May. There is no minimum number of service hours. Participants contribute according to their interests, abilities, health, school schedules, and family circumstances.
Junior Ambassadors are youth leaders and community builders. The role focuses on service, awareness, connection, and youth voice.
Program Leadership
Mayra Martinez, UPA Patient Advocate, will lead the program and serve as the primary contact for Junior Ambassadors and their parents or guardians.
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UPA will offer a flexible list of ideas, and participants may suggest projects based on their own interests, talents, schools, and communities. Possibilities include:
Supporting Global Porphyria Day or another UPA awareness initiative
Participating in a UPA event, community table, or Junior Connect UP activity
Creating an awareness post, video, artwork, article, or school project
Organizing a school or community activity or fundraiser
Welcoming young attendees or supporting youth activities at Porphyria Palooza
Speaking at an event with adult supervision
President’s Council Representation
Each year, one Junior Ambassador will serve as the Junior Ambassador representative on the UPA President’s Council. The representative will bring youth and family perspectives to discussions, share ideas and needs raised by Junior Ambassadors, help strengthen programs for children, teens, and siblings, and provide updates on Junior Ambassador activities.
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Training prepares Junior Ambassadors to participate safely and confidently. Topics include:
Porphyria basics and UPA’s mission, programs, and values
Advocacy, awareness, and responsible representation of UPA
Sharing a personal story safely and confidently
Respect, inclusion, privacy, confidentiality, and social media safety
When to ask an adult or UPA staff member for help
What Junior Ambassadors may and may not do on behalf of UPA
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Junior Ambassadors will receive program recognition, service documentation when requested, and recognition through UPA communications with parent or guardian permission.
Service Hours Tracking and Verification
Junior Ambassadors may record their activities and volunteer hours. Verification is available for participants who must complete community-service hours for school or who want to document their experience for a résumé, college application, scholarship application, internship, or job application. -
Each year in May, UPA will honor one participant with a $500 Junior Ambassador of the Year Scholarship. Recognition will consider the quality and impact of service, initiative, creativity, reliability, personal growth, and positive contribution to the porphyria community.
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UPA is committed to creating a welcoming, meaningful, and accessible program where young people can use their voices, talents, and experiences to make a difference. The program will be reviewed regularly using feedback from Junior Ambassadors and their parents or guardians.
Youth safety and program boundaries
UPA will maintain clear protections for participants, families, volunteers, and staff, including:
Parent or guardian consent, youth participant agreement, and code of conduct
Media permissions and privacy, confidentiality, and social media guidance
No medical advice or private peer-support matching between minors
No unsupervised one-on-one contact between minors and adult volunteers or staff
Appropriate adult supervision for in-person and virtual activities
A designated UPA contact and process for responding to concerns or disclosures
Have questions? Contact us at info@porphyria.org.