Leadership Development – Legacy’s approach

Legacy International’s  approach to youth leadership development allows for all types of styles and skill levels.  For us, leadership is based upon the ability to respond to the time, place, and circumstances one finds oneself in. Our dynamic peace building and dialogue workshop is a great place to  build and practice leadership skills.

The Global Youth Village environment encourages an attitude, an identity, a set of new skills and understandings that allow leadership to emerge from individuals.  Young people see the source of leadership coming from within rather than solely on public acknowledgment.  It becomes solidified, based on the confidence of “this is what I am” rather than upon the effort of “this is what I am trying to be.”  Our primary teaching method is experiential in a highly supportive environment.  In all aspects of GYV - workshops, action teams and cabin life individuals are  given opportunities. Young people are encouraged to try new things and develop teamwork skills.  Young people leave with:

• Improved self-confidence, maturity; a positive outlook on life; renewed hope for the future
• Heightened commitment to active participation in the future of their communities
• Increased understanding of various cultures, global issues, and their interconnectedness
• Reinforced ability to respect people as individuals with unique strengths and weakness rather than to stereotype individuals by ethnic, national, racial or cultural prejudices and biases
• Increased self-discipline in setting, working towards, and achieving group and individual objectives
• Strengthened ability to organize and carry out community improvement projects successfully
• Enhanced ability to promote understanding among people
• Improved ability to find win-win solutions to interpersonal disputes and disagreements
• Acquired new perspectives on their own day to day dynamics

Learn more about our Program Choices, Dates and Fees

Discover Who We Are and what  A Typical Day at GYV is like.

Read more articles about developing Leadership skills at the Global Youth Village

• Service and Advocacy
• Summer Participants Volunteer at Local Soup Kitchen
• GYV Alumni inspired to be a Social Innovator
• GYV Alumni Receives Prestigious Award

Teamwork, Leadership and Community

Community building is very important at the Global Youth Village international summer camp. GYV  youth participate in various settings and are invited into discussion and encouraged to cultivate new skills, or trying something new  together with their friends .   Teamwork, Leadership and Community  time is an opportunity to engage in  leadership training   Each afternoon, participants are  mixed into “families” of 9 students.   Over the course of a session, each “family” experiences the following:

1. A discussion on belief systems
2. A nature walk
3. An art project “what does home mean to you”
4. Serving our GYV community
5. Discussion of U.N. Millennium Development Goals
6. Stress relief methods
7. Team building exercises

Read more articles about developing Leadership skills at the Global Youth Village

• Service and Advocacy
• Summer Participants Volunteer at Local Soup Kitchen
• GYV Alumni inspired to be a Social Innovator
• GYV Alumni Receives Prestigious Award

Leadership Action Teams

There are usually 8 action teams to choose from.  Each action team of 6-8 participants organizes a project that serves the GYV community.  You make real decisions and learn from the consequences, develop a vision of social responsibility, and explore leadership styles. AT GYV, we believe experience is the best teacher.

Examples of Action Teams:

Spark discussion with a wall mural

Organize an environmental action project

Create a Memory Journal

Coordinate debates

Organize  sports tournaments (cooperation Or competition)

Deliver peer education sessions – examples- street theater, nightly news

Produce evening programs and Talent shows

Go Green: 10 Ways to be Green

1. Unplug appliances when you’re not using them. Or, use a “smart” power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts “phantom” or “vampire” energy use.
2. Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
3. Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying. If you must use a dryer, consider adding dryer balls to cut drying time.
4. Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
5. Install a low-flow showerhead. They don’t cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
6. Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.
7. Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
8. Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.
9. Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
10. Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.

Go to WorldwideWatch Institute to find out more ways to go green!