Making an Impact

Leadership Summit is our school outreach program (currently 7th, 8th, 9th grade) where students are trained in leadership development and life skills. It is also the heart of our AIDs prevention approach as young people are inspired to hope for the future, recognize their potential, and discuss peer pressures in an open environment.

This month I had the opportunity to attend their Impact Day – a special quarterly conference and celebration for young leaders from each of the LS schools. Principals and teachers nominate up to 20 of their top students to participate in the Impact program. It’s an honor to be selected, but it also comes with responsibility and hard work. This year the students took on community service projects. They discussed the issues their schools and communities are facing, selected problems to tackle, generated ideas, developed plans, raised money, and then implemented their solutions.

As I met with students from each of the schools, they were so excited to tell me about their projects. Their accomplishments were amazing! A Community Garden that gave food to the local orphanage. A Green Recycling Program that saved money and kept their community clean. Funds raised to provide Electricity for their classrooms. A School Safety Program that included training younger students. Computer Training Classes. An Anti-drug and Smoking Campaign. And the list goes on…

In a way it’s sad to think these kids have such difficult problems to face in their schools and communities. But it was amazing to see them rise up, lead positive change, and serve as role models to others. Did I mention these were 7th, 8th, and 9th graders? Wow!