This youth work transcends all barriers: political, economic, social, religious, cultural and gender. All youth are on an even playing field. As I said, it begins with the individual, YOU, finding their truth and strength of who they are and then learning to honour and trust it. We, the adults will guide and mentor this. As the youth unite, we will see changes, even small ones, impacting our communities, schools, environment, police, businesses, and government. Even more exciting are the relationships the youth, our future leaders, will create locally and abroad that will allow for collaboration and win/win for all parties.
It is time to say ENOUGH and begin to implement, even on the smallest scale, changes that will impact our future. The programs listed below are grass root programs that require patience and nurturing, like the persistent turtle. Some are just a vision which I will like to see in place!
SPECIFIC YOUTH DIRECTED PROGRAMS/PROJECTS:
1. Dual Mentoring/Mastermind Program
This is a program that is focussed on the high school students. It is about bridging our ZOOMERS, the active baby boomers who were the pioneers and most innovative and creative group together with our youth in a mentorship style program. The high school students are required to complete so many community hours. I have approached and am working with one of the high schools, which is culturally diverse and represents the spectrum of economic backgrounds. With the backing of the CARP organization, the school and I are now looking at logistics of how we can bring about a dual mentoring program. We will begin with a test project of hopefully 5 students who have an idea that will impact their school, the community, business, environment or some topic that is agreed to by their principal/teacher that will have a positive impact, even on a small scale. The student(s) will be matched up with a mentor(s) that will assist and guide them, providing their knowledge and experience YET still allows the student to take this information and make it their own. We want to launch this program early February 2011. CARP has also expressed an interest in having our youth mentor the Zoomer adults in the area of social media, beginning with Facebook. We will ask the youth to create a curriculum with a number of topic areas that the adults can choose from to attend and be taught by our youth. I have reached out to Facebook Canada to support this initiative from an information/guide place to hand-out to the “students”. Facebook is a platform that is always evolving and changing so to provide them with material that they can go back to is valuable. As well, after hearing Jordan Banks, Managing Director, Facebook Canada, speak at a talk he discussed that women, 55-65 years old is one of their largest growth areas. This is expected to launch end of January/early February 2011.
2. Transitioning into the Workplace
I recently joined forces with Mitch Gordon of Interra Coaching and we created a program called, Transitioning into the Workplace that is currently being brought to the Universities and Colleges. This is about providing the students with the life skills and life lessons that many of them already posses – fostering them and assisting them in a way to bring it to the workplace where they will benefit as well as the corporations. It will take the youth from the place of wondering WHO AM I? to WHO I AM! This will be done in a workshop, hands on style, where the students can “feel” and experience simulated situations. It will also teach the student on how to speak their truth in a way that brings positive changes. I have heard back from one College and they are finally putting it on the table. We have been in talks since the Spring of 2010. Things take time. What I like about this school is they have a large Second Careers group. I will like to work with this group and able them to find their passion and follow their dreams! WHO I AM!
3. Workshops: Life Skills & Life Lessons – leadership, innovation, creativity fostering entrepreneurial spirit!
The idea is to bring it slowly down to the younger years starting with grade 2. I want the youth to know that their life lessons learned to date are valuable and are skills that can be brought into everyday life, personal and professional. It begins with baby steps. There are other groups, such as the Kielburgers, Free The Children, who is bringing leadership programs into the local schools. This youth movement is about linking with like-minded people, organizations and groups. I am currently spreading the word.
4. Create the Kidz2kidz Not-for-Profit Foundation – financially supported/funded by Canadians who want to make a difference: In the United States there is a group of men, led by Warren Buffet and Bill Gates who have turned to a group “The Rich and The Generous” with a total net worth of $246-billion (as of Aug. 5th, 2010); pledged a total donation of $158.8-billion. Warren Buffet alone plans to give away 99% of his money either during his life or through his will, and will set up an endowment – money will be spent on current needs.
I am looking to wealthy Canadians to do the same. We have Guy Laliberte, creator of Cirque de Soleil, who has said in an interview he will give away a large portion of his money (the #80% comes to mind). He also gives NET 1% of his corporate profits to programs that make a difference.
The foundation I am looking to create is one that is self-sustaining so the majority of money will be invested to create more money. Also, the majority (80+% I hope) of money will go to back into youth related programs:
* a four month “boot camp” guiding and mentoring youth on taking an idea from seed to idea, as well as focusing on life skills, how to share their idea: art of story telling, how to empower yourself and speak your truth and still be effective. Once the idea is created these children can present their idea to a fund committee from Kidz2kidz foundation. The idea will be evaluated on a number of criteria and if accepted a determined dollar figure will be granted. This idea is based on an idea that the owner of Quicken started and funded called BizdomU to kick start high growth potential businesses in the Detroit area – focussing on entrepreneurship. If an idea is accepted the youth receives a loan with set terms on the loan – for me the loan rate must be reasonable and competitive. BizdomU takes 66% ownership and the entrepreneur takes 33% until the time that the loan is paid back and then the ownership then flips and the young entrepreneur takes back 66% ownership. The other 33% is used to sustain the BizdomU program itself.
I love this idea and concept — let’s make it a reality.
* A program bridging Youth immigrants coming into Canada and their parents and their “Canadian Counterpart”.
I truly believe that Canada is on the cusp of greatness and by nurturing, mentoring, and fostering our youth leaders into adult leaders we will begin to see the impact of their innovation, creativity and entrepreneurial spirit in every facet: politically, economically, in our businesses, socially/in our communities and in our relationships abroad.
