Hopefully, your clubs and districts are planning impactful projects and events that support Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta’s Empowering Girls Initiative. Vice President Valarie Wafer and the entire ambassador team for Zones 28 & 32 look forward to reading more about them on Rotary Showcase.
Still wondering what to do or how to get started? As I have written before, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. And it’s still not too late, especially when you leverage one of Rotary International’s existing partnerships, like the one with Toastmasters International. Ambassador teammate Nikita Williams and I are collaborating with fellow Toastmasters in Districts 46 (New York City area) and 123 (greater Toronto) to organize Youth Leader Programs for Interact Clubs.
The Youth Leadership Program (YLP) is a workshop consisting of eight one- to two-hour sessions that enable young people under the age of 18 to develop their communication and leadership skills through practical experience. The program is presented during or after school, or on weekends. In the workshop, young people learn valuable skills including evaluating their own speaking ability; preparing and giving speeches; giving impromptu talks; controlling their voice, vocabulary, and gestures; and giving constructive feedback and more. What a great way to help girls “lean in” and grow into confident leaders!
Almost every Toastmasters district has senior Toastmasters responsible for organizing YLP workshops in their area. There are roadmaps and toolkits available. Nikita and I would encourage every Rotarian-Toastmaster (and there many of us) to explore YLP with their Toastmasters club and local Interact Clubs. Nikita and I will report back to you on the results of our pilot YLP sessions.
In the forthcoming issues of Beyond Borders, ambassador team members will highlight other projects that we are focused on, including “period poverty” and supporting Afghan refugees from the Asian University for Women who made it to the United States from Kabul in August.