Students from all over the Greater Toronto Area gathered for the Youth in Action Summit on February 20
Getting many students anywhere near school on a Saturday is tough. Getting them excited about it is even harder. Surprisingly, the auditorium of Bishop Marrocco Catholic Secondary School was filled with cheers and excitement on Saturday, February 20 as three hundred youth took part in Free The Children's annual youth conference known as the Youth in Action Summit.
The event, hosted by Free The Children's Youth Team and now in its third year, was designed this year to educate young people about social movements and global issues while connecting them with peers who share the same passion for social change.
While many youth were sleeping in, these students focused on getting the most out of their day as they listened to motivational speeches and were hard at work during workshops.
"Through workshops and break-out sessions, I hope that students gain a new understanding of past social movements and how they play a role in the work Free The Children is doing. The Summit is designed to be a day of inspiration and motivation for outstanding young leaders," said Angelique de Montbrun, an organizer of the Youth in Action Summit.
One workshop that Naomi Rose-Dutta, 16, particularly enjoyed was the leadership workshop. During the leadership workshop, students pinpointed characteristics of great leaders and examined the legacy of their actions. Rose-Dutta was pleased to find out that she shares similar leadership traits with Mother Teresa.
"I want to touch someone's heart, make a difference in someone's life. I'm not looking to please everyone, just someone. Just like Mother Teresa, I live to serve others. It's just my nature and will probably never change," says Rose-Dutta.
At a time when most teens are indecisive about what they want to do in their future, these students were left to think about what legacy they want to create and what obstacles they have to overcome to get there.
"The leadership workshop made it possible for anyone to embody the spirit of a true legend," says Rose-Dutta.
The workshop also raised some interesting philosophical questions about leadership by looking at perceived "positive" and "negative" leaders and the impact they left behind.
"We hope students gain a greater understanding of the differences between a leader's skills and abilities, and what they choose to do with their power," said de Montbrun.
As this group of young people begins to take what they've learned back to their schools, another group will soon be meeting in San Francisco for the California Youth in Action Summit, taking place March 13. If you're interested in participating, click here to submit an application.
Junior Journalist Kesayini Manoharan is a grade 12 student in Scarborough, Ontario. She is the co-president of a social justice club at her school. She hopes to one day become a teacher.
Free The Children's Global Voices program gives educators and youth an opportunity to explore important social issues through the media. Made possible by Educators Financial Group and delivered in partnership with the Toronto Star, Global Voices encourages youth to become Junior Journalists and share their views on the world by writing social justice articles.
