Testimonial-Finding My Voice: A Journey of Leadership and Confidence through ActionDignity Youth Community Leadership Team (YCLT)
Maya enrolled in ActionDignity’s Leadership training and decided to engage in our Youth Community Leadership Team after this initial training. Here is Maya’s journey from uncertainty to confidence through engagement with our Youth Platform for Action and Community Engagement (PLACE) 2 project. (Thank you to our project funder: Royal Bank of Canada for helping make these positive changes in our communities).
“I had such a great experience working on the project as well as learning about the problem tree and its many factors. I couldn’t wait for the projects and events ahead. After the training, I already felt more educated and knowledgeable and stimulated to share the idea of a problem tree with other peers outside of ActionDignity.
My confidence felt stronger as a leader as well as courage to use my voice in group stimulations grew bigger. I liked feeling that way not afraid of what others may think of how I speak or how I present my ideas. I had been to many leadership trainings like this one in the past, but I still didn’t feel confident or sure if I had really found my place in a leadership role or if I’d surrounded myself with the right people.
After attending this training, I felt I had more of a connection and more motivation to be socially competent around youth who obtained the same drive as I do for change. I also took it as a challenge, they were older than me and more knowledgeable about the topics we were discussing, I felt more like an amateur but took it as an opportunity to challenge and motivate myself to dig deeper and educate myself more on these topics because I know I would need these strategies and logic for the career path I want to go down, international relations and political science.
I had been looking for many opportunities and leadership roles since my school lacked in given opportunities in this area. I had been in an environment where I was not pushed or encouraged to take on these leadership roles. Half the time I felt discouraged and started doubting whether I would be good enough to be part of these kinds of incentives.
I also held anxiety about whether I would be able to be a part of something like this because I had a learning disability and whether I was even fit to be in this type of environment. But I simply didn’t have it in me to give up. So, I asked to join the YCLT to enhance my skills, confidence, and how I present myself as a leader who wants to take on bigger initiatives and organize incentives, events, and proactive efforts.
Plus, to find the utmost comfort with my peers who don’t discourage me on how I use my voice or my style of ideas and opinions. I cannot wait for the experiences and what’s left ahead. Being a part of the YCLT is truly rewarding and I thank the group for welcoming me and recognizing me as someone who can contribute to this pathway to change.”
If you are interested in our Youth project, please contact Amandine Nicolas
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