The Young Leader

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What Can Teens Do to Help Haitian Children After the Recent Hurricane

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Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti earlier this year, leaving hundreds dead and even more homeless. The hurricane also made its way to several U.S. states – South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. More than likely you’ve heard about Hurricane Matthew or seen photos of destroyed homes and streets. Well we’ve compiled a list of ways that you can help those in Haiti after the hurricane, especially Haiti’s children!

Want to help us design a future GLA Haiti program, centered around global health and medicine? Click here.

Spread Awareness – make sure all of your friends know what is happening and ways that they can also help.

  1. Share Articles. Sites like NPR and even the White House have published articles about Hurricane Matthew and ways people can get involved.
  2. Post on Social Media. Use the hashtag #hurricanematthew when you post, be sure to retweet photos of the destruction, and even @ local organizations in your posts.
  3. That’s right, The Red Cross not only lets you donate money online but now you can donate $10 by texting. Simply text MATTHEW to 90999.

Raise, Donate, & Sponsor – raise money to donate to causes. There are many organizations helping out in Haiti including Save the Children, Food for the Poor, Food Aid International, and many more.

  1. Kickstarter and GoFundMe. Create a post on a fundraising site to raise money that can be donated to an organization helping those in need.
  2. Handmade Items. Make items that others might want to buy like crocheted scarfs, postcards, or bracelets. The money that you make from people purchasing these items can be donated to aid organizations.
  3. Donate Money. Instead of using that money you had saved up to go to the movies, donate it to an organization.
  4. Sponsor a Child. Organizations like UNICEF, Save the Children, and World Vision allow you to give money to a child in Haiti. Even if the child was not directly affected by the hurricane, chances are that their resources whether that be food, shelter, or the ability to learn were.

Looking for mission trips in the Caribbean, designed for high school students? Click here to view our Dominican Republic programs.

Volunteer – while you can’t go to Haiti to directly help out those in need you can volunteer your time with local organizations.

  1. VolunteerMatch.com. This website will let you find organizations that are near where you live so you can volunteer.
  2. Local Organizations. Whether it’s a food pantry or a homeless shelter that you volunteer for, you are helping the community especially as many resources even in the U.S. have been pulled to help with Hurricane Matthew.
  3. Give Blood. With the hurricane, there are less people who are able to donate blood. If you are able you can give blood at one of the American Red Cross’ blood donation centers.

Contributed by Samantha Watkins

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How We Can Save the Elephants

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Seriously, who doesn’t love elephants? Whether we see them in Africa or Thailand, in Disney’s Dumbo or Zootopia, elephants have and always will have a special place in our hearts. But, it’s time to talk about the “elephant in the room.” According to Elephants Forever’s website, with threats like poachers, shrinking natural land space for elephants to roam, as well as disease, elephant numbers are decreasing by the day. Plus, the African Wildlife Foundation reports that elephants do not reproduce quickly. So, what are we doing to care for these creatures so that they continue to be a part of our lives? What are we doing to ensure that these kingly animals will not fade into museums like wooly mammoths?

The World Wildlife Fund website lists five main ways they are working to protect elephants. They are using statistics and studies in order to learn more about these creatures so that they can better protect them. The WWF is also assisting locals by teaching them how to work with elephants and guard their homes and fields so that the elephants do not create damage. In addition, WWF helps bring enforcement against poachers and ivory traders, people who hunt elephants down and kill them. Finally, they also help ensure that elephants still have space to roam and live healthy lives. In a nutshell, the WWF website summarizes most of what is being done to defend elephant conservation globally.

There are several other conservation organizations that are also enacting some of these methods to protect elephants. For instance, the African Wildlife Foundation also helps locals so they know how to work with elephants. Plus, they too work to protect lands that are healthy environments and natural habitats for elephants. Practical matters and organizations such as these bring us one step closer to sustaining elephants for the future.

So, how can you be a part of elephant conservation? Here are five main ways:

  • Stay up-to-date on news about elephant conservation/preservation. Many conservation organizations such as WWF offer newsletters and emails to receive in your inbox. By reading these, you can stay current on the latest ways people are working to protect these animals. New developments happen often, so staying informed is important in order to help these creatures.
  • “Adopt” an elephant. As much as you wish it could happen, this is not literally adopting an elephant. You don’t get to have an elephant in your backyard. However, you can help sponsor an elephant so that they can be provided and cared for. Funds can go towards research, implementing protective measures (i.e. setting up fences, purchasing land for elephants), and even food (they definitely do not have small appetites). So sponsoring an elephant is an easy way for you to get involved.
  • Encourage learning. In addition to helping elephants themselves, you can help people grow and learn through sponsorship of education! This will encourage students to want a better future for themselves and for their world. If we don’t have a desire to care for this world and help others care for it, then it will not matter what we do now to protect it. Learning plays a large part in elephant conservation.
  • Be a part of World Elephant Day. World Elephant Day helps raise awareness about the global threat to elephants. You can be a part of it by learning about their cause and helping to share it and explain their goals. Find out more about World Elephant Day by visiting oworldelephantday.org.
  • Volunteer with these amazing animals! Go and see these creatures in a conservation elephant home. Global Leadership Adventures has two whole programs dedicated to elephant conservation centered in Thailand. With them, you will be able to help volunteer with and learn about elephants, while also getting to see the beauty of Thailand. Oh, and did I mention hiking and white-water rafting? It is a win-win!

This world is our home. We have a responsibility to be good stewards so that the next generation will be able to call this their home, too. So let’s learn how to better care for creatures like elephants so that we can appreciate them in reality, not a history book.

Contributed by Addie Davis

Citations:

“What WWF is Doing.” World Wildlife Fund, https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/elephant. Accessed 23 Oct. 2016.

“Elephant.” African Wildlife Foundation, http://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/elephant. Accessed 23 Oct. 2016.

“Threats to Elephants.” Elephants Forever, http://www.elephantsforever.co.za/threats-to-elephants.html. Accessed 23 Oct. 2016.

“How You Can Help.” Save the Elephants, http://savetheelephants.org/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2016.

World Elephant Day. World Elephant Day, 2016. http://worldelephantday.org/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2016.

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Five Things We Can Give Thanks for this Thanksgiving

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With the upcoming 2016 presidential election and the aftermath of Hurricane Mathew dominating recent headlines, it can sometimes be disheartening to read or watch the news. With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, however, let’s visit five recent events that are worth being thankful for.

Canada Likes the United States…a Lot!

Perhaps one of the coolest headlining events recently was the Twitter campaign that took Americans by surprise. Using the hashtag #TellAmericaItsGreat, Canadians took to the platform to say how much they appreciate the United States and offer uplifting words of encouragement. Some of the most touching tweets include “Your arts & culture, your optimism & hope, your diversity & ideas – all brilliant,” “Don’t let anyone tell you you aren’t great,” and “Your declaration of independence is one of the most beautiful documents ever written.” Anyone paying attention to trending hashtags undoubtedly saw this campaign, making it a fantastic reason to sit back, reflect, and give thanks for the amazing opportunity to live in America.

Wedding Party Gives Shelter Pups a Fantastic Day

There are few events more eagerly awaited than weddings and even fewer things cuter than puppies. Recently, a couple decided to mix the two for one unforgettable day. Instead of using flowers in their wedding photos, Sarah and Matt Crain opted to use adorable Boxer-Coonhound puppies from the rescue and rehabilitation center, Pitties Love Peace. Not only did this make for cute pictures, but it highlighted a great cause. It’s also a great reminder to be thankful for the animals in your life; make sure to give your own pet a big hug to show your appreciation for their unconditional love.

Hero Cop Saves Newborn Baby and is Named her Godfather

In September, veteran police officer Kenneth Knox was dispatched to a 911 call in response to a newborn baby choking on a piece of cereal. The child, Ma’Yavi, was “fading fast,” according to Knox. He quickly administered reverse CPR and was able to suck the cereal out of her mouth. To show their appreciation, Ma’Yavi’s parents asked that Knox be named the baby’s godfather. With all the negative press surrounding police officers lately, it’s more important than ever to remember and be thankful for these brave men and women who save lives.

Kids Beating Cancer Ring Their Bell

Cancer is an extremely difficult disease for individuals and their families. It’s even harder when it’s children who are diagnosed. The Aflac Cancer Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta helps patients deal with the disease, as well as celebrate overcoming it. The center established an “end-of-treatment bell” for patients to ring after the completion of their chemo treatments. Watch this video as children of all ages celebrate this incredibly emotional milestone and be thankful for their continued fight against cancer.

Winning Soccer Team Consoles Opposing Team After Loss

In a recent championship soccer match, Barcelona’s under-12 team won a hard-fought game against a Japanese club team. Losing is never easier, but it quickly became apparent that the Japanese team was taking it exceptionally hard. Barcelona’s team was deeply moved and took it upon themselves to comfort and console their opposition. They shared handshakes, hugs, and words of encouragement. Watch these short clips from after the game and see first-hand the compassion that lives inside of each and every one of us.

While popular media often bombards us with negativity, there are actually so many examples of true goodness in our world too. As we enter this holiday season, take a moment to consider the good in your life and the lives of your loved ones. Hug your family, spend an extra minute with your friends, and be thankful for humankind’s capacity to love.

Contributed by Amanda Vosloh Bowyer

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Back to School for High School Seniors

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Now that summer is almost over, are you wondering about what your senior year will be like?

Welcome incoming seniors! Hope you had a fantastic summer and are enjoying your last days to their fullest 🙂

Now that your senior year is rapidly approaching, you might feel anxious, excited, exhausted, and even scared. Compared to your first three years of high school, senior year is an especially promising and exhilarating one. But at the same time, many of your days might be filled with fear and self-doubt about what lies ahead.

About 5 years ago, I was especially apprehensive about senior year. My family drowned me with advice, and I learned to dread that one seemingly innocent question you may often get asked, “What college are you going to?” Even though my senior class was in a good high school that prepared us all academically, we still had to face many other challenges. No manual, study guide, article, or any amount of advice could prepare us for the rough patches and surprising opportunities that lay ahead of senior year.

In that spirit, here’s a short collection of unconventional but useful observations that I wish someone had told me:

You’re going to feel very alone

Unfortunately this first one is a downer and not about baby turtles or puppies. Senior year is often a hypersocial time with many school activities, parties with friends, and other kinds of celebrations with family. But at some point the party ends and, suddenly, your closest friends since childhood are far away. You can’t exactly prepare for this shift or know how you’ll feel when it happens. It’s something you experience and then cope with when it happens.

College acceptances don’t define you but are still really nice

This also applies to the many other kinds of applications that you’ll have the pleasure to complete. They’re excessively tedious and often are a lottery; you may feel like you might as well be tossing pennies into a well. And you probably have heard many times that the results don’t define you or your worth as a person. But the first few rejections can certainly feel that way—your first big acceptance may feel incredible. Congratulations in advance 🙂

Take full advantage of senior perks and activities with your friends

What’s especially nice about senior year is that you may have access to a car now, and you can get away with a lot more. That’s a beautiful combination. Do you want to do a drive by in your car where your friends pelt freshmen with tennis balls? Go wild! Fancy having a formal cafeteria lunch where your friends all dress up, serve a delicious 3 course meal on fine china, and delight in the hall monitor’s baffled expression after seeing your buddy cut the beef wellington—with what sounds like a miniature chainsaw—as your other friend in a tux skillfully plays the violin?!

Go for it!

(For the record, we were the freshmen that got barraged with tennis balls and that last scene really did happen.)

Seriously consider doing a gap year and community college

One of your choices as a high school senior is to take a gap year. You can postpone higher education or full time work right after high school. During this time you could engage in traveling, volunteering, studying, or anything else that suits you! Personally, I felt that taking a year off helped me better center myself before going back to school. Depending on your financial situation, you may also want to compare community college over other schools.

Your results often vary, but that’s not always a bad thing

What does that even mean? I’m actually still figuring this one out for myself, and I feel there’s something important here that ties everything together. Oh, that’s right… senior year might feel uncomfortably ambiguous and, at the same time, you may find yourself having to make some pretty huge decisions that you’re unprepared for. Later on, some of your choices will seem completely wrong. For others, you’ll feel glad and cherish those experiences.

What are you dreading and looking forward to about senior year?

Other high school seniors would enjoy reading your thoughts on this!

Contributed by Nick Fochtman

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Reaching High School Students

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Teens have to be reached at an early age because it’ll give them a chance to evaluate and manage the knowledge that has been given to them, process it, and decide if it fits into the plan they have for their life. High school students feel a sense of adulthood in school, since high school has the option of different classes, and the variety of those classes can have a student wonder how college life will be for them. The high school experience, and the pondering that comes with it, begins this responsibility.

Though, when a student enters high school, the first thing that has to be done is the actual work!

This is a step to mature adulthood, and making teens at the high school level aware of the work required to reach their ambitions is a starting point, not a goal line. Since they are mature enough to understand the process and young enough to begin the process of everything becoming a habit, hard work instilled now will be invaluable later on in college and beyond.

When teens are reached early, in an engaging, intellectual way in high school, then they’ll be prepared as they begin their journey to more than just work later in life.

Contributed by Tyler Dickerson

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