The Young Leader

Be inspired by stories of young people making a difference around the world.

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Amazing Teen Starts Non-Profit and Raises $100,000

“It’s so important to explore your passions and use your interests to do good.”

–Lauren Sundstrom

Name: Lauren Sundstrom
Hometown: Newburyport, MA
Education: Bowdoin College, Class of 2017
Interests and Passions:
Was on a competitive cheerleading team but “can’t hit a ball to save her life”
Loves poetry and went to every Poetry Team competition at her school
Self-proclaimed shopaholic who holds a part-time job at a clothing boutique
Transformational Experience: Children of Africa, Ghana
Making an Impact: Founder and President of Clothes for Hope, Inc.

Only two years ago, 16 year-old Lauren Sundstrom was a teenager without direction, spending much of her time distracted by a circle of friends that her parents worried was not a great influence on her. Lauren’s mother, Lisa, was especially concerned. “Lauren was in trouble. She just wasn’t being herself, and didn’t seem happy or confident.”

They knew that they wanted to help their daughter, so they encouraged her to find her passion. In addition, they agreed to fund her activities once she’d found it. “We were thrilled when Lauren told us that she wanted to see the world and volunteer in a new place,” says Lisa. “My husband and I were both raised abroad, and we know how important it is to have a global perspective and really understand how fortunate we are.”

After much research and careful consideration, Lauren found herself enrolled in the Global Leadership Adventures “Children of Africa” Program in Ghana. She chose this program because she loves working with children. In order to start making a difference before her program began, she began mentoring local girls at her old middle school.

“One of the huge factors that contributed to my wanting to travel and help children was my own self-esteem growing up. I really had difficulty feeling accepted and wanting to fit in.”

Lauren was on a roll, and by the time she got to Ghana she was more ready than ever to make an impact on the children there. She spent her days and nights immersed in Ghana’s culture and with its children, seeing families in unimaginable poverty and desperately wanting to help. While volunteering as a teacher at a school in the Woe-Keta School District, Lauren had life-changing realizations.

“The students at the school there really wanted to learn, but they had almost no materials, no teacher…nothing. They showed up every day and they knew they might not have a teacher, but they went to school anyway. I would never have done that in 6th grade, but for them education is a privilege. That really opened my eyes.”

Lauren also saw the harsh reality for children who weren’t afforded the opportunity to attend school.

“We played with the neighborhood kids near our Home Base- and I absolutely loved it. Those were the kids who couldn’t go to school. They couldn’t afford a uniform, so they weren’t allowed to go, but I couldn’t believe how much they thrived on interacting with us. It was amazing.

Lauren’s life had been transformed.  She returned home with a new outlook on her privileged life and with a sense of responsibility to help the children and families of Ghana in any way that she could.

“When I got back I had a job at a clothing boutique. I always loved fashion, and actually thought that was what I would major in in college. But my passion really lies with children. One day I was organizing my closet, and I had several bags of beautiful clothing- I wanted to donate them, take them to a bin or something. My mom and I had been talking about how I was going to be ok- to keep living my life, even though I felt so guilty that people in Ghana were barely surviving…And the idea just snowballed from there.”

That summer, Lauren started Clothes for Hope. Clothes for Hope, Inc. is a non-profit organization that raises money for educational assistance and materials for children and families in need, both locally and globally.  Lauren collects donations of new and gently used clothing and hosts huge sales to sell the goods at discounted rates. Clothes for Hope has raised more than $90,000 to date, and has helped to purchase 280 school uniforms and hundreds of pounds of school supplies for children in Ghana. In addition, funds raised by Clothes for Hope have been used to construct a teacher’s meeting room, a library, and a middle school in the rural fishing town where Lauren volunteered during her GLA Program.

Talk about making an impact!

Lisa couldn’t believe the incredible change she saw in Lauren. “As a parent, there is nothing more gratifying than witnessing your child being truly happy and doing what they love. Lauren traveled with GLA to Ghana, and when she returned she was a different person. She carries the people of Ghana in her heart, and her involvement has been such a blessing to our whole family.”

Lisa even accompanied Lauren on her first return trip to Ghana, the summer following her GLA program.

“When my mom and I returned to Ghana last summer to drop off my donations and visit the site where the Clothes for Hope Middle School will be built, it was the students’ summer break. But there were 200+ kids waiting at the school for me and clapping…it was so moving. Without a doubt the best day of my life.”

Since her first trip to Ghana with GLA in Summer 2011, Lauren has already returned to Ghana twice. On her third trip, in August 2013, she once again delivered hundreds of pounds of school supplies. “I’m going to keep going, as often as I can. I fell in love with the people of Ghana on my GLA program, and 2 years later I am more passionate than ever about improving the lives of the children there.” Check out a video she made after her last visit here.

Lauren is currently attending Bowdoin College, where she is studying International Business and Law while continuing to run Clothes for Hope, Inc.

Program Lauren Attended:
Children of Africa, Ghana

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Honoring: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

At The Young Leader, we’re inspired by individuals who leave a positive mark on our world- and teach us all a lesson in the process.

Few men have taught us as much as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Today, we honor the messages of King’s legacy.

To dare to dream, regardless of obstacles.

To relentlessly pursue equality for all, no matter how impossible this may seem.

To drive away hate with love.

And, of course, countless others.

For an amazing and reflective read today, check out a recent article written by Dr. Gary May, Professor of History at the University of Delaware, which celebrates the humanity and sometimes-forgotten struggle of Dr. King’s amazing life.

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GLA Alum Demonstrates Impact of Teenage Travel

“I firmly believe that the more people who have the opportunity to learn about themselves and give back to others, the better off our world will be.”

–Adam Willis

Name: Adam Willis
Hometown: Berlin, MA
Education: University of Massachusetts, Class of 2017
Interests and Passions:
Firm believer that summertime means “no shoes unless you’re working”
Vegetable farmer on a 7th generation family farm in his hometown
Confirmation sponsor for two young Catholics
Transformational Experiences:
Children of China, Beijing
African Leadership and Service, Johannesburg
Service in the Sacred Valley, Peru
Making an Impact: Demonstrating the value of travel for personal and professional growth

It’s easy to miss how unique Adam Willis is when you first meet him.

Easygoing, a natural leader, and incredibly compassionate, he’s the type of young man who feels like he could be your neighbor or classmate. He plays basketball. He has a job. He can talk to anyone– and he makes an effort to do so.

When GLA Director of Admissions Jessica Miller initially met Adam, she saw “an all-American teen, eyes wide with curiosity, a deep intellect and an interest in Chinese culture and Mandarin language.”

He had just arrived in Beijing, China for his first GLA Program, and he had worked ardently to fundraise for the trip and convince his parents to allow him to go. By the end of his three weeks in China, “Adam had fully embraced exploring the world and had furthered his passion for the Chinese culture, and I realized how special he was. He threw himself completely into the experience- and it was reflected in his attitude and genuine appreciation.”

This love and appreciation for immersion in new cultures led Adam to travel on two additional GLA programs after his experience in China. South Africa and Peru were next on his list.

“One of the most amazing things about traveling and experiencing new cultures is the opportunity to have dialogue with those who are different than you. That level of diversity is a driving force in my passion for immersion in developing countries. I’ve learned so much about myself and opened up to the world around me. Every time I travel, I learn more about different people and places in the world- and it’s impossible to pick a favorite.”

Adam’s appreciation for travel is vast, and so is the lens through which he views the opportunities that await in his future.

“My GLA programs were incredibly eye-opening to me. From learning about the intense urban issues South Africa faces to hiking Machu Picchu, I grew to love the people and cultures that I experienced. I realized, though, that I couldn’t pick a favorite. There wasn’t one thing that stuck out to me, or one country where I knew I needed to focus my energy. Instead, my time spent with GLA gave me an appreciation for the process of being immersed in a new place. It’s an experience unlike any other.”

Thanks to his love for experiencing diverse cultures and spending time in developing countries, Adam is pursuing an International Fares Certificate (in addition to advanced language study in Spanish and Mandarin) at the University of Massachusetts. He hopes to use the lessons he has learned through travel to inspire others.

“Travel is all about opening yourself to new experiences and embracing the personal transformation that takes place. I don’t feel bound by the regions and cultures I’ve already been exposed to. Instead, I’ve come to realize that you can experience those same transformations in an infinite number of places- whether you’re on the other side of the world or in your hometown. You simply have to open yourself up to them.”

For now, Adam is continuing to learn as much as he can, while determining how best to transform his appreciation for travel and personal growth into a career.

“I’m still in the process of learning Mandarin, I am reading a book on Peru, and I’m wearing a bracelet that I bought in South Africa 2.5 years ago. GLA has completely impacted me, and completely impacted my attitude and goals for the future.”

He’ll keep that influence in mind as he moves forward.

“Who knows- maybe one day I’ll start my own service program. I firmly believe that the more people who have the opportunity to learn about themselves and give back to others, the better off our world will be.”

Programs Adam Attended:
Children of China, Beijing
African Leadership and Service, Johannesburg
Service in the Sacred Valley, Peru

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Connecticut Teen Gives Gift of Identity to Haitian Immigrants

“Although we were the same age, our lives couldn’t have been more different. And that bothered me.”
–Ellen McNeill

Name: Ellen McNeill
Home Town: Avon, CT
Education: Avon High School, Class of 2013 – Northeastern University, Class of 2017
Interests and Passions:
Enjoys sing and play guitar, and participated in the a capella group Rhapsody
Loves animals and has a dog, a fish, and a bearded dragon
Says musicians Jack Johnson and Ed Sheeran are her “favorite people ever”
Transformational Experience: Building a Sustainable World, Dominican Republic
Making an Impact: Founder of “Hope for Ascension” Sponsor a Child Program

When Ellen McNeill decided to travel to the Dominican Republic with the Global Leadership Adventures “Building a Sustainable World” Program in Summer 2012, she expected to work hard. She expected to learn a lot. She expected to make friends. She even expected to have a new perspective on her own life and opportunities.

But did she expect to spend the following 14 months working tirelessly to provide legal documentation to hundreds of Haitian immigrants stuck in a refugee camp there?

Not a chance.

“I had such an amazing time in the Dominican Republic with GLA. Dave, the Director of my program, is so passionate about sustainability. That passion really manifested itself in every activity that we participated in, and I learned so much from him about sustainable ways to contribute to developing communities.”

Their work led the group of teenage volunteers to Ascension- a refugee camp for Haitian immigrants who have come to the Dominican Republic to find a better life. Unfortunately, most of them lack birth certificates and passports, which are necessary in order to have access to public education, job opportunities, and health care. Since neither the Dominican Republic nor the Haitian government will recognize these people, they live a life of poverty and hunger. And unless they can afford the expensive process of obtaining legal identification, they are stuck in Ascension.

This realization was life changing for Ellen.

“I’ll never forget my first day at Ascension. We were there to work in the garden, and I met a teenage girl named Alaina. She was 16, like me, but even though we were the same age, our lives couldn’t have been more different. She told me about her life in the camp, and that she wasn’t allowed to go to school. Her parents were stuck in Haiti and she couldn’t see them. When I asked her why, she explained to me that she didn’t have a passport or a birth certificate, so she couldn’t leave. I was shocked, and I promised her that I would find out how to get her a passport once I returned to the U.S.”

Unfortunately, when Ellen returned home and began researching how best to help Alaina, she discovered that her new friend’s story was far from unique.

“I was horrified to find out how many people were living without legal identifications in the Dominican Republic, and I knew I needed to do something to help. Being there and seeing it made a tremendous impact on me.”

From there, Ellen joined forces with two other GLA Dominican Republic alumni (Hunter Bryson and James Dojerty), and they formed Hope for Ascension. This organization is devoted solely to raising funds to purchase Haitian passports and birth certificates for stateless refugees. While Hunter and James worked on establishing a website for the group to spread awareness, Ellen immediately began fundraising.

“I hosted a talent show at my school and raised $2,500. We also began taking donations through our website, and we’ve raised over $10,000 to date.” This funding has provided hundreds of people with legal identification in the form of passports and birth certificates. In addition, it opens them up to employment opportunities, access to health care, and secondary education.

In July 2013, Ellen returned to the Dominican Republic alongside 7 other GLA alumni. Each of them were working on their own projects to give additional support to the Dominican Republic community they stayed in on their program, and some of had never met before.

“The coolest part about returning to the Dominican Republic this summer was seeing that I was not alone in wanting to continue giving back. Now I have so many connections with local people, grassroots organizations, and other GLA alumni who have similar goals for the region. It’s an amazing community of people to be a part of, and everyone is working on amazing things that interest them. Dave and GLA have really fostered an environment that not only allows, but encourages, further work in the area.”

Now, Ellen is focusing on starting her freshman year at Northeastern University, where she is majoring in International Studies. But giving “the gift of recognition” to the people of Ascension continues to be a priority for her.

“I started a club at my high school that will continue to raise money for Hope for Ascension, even though I’m no longer there. It’s amazing. I can go to college, focus on my future, and know that our mission is continuing to gain exposure.”

Program Ellen Attended:
Building a Sustainable World, Dominican Republic

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10 Tips for Becoming a Leader

There are hundreds of books and websites devoted to discussing and defining what it is to be a leader. What are the traits characteristics of a good leader? Similar to many other skills, leadership is something a person develops through learning, effort and experience. It takes more than just being persuasive and charismatic. As a leader, you have to be able to use the resources you have to achieve the best results for yourself and others.

The 10 leadership tactics

Effective leadership is a balancing act in that you must direct and inspire others while drawing on your own abilities and resourcefulness. Here we’ll look at 10 pathways to develop your leadership skills:

  1. Take on risks and challenges: Life isn’t meant to consist of the same old routines. In order to get the most out of your own abilities, you have to challenge yourself and test your abilities.

  2. Create a vision: You may have the spirit that all leaders require, but if you haven’t got an idea for what you want to achieve, you won’t accomplish much. It’s crucial to have a vision that will fuel what you do and what you seek to achieve.

  3.  Inspire others: Inspiration can occur in many different ways and spread in ways you might not be aware of. Doing your best just may be what it takes to inspire fellow classmates and establish yourself as a role model.

  4. Lead by example: What you expect of others, you have to also expect of yourself. If you’re not willing or able to do what needs to be done, your credibility as a leader won’t last long.

  5. Practice humility: Arrogance in anyone is distasteful. You can build trusting relationships with others and establish yourself as a leader by being practical and realistic; don’t constantly talk about yourself or embellish your accomplishments. Focus on boosting others and recognizing group successes.

  6. Communicate effectively: No matter what your goals are, being able to speak or write effectively will play a huge part in getting on the right path in academics, your career and life in general. You must be able to clearly express your ideas to others.

  7. Model fairness and integrity: A key component of any leader is expressing a sense of fairness; you should strive for integrity in anything you’re involved in.

  8. Take a public speaking class: Strong public speaking skills are beneficial to anyone, regardless of age, and effective leaders must be able to speak before a crowd.

  9. Attend leadership programs: Summits, symposiums and other activities can give you the latest insights into how our society views leadership today; they’ll also give you some ideas on ways to hone your skills.

  10. Volunteer: A leader has to be willing to step out of her comfort zone, take on new challenges, and have her horizons expanded. Volunteering can accomplish all those things. Getting involved in your local community can be a great way to develop your leadership skills, or if you’re interested in the adventure of a lifetime, you can get involved in a GLA volunteer trip abroad.

The big picture for tomorrow’s leaders

Being a leader means understanding it’s not all about you. It’s about having a clear vision of what you want to achieve and providing a direction for others. When everyone collaborates effectively, the result is an achievement that a single individual couldn’t accomplish. Yet it’s also about developing your own abilities and skills, challenging yourself and working to your optimum potential. By following the suggestions here, you’ll stride down the path toward growing as a person and begin embodying the characteristics of a great leader.

 

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