Child/Youth Self-Empowerment

I am working on the development of a Child/Youth Self-Empowerment Workshop.  It will be part of the Goal-Setting Workshop Series.  There is ample research on impact of low self worth amongst children and youth and how it can follow them into adulthood. The causes, sources and road to low self worth can be varied – trauma, abuse, parenting, loss of culture, poverty, etc. The results can range from being under-employed to becoming a victim in society.

But, the good news is- it can be turned around – mentors, programs, support, and education – both formal and informal.  But a workshop is only one experience – how can it spark a thought, emotion or hope that will create an opportunity to move to self-empowerment and a journey that will focus on goals, progress, and the power to define and oneself? That will be part of the plan that is mapped out in this workshop.

Potential will lie dormant without a spark to have it mobilized.  I have seen such potential in the youth I have worked with over the years. It may take the workshop instilling something more powerful than anything that has contributed to the low self-worth.  I think its possible.

I love photos and so I will add my new tree that seems to be coming to life despite its lack of leaves right now.

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Personal Development, Staff Development, Teamwork

Can you benefit from a workshop on team-building skills without an opportunity for self-development?  Can you bring anything to the team that is greater than yourself? Many managers look to a 2 day workshop on team-building skills to enhance the productivity, efficiency, etc. of their staff.  And in some cases, it is to increase cooperation and reduce conflict amongst the staff.  The staff of an organization can make or break the organization.  They are the the engine that drives the organization forward, or stalls it, or flips it on its side.  Perhaps personal development is the key, self-reflection, an opportunity to be the best that you can be.  And then you bring the best that you can be to the team.   The schools do not teach us how to be the best that we can be.  Many people are searching and so self-learning has become popular.  The self-help section in the bookstore is growing – the demand is there.  Perhaps we should begin with supporting individuals to be the best that they can be as part of professional development in the work place.  I believe it will more than beneficial.IMG_0621

4 Reasons to Write Proposals as part of Community Development

1. The addition of extra funds provides an opportunity for program development.

2. Communities can design their own approach in line with the criteria of the funder.

3. It provides an opportunity to position the community as a leader in a specific area.

4. It creates an atmosphere of progress and hope through  the starting of a new project.

Youth “at-risk” have entrepreneurial skills!

I believe many youth who have been labelled “at-risk” often have skills and knowledge that may position them to be successful entrepreneurs. Successful entrepreneurs often have the following attributes or skills:

1. They take risks.

2.  They have a keen sense of people and can assess the motives or intentions of people very quickly.

3. They can identify opportunities and initiate a plan of action.

4. They have a clear vision of what is fair and what is not.

5. They thrive in self-directed activities and oppose being managed.

6. They are loyal to those who support them.

7. They are independent thinkers.

8. They have survival skills that enable them not to give up during challenging times.

9. They have leadership skills.

Why don’t we develop more entrepreneurial programs as part of our education system? What do you think?

What was the most productive team/staff you worked with?

Think about your best, most productive team/staff experience.  What defined the team? How many of these factors applied?

– had common goals

– the results were more important than who received the credit

-staff cared about the well-being of each other

-they were friends

-there was humour

– staff worked in and outside their job description

– staff had decision-making power and influence on other decisions

– change was embraced as necessary to meet needs of community

-what the organization was doing was more important than the organization itself

– less rules and more expectations

Is this situation created or does it happen naturally when team members have certain characteristics????

What do you think???

Do SMART goals limit the excitement of setting a goal?

As a skeptic of SMART goals, I was researching the topic.  SMART goals, I believe play it much to safe.  Was the goal of flying a plane or creating Disney World a SMART goal??

Check out this article:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2015/01/08/smart-goals-can-sometimes-be-dumb/

WELCOME!

Welcome to our Blog! Stay Tuned for articles, information and posts related to our services.

As a Capacity Building Consultant Team our work involves:

Empowering people, organizations, and communities.

What do we do?

community capacity building plans, proposal development to access funding for programs and projects, staff professional development plans, program evaluation, various training workshops that build community and organizational capacity..

More details to follow….