Critical Mass Leadership Education is a group of highly experienced trainers and educators providing leadership development and training

services. We serve people, organizations and their communities in Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Cambodia, Kenya, Germany, Turkey, Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Chicago and Denver.

www.boldleaders.com2009

Winter

CRITICAL MASS LEADERSHIP EDUCATION

Sub-Saharan African Youth Leaders Project Brings Together Young People from Four Countries

highlights:Sub-Saharan African Youth Leaders1 --- 2Emerging Youth Leaders Project 3 --- 4Acknowledgements 5Cyprus Updates 6

Bold Leaders

On November 29th twenty students and four teachers from Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria arrived in Colorado for a four week program focusing on leadership, civic education, diversity, and dialogue. Continued on page two

Youth Leaders with the African Student Union at Metro

State College in Denver

Beryl Almondi (far left), and Tabitha Almondi (middle), both 2007/08 Kenya Bold Leaders expand the beautification project at Kissumu Girl's School by planting trees. The program was started in May 2008 as a follow up to their program in Colorado. Beryl graduated this past November, and Tabitha attends the All African Leadership School in Joburg, South

Continued from page one:

Over the course of the program the young people will engage in multifaceted workshops and discussions with Critical Mass and our partner organizations in both Colorado and Washington DC. They will stay with host families and meet with grassroots activists and community organizers.

Throughout this program they will be continually invited to practice the qualities of bold leadership and develop collaborative relationships with their fellow participants to support their impact when then return home.

Each of the four countries face challenges with tribal and religious conflict, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, corruption and new government structures. These circumstances significantly impact the young people of those countries, this makes it both difficult and important for them to play an active role in the challenges facing of their communities.

A Bold Leaders program

is the beginning of an

ongoing conversation.

Check out what’s

happening here

Iaisha Antoine EYL 2009 Bold Leader initiated the creation of an Advisory Council of Students at her school. She writes: For my project I wanted to do something in my school, Manual and for my community. I started an advisory council where students and I would communicate with our principal to make change in the school. We were interested in looking at issues the majority of students feel should change, and motivating our peers to give their 100%. Dealing with the issues my peers have, my principal, and the advisory council talk about what students don't like in the school and think of ways to improve and/or change the situation. The advisory council meets with our principal every week. Iaisha was also invited to attend a Mentoring Luncheon with Michelle Obama in Denver. Watch a video about it here!

Above: Bold Leaders from the Emerging Youth Leaders program in Slovakia, on their way to a play day they designed for the ROMA children of a poor housing project in Bratislava. Left: The posters they created to announce the day. 

Right: ROMA and USA  Bold Leader teens, part of the USA State Departments Emerging Youth Leaders Program, learn and play a Lakota traditional game, with Lakota teens from the Pine Ridge Reservation, in South Dakota, USA. 

The Emerging Youth Leaders Project brought students to Central Europe in the Spring and Central European student to the U.S. during the fall. The European teenagers came from the Romani/Gypsy communities in Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic. This project helped develop young leaders as they practiced being active community advocates for themselves and the Romani people. Here is a glimpse of what they did:

Below: ROMA, US and Lakota teens pose for a group picture, and demonstrate the hand signs used to play the traditional, sticks and bone game.

Check out more about this program on the Embassy of Hungary’s website

In August we had the privilege of working with a group of Iraqi teens as part of a USA State Department Program. In the photo at left two youth work on chalk Mandalas about their lives with CMLE facilitator Andrea Godshalk. In the Mandalas the teens drew images of the past, where they gather strength from and their visions of the future both for themselves and their communities.

Appreciation and Acknowledgment:

Mayda Dorak (Cyprus 08) is a CASP Fulbirght Scholar at Cornell

Tahsin Gur (Cyprus 05/ 06 Peer Leader) is now a Cyprus American Scholar Program (CASP) Fulbright student at American University in Washington D.C. He is a cofounder of Genc Vizyon see page 6

Michelle Skeens (Volunteer 09) received a Rotary Scholarship to study abroad in 2010/11. She will be studying in Belgium, Switzerland, or Turkey.

Konstantine Buhler (BL 08) is currently serving as an Ashoka Youth Venture Ambassador see a video of him here

Steve Rocker, (EYL D.C. Liason) was named a Research Assistant at the United States Institute of Peace

Juraji Vozar (EYL 09) from Slovakia, Presented project ideas, designed with his ROMA partners from Slovakia, Hungary and Czech Republic, at Youth Ventures in Washington D.C.

Kareem Moore Childress, (EYL 09) Presented a video and talk on the ROMA community in Bratislava, and his project  to support that community at the Denver Center for International Studies School in Colorado.

Alex Wood (EYL 09) Presented on issues confronting the ROMA people to her International Bacalaurete class at Littleton High School, during International Awareness Week.

Cody Broncucia (BL09) received a Rotary Scholarship to study abroad in 2010/11 in Peru.

Bold Leaders who have an experience of impacting their environment during a Bold Leaders Program go on to impact the places where they live, work, and play. We are pleased to acknowledge some of their accomplishments here.

If you would like to support the work of BoldLeaders

around the world make a tax deductible donation at

www.boldleaders.com/donate

Spotlight on Cyprus Bold Leadership

Angeliki Samara (05/peerleader 06), Halide Bey (08), and Aaron Chryosostromou (09) are currently serving on the Steering Committee of Jumpstart. Jumpstart - Youth Peace Campaign in Cyprus is an 18 month program coordinated by Future Worlds Center and led by the Youth Centre Union. The 18 month long project works to increase the active participation of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot youth in the reconciliation process on the island. Jumpstart works with Adalı Gençlik Read more here.

Kiyal Eresen (Cyprus 08), Kamuran Saka (Cyprus 09) and Ergun Karasalih (Cyprus 08) are Board Members of Adalı Gençlik Yönetim Kurulu

Bold Leaders Pieris Christofi (08), Laura Psalti (08) and Fryni Fournari (08) at the American Academy in Larnaca created and serve on the Steering Committee of Cyprus Youth for Peace Club. Read about it here.

They also Dance for Peace, speak and listen at Socrates Cafe and Open Talk. They mind the earth together at Kayed bi-communal environmental camp and play with the DOVES Olympic Movement .

Seda Mahir (Left) Kiyal Eresen (Right)

2009/2010 Look what we have in store and watch for ways to get involved.

december/january

february/march

march/ april

2009/2010 Look what we have in store and watch for ways to get involved.

First group from the African Young

Leaders in Colorado and Washington DC

Host family Recruitment

Interested? Click Here

Second group from the African Young Leaders Project in Colorado and DC

Read Other Articles about

Cyprus Bold Leaders Here:

Cypriot Bold Leaders Demonstrate Commitment to Intercultural Dialogue

Ambassador Urbancic Congratulates Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot Bold Leaders

A photo from the "Kibris TV" during a show called "Gencler Konusuyor" (Young people are speaking) on 5th of August 2009. The show featured Genc Vizyon (Youth Vision) an organization founded by three Bold Leaders. During the first part of the show they talked about the organization and in the second part they spoke about the challenges facing youth in general.

Bold Leaders Tahsin Gur (Founding Member Council, and Murat Ereksel (past president and Founding Member Council), Genc Vizyon is committed to contributing to the knowledge of youth and to support Turkish Cypriot youth leaders with innovative ideas from around the world represent and contribute to their community in global conversations. Genc Vizyon provides a space for youth to develop their own activities in an environment free of political parties and doctrines.

Tahsin writes:

The organization will have an opening ceremony in December. We have been preparing for so long. Now we have our own building supplied by the Kyrenia Municipality. We have bought furniture, and we will have a TV in next two weeks. We have free Internet access at the building and a little cafeteria. We will have soccer matches on the TV on weekends and are aiming to bring youth together by organizing such events. After the official opening ceremony, we will focus on bigger projects in addition to bringing youth together in our building.