LEADERSHIP by Streetwise
Kickstart to Leadership Programme
December 2009
While, most people woke up on Friday 18th December, ready to stay at home and avoid the snow, almost 100 individuals from around the country were rising early to make their way to Uttoxeter, Staffordshire for the first residential weekend of the Streetwise Leadership Programme.
This is a four year programme in which participants choose to focus their training in either Community or Sports Leadership. The programme is comprised of a long residential weekend in December, a number of one-day Hands On Events in the Spring and a graduation weekend in June.
The weekend in December brought together 74 participants as well as our team of 20 tutors who are all graduates from the programme and now volunteer their time to deliver the training to the new breed of leaders.
Despite Mother Nature's greatest efforts the weekend got underway on time with the final Channukah candle lighting. Participants then spent the weekend involved in interactive programmes led by their tutors, with the aim of developing leadership skills through interactive experiences.
The chosen theme for the weekend was Jewish Celebrities, which many of the communal programmes from the weekend were based around. Participants took part in a round robin of challenges led by famous faces including Calvin Klein, Yossi Benayoun and Amy Winehouse with the aim of winning a nomination for their Jewish celebrity at the Golden Leadership Awards, which took place later on in the weekend. This required groups to put together a short biographical film based around their celebrity.
The weekend was also fortunate enough to host a group of 7 Israelis who were part of the 65th Maccabi GB Torch Relay Delegation. This brought some invaluable Israeli education and culture to the weekend as well as some great ruach (spirit), as shown by the activity they ran on the Saturday night.
The participants were also treated to some excellent Streetwise sessions looking at a number of issues that can affect young Jewish leaders as well as having important personal safety sessions on the Monday morning.
With such a positive atmosphere present throughout the entire three days, it was expected that participants would be sad to say their goodbyes and inevitably, a few tears were shed. But with the Hands On Events taking place over February to April, there is plenty to look forward to.
Leadership Manager, Sam Aboudara commented: 'The weekend was a resounding success and our participants have done themselves proud. They brought such enthusiasm to the weekend, stepping up to every opportunity offered to apply themselves as leaders. Huge thanks must go to the team of tutors, who put in so much hard work into planning and delivering the various components of the weekend!'
For more information on the Leadership programme, or to get involved in any other Streetwise activity ring: 020 8457 2331 or email: info@streetwisegb.org
To view photos from the weekend CLICK HERE!