"Students from each of the participating GO Local schools were invited to attend a special weekend retreat being held at the Me to We Leadership Center in Bethany Hills, Ontario from May 6-8th. Each school selected 2 students to represent their GO Local club at the GO Local Academy weekend. Not only did the weekend serve to unite all GO Local clubs across Toronto, it also was an opportunity for participants to network, share best practices, celebrate successes, and receive advanced leadership training. Students also received valuable resources, skills, and ideas to bring back to their schools to implement in the current year. Whether schools were still in the process of planning their local action, or have already completed it, the weekend served GO Local clubs in all different stages of the program."-Free the Children.
I was selected out of my school with one other student who shows great leadership within their community to go on a retreat, all expenses paid to Go Local Academy which is located in Bethany Hills, Ontario. This event was organized by Free the Children and Me to We, which are located in Toronto. The theme of the academy was to help students with leadership qualities to develop skills that they could implement within their society and cause change. While at the retreat we were all introduced to team leaders and group members and took part in team building activities. For example, we were asked as a group of 6 to 7 members to carry a hula-hoop across a field with only touching the hula-hoop with two fingers and they were not allow to slip or any other part of your hand was not to be touching the hula-hoop. Within various efforts we had only got a few steps without touching the hula-hoop, this began to become frustrating. Group members seemed to get more aggressive and frustrated with the situation. At the end of the exercise, we were told by our group leaders that this task was fixed because it was impossible. We were doing this exercise to see how we as a group would take out our frustrations on other people. The point of these activities was to show that when you are working in a group and you keep getting the same result but expecting different outcomes can be frustrating. If the task was possible it was suggested that many tasks may seem impossible at first, but once you work through the issues and find an alternative outcome this is how you and your group members will succeed.
In my opinion, participating in Go Local Academy was a positive experience. After going to this retreat I had realized how important it was to not only help group members, but to also help people throughout society that may not be in the best circumstances. When I got home from the academy I remember feeling motivated to help change my community. and therefore decided to help out at a homeless shelter and build homes for people that didn't have a place to stay. I remember telling students at my school about the exercises and experiences we had faced in Bethany Hills. Many students ended up making action plans of ways in which they wanted to help change their community for the better. I believe that team building exercises are a wonderful way to help motivate people in an unconventional way. I would also recommend other people to take part in team building activities.
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ReplyDeleteHello, Cassandra, very well written analysis of the video and we definitly enjoyed the the comradary building aspect of the whole retreat, the concept of building unity, friendship and togetherness for children who need it. The retreat brings about a sense of feeling valued, appreciated and trusted within a group, so we definitely think that the retreat is a good idea for future leaders and people who genuinely enjoy working as a unit. Keep up the good work and we look forward to your future posts. Tiffany and Yun.
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