The Mid-Term Meeting for the ongoing cohort of LEAP YOUth took place from 24 to 31 July. This year’s meeting took place in a mountainside village of Churwalden in East of Switzerland where _ participants and coaches gathered for the event which plays an important part of every LEAP journey. We once again had the chance to see students coming from different countries with different backgrounds, but all united in values and goals of growing into responsible leaders of tomorrow.
Over the course of the week the participant went on an intensive journey, exploring each of the five dimensions of the Inner Development Goals – Being, Thinking, Relating, Collaborating and Acting. The program provided opportunities for everyone to reflect on themselves and understand and connect with others, creating capacities needed for one to be acting as a responsible leader. The sessions provided a space for participants to ask themselves questions that may have gone overlooked in their day-to-day lives. Thinking about their past, present and future, the purpose they feel for themselves as well as the roles in relations to themselves and others, provided them an insight into the ways of using their talents and gifts to make an impact on the world.
For one to be able to explore themself on such a deep level, connect with peers and share personal stories and experiences would not be possible without the unique LEAP atmosphere that was as always omnipresent throughout the meeting. The Mid Term Meeting has a special place at the heart of every cohort as the in person element is what creates such strong bonds between participants. To foster these bonds and allow for an unopstructed flow of trust and confidence, we have made the meeting a safe space where everyone can feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and emotions. Making this happen is in part thanks to the our team of amazing coaches, but utlimatelly comes down to the group to jointly create this atmosphere, which this year’s cohort managed to do in great extent.
The LEAP Meetings often touch on such deep subjects, that one can easily get overwhelmed by emotions and always count on their fellow participants for support. This year’s cohort trully shined in that regard, nurturing this group feeling and the sense of belonging together. The group spirit showed to be especially valuable with an innovative element of the Meeting, which for the first time included creating multiple teams around a topic – one of the five IDGs – on which they would work together for the remainder of the LEAP program.[introduction for the part about the about the LEAP Summit]
To be a responsible leader, it is important to know how to connect with themself and others, but equally important is connecting to the nature. As always, the outdoor element had great value in shaping the activities. For the most part, we were blessed with the weather that allowed us the realize the program agenda under the Sun which highlighted the incredible setting for this year’s meeting. Sitting on a gentle slope between the towering mountains, we had plenty of space and greenery, away from any kinds of noise or pollution. While some participants would enjoy an exercise playing any of the few sports at hand, others could simply sit down for talks, without either getting in the way of each other. Especially important was the hiking they when participants split off into few groups venturing around the mountains, each with a story to tell. It showed to be a great exercise of bonding with each other by donding with the nature surrounding us.
The Meeting was an incredibly valuable experience, which would not have been possible without the amazing team of coaches who took part in creating and carrying out the sessions. Their inputs provided guidance for participants, they were there to encourage, support and share their own feelings and insights, as it is as much of a journey for them as it is for the participants. Through the carefully picked agenda, the coaches created a platform for exploring one’s inner self, emotions, purpose and the impact on the world around them, all while learning and expanding interpersonal relationships.
Lastly, the most important part to the meeting were the participants, and they have thoughts they want to share their individual experiences. Each of their perspectives is unique, as each of us experience and see the world in our own way, hence we share with you their stories: