ILP First Year

Three words would sum up my involvement and first year with ILP (international leaders Project)

Opportunity, Pride and Confidence

Now I have to admit that when I first rocked up to the first gathering I was a bit worried, there was some incredible talent around the cabin along with some very influential people in our movement and I remember thinking ‘what have I let myself into’  The task that stands out from that weekend was to stand up and read a document we had never seen before, and as I watched my ILP colleagues get up and reel off the readings I was honestly in ore and felt well out of my depth. Well that weekend in Ireland just over a year ago seems a long way away, as I sit here now reflecting I’d like to share one or two moments and learning from my journey.

During this journey I have had the opportunity to attend the European general assembly in Prague where I was voted onto the nomination committee for the executive. What an absolute honor and having to stand up and pitch myself to over 200 people from 20 countries is a steep learning curve in public speaking. I was also chosen by the World Alliance to complete a research paper on issues facing young people across Europe, again a huge honor considering I was from a YMCA in the North West of England that didn't really do International work. I was also asked to speak at YMCA Derbyshire’s 100^th year anniversary on behalf of the National movement and to promote the World Challenge, what a huge privilege to be part of such celebrations and the feedback I received afterwards from young and older people was fantastic.  

To say the project had just changed me wouldn't be accurate and I would hope that everything I did transferred down to my local work; it helped me link into networks and have contacts in other countries so much so that my local YMCA partnered up with YMCA France for a live Skype on World Challenge day. I personally have much more confidence; I believe in my own ability now and am proud to be part of such a huge movement. I think the project also renewed my passion for our movement after 8 years working at a local level it gave us another direction and provided the whole organization with excitement. I have been inspired by other like-minded leaders and youth from across the movement and I am very grateful to those who gave me the opportunity and my friends on ILP whom are all destined for great things within this movement. 

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YMCA Le Rocheton part 2

New year, new blog post. I am sorry I have not posted sooner but I have been very busy with work and Christmas plus my laptop broke so I have had to invest in a new tablet.

I believe I left off from the YMCA world challenge. Since then the honey moon period where everyone was very nice and understanding of me making mistakes at work due to not understanding is finally over but that is just life! It is fine I just learn the phrase and ensure do it correctly the next time.

Nothing too interesting happened between world challenge and Christmas. A couple of BAFA groups have been, they specialise in training to work with children, which provided some fun meal time antics with mini drama performances for the children. There has also been the veterinary group staying frequently, I love the dogs they bring because they remind me of home but I also hate cleaning the room they use after! As you can imagine it is always left in a state.

Christmas was very strange. I was the only volunteer not to return home for Christmas, mostly because my parents were living the sweet life in Spain, but it still ended up rather enjoyable. There was a big group staying over Christmas and New Year that I had the pleasure to spend Christmas Day with. This was a group of about 30 disabled people, aswell as 3 or 4 carers, having a little holiday at the Rocheton. I have always been told how hard working with the disabled is hard but believe me working with them and they do not even speak your language is definitely one of the hardest things I have done! Still I powered through playing table football and drawing pictures untill Father Christmas, or the Pere Noël, arrived with their presents. It was absolutely wonderful seeing how happy these people were and how much they enjoyed the whole day, it really did make my Christmas memorable.

New year was a different story. My friend had come to visit me and I had taken two days off. I'm not going to go into detail but in a nut shell it involved beer, clubs, bars, Germans and absolutely no fireworks on the Paris skyline. Still a good night though.

Now here we are, the present. Back to picking up rubbish, arranging conference rooms, fixing everything and riding on the back of a tractor. Do I still love it? Of course I do!