A group of young men who connected through House of Friendship’s Boys in Leadership program are showing that they have what it takes to lead.
Jaden, Rekik, Hiab and Haben are learning to lead, thanks to Boys in Leadership.
Hiab, Rekik, Jaden, and Haben have created Youth Smile-Link, a program that offers many opportunities or youth like them to get together and have fun – and find a community where they belong.
“It was really just one of those ideas you get,” said Hiab. “Usually, they are just so crazy you don’t ever do anything. But the difference was that this time, we took action.
“We decided the community needed a place for youth to come and find opportunities,” said Hiab. “And while Boys and Girls+ in Leadership were already doing that, they were limited to Kingsdale Community Centre. So we decided to do more.”
Boys and Girls in Leadership are two Neighbourhoods programs you are making possible with your generous, faithful support. Each week, young people come together at Kingsdale Community Centre, learning how to grow as leaders with guidance from community mentors.
All four youth were active participants in the Boys in Leadership program, and this served as inspiration for Youth Smile-Link, a program that they designed and led themselves.
The young men put up posters all over Kitchener and Waterloo, and used Instagram to promote their programs. And, with support from their mentors at House of Friendship, they applied for – and received – funding to get Youth Smile-Link underway.
The program included an array of youth-focused activities – a youth innovation fair, where young people came together to showcase their ideas to other organizations, a basketball tournament, and a chance to hang out and play video games. They even planned events that included local leaders like Liberal Party candidate Ismail Mohamed, who recently ran for office in South-Hespeler.
Food was provided at the events as well.
“It’s a good feeling that you’re giving them food as well, just in case anything else is happening at home and they haven’t eaten in a while,” said Rekik.
They credit Boys in Leadership with inspiring them to achieve new things – and believe in the impossible for themselves.
