What Breaks Your Heart?
What can young people who are given authentic opportunities to be involved in their community and world do?
Two years ago a group of teens were asked a simple question, "What breaks your heart?" Their answer: child abuse. The next question they were asked, "What should we do about it?" Their answer has unfolded over the past year in the form of action. These young people decided that they wanted to provide money and a design plan to renovate the outdoor play area of the Friendship Home – a safe home for abused women and children.
Additionally, they wanted to raise awareness about child abuse and its prevention. To accomplish this, the Youth Philanthropy Team has planned and executed a number of fundraising events and an awareness project that they completed in conjunction with Global Youth Service Day.
This past fall, Phase One of the outdoor renovations was completed. This phase included re-roofing, installing a new floor and fixing window frames on a playhouse as well as reinforcing the sandbox and installing a bench around it for the children to sit on while they play. This spring, the Youth Philanthropy Team looks forward to raising more funds so they can begin Phase 2 and 3: the construction of a bike trail around the perimeter of the yard and installing safety flooring beneath the playground.
Young people at the Impact Leadership Academy are given the chance to explore and use the unique ways God made them by serving on one of four leadership teams:
• Philanthropy Team
• Writing Team
• Speaking Team
• Social Justice Team