• Young People from across the Globe meet for International Youth Leadership Conference

• Conferene to cultivate the next Barak Obama

Monday 28th July 2010:  A G8/G20 summit of world leaders with a difference takes place in Dublin this week as an elite group of 250 young people aged between 15 and 17 from across the world attend a leadership conference to perfect their leadership skills and be inspired to follow in the footsteps of world leaders such as Barack Obama, the Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King, Bob Geldof and Nelsen Mandela.    The group are attending ‘Albert Schweitzer’s Leadership for Life’ (ASLFL) Programme, developed by Foróige in partnership with ICCUSA Foundation Inc. (Irish Chamber of Commerce, USA). 

The conference focuses on issues which affect our world including community service, inter-culturalism, health and well-being among others and aims to provide participants with the confidence to take personal responsibility to become effective leaders and make a difference in their own communities.   Students from Korea, Nigeria, the United States, India as well as Ireland are attending  the conference which kicks off today.  

Those attending have been nominated by youth workers and volunteer leaders from their own countries because they have demonstrated an innate sense of justice, determination, passion and ability to lead and make positive changes in their own communities. 

The conference includes lectures by eminent leaders in the business, health and community sectors (list below), workshops on team building, critical thinking and communication skills and peer discussions on matters of global importance.  Young People will be facilitated in understanding their own values, prejudices and identifying their goals for the future, which is vital to their personal development   Participants are encouraged to go beyond their own personal comfort zones and perceived capabilities to be better than they thought they could be. 

Speaking at the launch of the conference John Cahill, Assistant CEO of Foróige said, “Whether it's in politics, technology, business, media, community and voluntary sectors or otherwise, we need leaders who are committed to building a better society for citizens across the world, both now and in the future  By mentoring and inspiring the next generation of leaders we are fostering the ideas of tomorrow and that gives hope to us all in the challenges that lie ahead. 

Foróige is delighted to offer this innovative leadership programme for the second year running to young people from all over the world in partnership with the ICCUSA foundation. Foróige’s Best Practice Unit have now developed three levels to the programme, which includes those participating for the first time, those returning for the second time having used their leadership skills to fulfil their leadership goal over the past year and those involved in a school programme which has been piloted in Ireland and the USA.”

Ambassador to the ‘ASLFL’ programme, Hollywood Actor Matt McCoy, who flew into Dublin especially for the conference, said, “We are sure to be inspired at the wisdom and maturity of the young leaders of the future who are attending the conference this week.  With the support and opportunities afforded to them through Albert Schwitizer’s Leadership for Life Programme, they will develop their life goals and their vision for change for their own communities.  We are witnessing leaders of the future in motion who will bring a new style and confidence to the reflections of the past.”

Maurice Buckley, International President, ASLFL said, “We look forward to building on the success of last year’s conference and are delighted to partner with Foróige, Ireland’s leading youth development organisation once again in upholding the ethical values of leadership as demonstrated by the great humanitarian, Albert Schweitzer.”

As part of the conference, the delegation of global citizens will meet inspirational guest speakers from Ireland and abroad including:

• Bob Miglani- Corporate Entrepreneur from the US and author of ‘Treat Your Customers: Thirty Lessons on Service and Sales that I Learned at My Family’s Dairy Queen Store’
• Dr. Lynn Holden –President and founder of ‘Mentoring in Medicine’ a movement which encourages and nurtures disadvantaged students from Harlem and the South Bronx in New York City to enter health professions.
• Kathleen O’Toole - Chief Inspector of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate & former Boston Police Officer.
• Caroline Casey, CEO of Kanchi and the 02 Ability Awards.

  The programme is a partnership between Foróige and ICCUSA Foundation and is supported by international partner, Hoby. The programme has also received immense support from sponsors Bombardier and Pfizer.

 

For further information:  Maria Whitmore, Gordon MRM, 087 2377105

Editor’s Notes:

Foróige: - Foróige, the National Youth Development Organisation promotes learning for personal and community development.  The organisation offers community based, carefully structured, learning activities rooted in an innovative curriculum.

ICCUSA: - ICCUSA is a non-profit membership organization that actively promotes the business interests of its members and the development of economic, commercial, financial and educational relationships between the United States and the island of Ireland.