Leadership Summer School (LSS) - Ljubljana, Slovenia

Sharing is caring

The main goal of the workshops was self - exploration and accepting your own strengths and weaknesses, because, as the LSS trainers firmly believe, getting to know yourself is the first step in becoming a true leader. The topics discussed on the sessions were: giving and receiving feedback, emotional intelligence and cultural differences, leadership styles, group dynamics, presentation skills, time management, solving conflicts and motivation


By DUNJA TASIĆ
from Belgrade, SERBIA


Leadership Summer School (LSS) is a joint project of IFISO (Informal Forum of International Student Organisations), which brings together young, active people from all around the world, with a goal to provide them with tools to make a difference within their student organizations and help them develop leadership skills. The project is still relatively new, since it took place for the first time in Ankara, Turkey in 2008. The next LSS took place in Split, Croatia in 2009, ending with great reactions and results.

This year's Leadership Summer School was held in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, from 16th to 25th July. Every year, IFISO's Coordination Team sends a call to choose a local Organizing Committee to organize the next LSS. This year, the honor of organizing the event was given to a group of energetic, capable and motivated students from Slovenia, who were chosen amongst other local Organizing Committees. They have been working hard for months to make this event as good as possible and provide participants with the best conditions to actively contribute and learn through quality workshops.

The Coordination Team chose 65 students, members of various student organizations, amongst more than 200 applications for the LSS 2010, based on application forms and motivation letters.

The LSS program

The event included extensive training sessions, carefully prepared by the LSS training team, which consisted of 15 young, but more experienced people.

The main goal of the workshops was self-exploration and accepting your own strengths and weaknesses, because, as the LSS trainers firmly believe, getting to know yourself is the first step in becoming a true leader. The topics discussed on the sessions were: giving and receiving feedback, emotional intelligence and cultural differences, leadership styles, group dynamics, presentation skills, time management, solving conflicts and motivation. In addition to that, participants had the option to choose between three different workshops to attend: project management, strategic planning and change management. The last day of event was reserved for a case study, which brought together all the knowledge gained during the whole event, and made participants cooperate creatively, divide the roles within the team, and put their gray cells into use in order to achieve the mutual goal. Every task participants had to complete was carefully timed, in order to show the true importance of time management, and how relevant it is in reaching a specific aim.

At the end of every day during LSS, participants had a 'reflection session', where they could freely express their thoughts and feelings about the day behind them and what they have learned in a very calm and tolerant environment. Even one of the LSS slogans was born from that kind of atmosphere: "Sharing is caring". The participants were encouraged to speak their minds, learn through active listening, discuss different issues and try to find a compromise in a respectful and understanding way.

The trainers

People who bore the biggest creative burden of LSS were the trainers. These young people have been working in international youth training for several years now, and inspired many of the LSS participants to pursue the chance in becoming youth trainers as well.

One of the LSS trainers, German student Astrid Schrader, shared her thoughts with WAVE magazine about the importance of international youth training: 'Things we can learn by working in an international environment at such a young age can hardly be overestimated', says she. 'International youth organizations fuel the personal development of their members: not only do young people learn to cultivate and implement ideas and concepts and gain valuable experience in working in international teams, they also become more responsible, centered personalities. To me, being a trainer means to be a part of that process: to empower young people, to raise youth participation and to give back some of the insightful experiences and skills I acquired in my own organization. When it comes to becoming a youth trainer, the attitude and practice are two crucial things', Astrid continues.' You have to be aware that you are not simply 'selling' the models you teach, but that you are automatically selling your values, your own view on the world. Therefore, you have to be open and authentic, and prepared to develop yourself, because you are only as competent as your brain is. So feed it! Come up with your own trainings and deliver them to whoever you like! And once you managed: find out if you can handle more challenging target groups. But most of all: love what you are doing'.

Other LSS activities

One the LSS activities was the TEDx night, specially organized for the LSS participants, allowing the ones who have something inspirational to say or a new project to present, to come up with a 6-minute speech and deliver it in front of the rest of the participants, trainers and the Organizing Committee. More than 10 people managed to inspire and motivate others with their fearless ideas, empowering them to do the same when they return to their homes. One of the most emotional speeches was given by Jordanian engineering student, Bassam Ali:

- LSS has definitely changed my perspectives - says Bassam for the WAVE magazine and adds:

- One of the great things about LSS is the fact that helped me learn a lot about myself, my principles and whether I can really stand up to them. I feel I have more self-belief and confidence, and I have learned that having a group of committed people by your side can make you achieve anything you want. I am especially proud on my TEDx speech. I took it as a challenge, because I wanted to prove to myself that I am indeed better than I thought. I talked about my homeland Iraq, and wanted to share with people that I am proud of my country and what it means to me. A lot of people came to me after hearing the speech and told me they were inspired, which gives me great satisfaction.

The legacy of LSS

Even though a young project, LSS stands out from other similar events, educating its participants and inspiring them to pursue future goals in a decisive way, with more self-confidence and determination. This project will continue to amaze its participants with its special energy and atmosphere in future, becoming better and better over the years. Over 200 of LSS former participants seem to agree.



(Published: 10.08.2010.)