'CAFOD Young Leaders' celebrate a year of volunteering

Students from Palmer Catholic Academy with CAFOD's Director (Sarah Burrows/CAFOD)

Source: CAFOD

On 25 June, over 120 young people who have trained as 'CAFOD young leaders' travelled to the charity's headquarters in London for their final celebration and graduation after volunteering for CAFOD for the past year. This year's CAFOD Youth Leadership Training Programme - which began in September last year - took place in nine regions across the UK, involving 300 students from 50 schools.

The end of year celebration brought young leaders from across the country to CAFOD's Lambeth head office, Romero House, to celebrate their volunteering. "This year's young leaders have been fantastic!" said Sarah Burrows, CAFOD's Youth Leadership Coordinator. "They've enthusiastically engaged in the different trainings, which have covered skills such as communication, project management and problem-solving" she said; "they have also led a variety of social action projects outside of these sessions, including raising awareness of issues such as human rights defenders and fundraising for CAFOD's work through bake sales, sponsored walks and pancake-flipping races".

During the event, the group reflected on the leadership skills they have developed, development issues they have learnt about, and social justice actions they have undertaken. This has included running workshops on gender equality and climate change to delivering CAFOD assemblies and even taking their message to politicians though signing petitions and visiting Parliament.

At the end of the day, the young leaders were joined by CAFOD's Director, Christine Allen, who thanked the group and presented leadership certificates, graduating them from the programme and encouraging them to stay involved. Christine Allen told them: "This was a really amazing day. What a brilliant group of young people - well done to you!"

The CAFOD Young Leadership Programme has been running for six years and involves young Catholics from across the country in CAFOD's current work and campaigns. Sarah Burrows concluded: "CAFOD's Young Leadership programme aims to grow a community of young people who will champion the poorest in our world and speak up for justice, and gives them chance to meet new people, grow in faith and gain confidence, skills and experience."

Find out more at: www.cafod.org.uk/connectingclassrooms