Highlighting Global Leaders: Greenhearts Make a Difference
By Kelsey Holmes, Greenheart Club Program Assistant
There is no one way to be a global leader. Global leadership means cultivating the ability to define a problem, take the necessary steps to solve it, and inspire others to live lives of service. A global leader encompasses four key elements in their every day lives: awareness, action, acceptance and encouragement. Through Greenheart Club, members are able to connect and share stories that inspire and motivate one another to action as living definitions of global leadership. By interacting with individuals from across the globe, Greenheart Club members connect their passions with the problems they see facing the world today.
Hudhaifat Hamdan was a high school exchange student from Tanzania during the 2014-2015 school year. During her time in Lake Stevens, Washington, USA, she was able to exemplify and expand upon her leadership skills through service. She was a frequent volunteer at the Lake Stevens Community Food bank and organizations like Li’l Hungry Hearts, Toys for Tots, Ready for Kindergarten, Relay for Life and her high school’s Key Club. Through her volunteer work, Hudhaifat gained the confidence to work toward change and gained many insights and ideas by interacting with those around her. This experience led her to service upon her return to her home on the island of Zanzibar – off the east coast of Africa and part of the country of Tanzania.
Since then, she has volunteered in her home community in a variety of ways. From volunteering with children at the Zanzibar Pre-School Madrasa Organization to helping with environmental initiatives like garden clean ups, Hudhaifat continues to embody global leadership wherever she goes. Recently, she had the opportunity to speak for both the Pan African Council to raise awareness about African identity and culture for youth in her community and the United Nations Population Fund to raise awareness about safe birthing practices. Hudhaifat is exemplifying strong leadership skills and abilities through her work, but is truly a voice for change in raising awareness about social issues in the community and taking action to address them. Stay tuned for more on how Hudhaifat is living out the Greenheart mission in a Greenheart Club blog coming soon!
Sailas Okwairworth was a 2015 CCI Greenheart Work Program intern. Coming from Uganda, life in his host city of Reynoldsburg, Ohio was a big change – but Sailas quickly found a way to utilize his skills for service. This year, he was awarded a second $1000 alumni grant through Greenheart to continue a service project in his home country, carrying the Greenheart legacy with him even after his program.
Sailas’ knowledge of computer and information services has enabled him to ignite change within his community. With his grant funding, he was able to implement a Computer and Information Services training course in his home community. Sailas’ goal is to enable the community through this ongoing project to attain Microsoft application knowledge, computer installation, printing, website creation, email assistance, and attain skills that would increase their access to better employment opportunities, helping to reduce the big technology gap seen in the rural population of the developing countries like Uganda. His awareness of the needs of his community and his willingness to take action exemplify his leadership abilities. By recognizing how his own skills may be used to serve others, Sailas is continuing to live out the Greenheart mission in his daily life.
As we reflect on these everyday global leaders, we are reminded that leadership is less about the job title and more about the willingness to lead and the ability to walk the talk in all areas of life. Leadership is a choice. It is passion put into action, and it’s working to understand the people we’re leading. Hearing from our Greenhearts, reading about the incredible work that global leaders are doing every day, and interacting with impactful agents for change inspires us every day in Greenheart Club. How are you exemplifying global leadership to make a lasting impact on your community?