Being The Change
The third stage of the Lead-Up model is Being the Change which consists of follow-up and empowerment actions to encourage the Lead-Up Champions to lead and coordinate their own projects, activities and initiatives focused on social transformation and sustainable development with the direct support of the organization.
At Lead-up we believe that empowering and mentoring our young champions to be Peaceful Leaders of Change in their own communities is the only way to have a lasting, sustainable impact in their lives and communities. This is why, through Being the Change we encourage and support Social Transformation and Sustainable Development Initiatives, at the individual and collective level.
All projects supported by Lead-Up through Being the Change must reflect the Lead-Up values and its overarching goals for peaceful and sustainable communities. For this, Lead-Up ensures that all projects are socially and environmentally responsible and that they contribute, in one way or another, to a healthier, peaceful and sustainable world and communities. The ultimate goal of this phase is for youth to embody and multiply their learning, namely the Lead-Up Values and the respect and appreciation for nature and the environment they gained through their experience with horses .
The Being the Change phase has the following objectives:
Create spaces and initiatives for youth’s inclusion and positive development.
Empower youth to create and develop Social Transformation and Sustainable Development initiatives.
Ensure that all initiatives are socially and environmentally responsible and contribute to the wellbeing of all communities.
Mentor and support youth-led initiatives, activities and projects.
One of the initiatives born from being the change is the Urban HeArt collective which is comprised of artists and community activists graduated from Lead-Up who seek to use art as a tool for social transformation and who, inspired by the visit of the famous urban artist 'Chota' from Comuna 13 in Colombia, created the Urban HeArt Tour, a sustainable tourism initiative and community tour through which they seek to share their stories, art and spaces and transform their marginalised community.
