In this episode, Glynis D'Souza talks about her experience with the Youth Leadership and Speaker Program, which was hosted by Action for Canada in February and March of this year. She talks about the program, what went into it, and what is to come in the future.
00:09:14.940So that's what we did in session number two.
00:09:17.000When they came back in session three, again, we did a reflection on personal growth and what did you, what did they do to grow in their strengths.
00:09:27.260And then we delivered, some people couldn't, some youth didn't get the chance or didn't get the time to prepare their icebreaker speeches in session two, or we ran out of time.
00:09:39.860And so the remainder of the youth delivered their icebreaker speeches in session three, but we also had impromptu speaking in the breakout rooms.
00:10:58.120In Toastmasters, we call it evaluation.
00:11:00.920But giving feedback is a skill because not only do you want to give a good, you know, it's not called criticism, but you want to give points for the speaker to improve.
00:11:14.440But you also want to do it in a motivational fashion.
00:11:19.080So we did crafting a well-organized speech.
00:11:22.400And then we did how to give proper feedback.
00:11:25.700Two things in the public speaking portion.
00:11:28.140And in the leadership portion that week in session three was, it was attitude.
00:11:36.680Attitude is the paintbrush of the mind.
00:11:39.540And so I showed them a painting which had bright colors, you know, a positive attitude, a painting with darker colors that could possibly signify a negative attitude.
00:11:51.020And so we gave them tips and questions on how to choose a positive attitude, not only to help yourself, but to help others as well.
00:12:01.080So the assignment for that week was to write a well-organized speech that they would then deliver in session number four.
00:12:09.280And when we came back in session four, we, of course, had the reflection questions on how did they, what kind of attitude choices did they make?
00:12:20.200And then, of course, they had to deliver their prepared speeches.
00:13:13.920But how many of us really are so enthusiastic about starting something, but then we don't finish it?
00:13:19.300So that's the value that we learned that week, commitment.
00:13:22.940And then in the public speaking portion, we learned about how to then deliver that well-organized speech.
00:13:30.820How do you take your well-organized speech and then use hand gestures, body language, facial expressions, in order to really connect with your audience and deliver that speech?
00:13:44.740So that's what we learned in session four.
00:13:47.780And then finally, the culmination of the whole program was in session five.
00:13:54.680It was a climax because we had contests.
00:13:57.600And we were so excited, Sheila and I, when we were planning this because we didn't expect it.
00:14:21.960And then the third one was the feedback contest.
00:14:26.280And the leadership session, the leadership value that we learned that week was consistency.
00:14:33.320You know, consistency means that it's a continuous process, right?
00:14:37.900Motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you going and how to be consistent in all of the qualities that we learned, whether it's choices, attitude, or whether it is personal growth, commitment.
00:14:53.960And so that consistency really wrapped it all up with a ribbon.
00:14:59.340And so we had some prizes and you'll be able to see all the speeches.
00:15:04.360So that in a nutshell was our five-week program.
00:15:07.700And it was really amazing to see the results of it, as Tanya said.
00:15:13.820So that's what I wanted to just let you know.
00:15:17.060As parents, you know, what did your, you know, your youth take part in?
00:17:38.220After long hours, they quit and started washing their nets.
00:17:40.960And Jesus then asked Peter to go back out and try letting his net down one more time.
00:17:48.520This is the moment that most people have the fear of failure kick in and think, why would I want to try again after I've struggled all night long?
00:17:54.860But Peter told him, we have struggled all night and caught nothing.
00:18:00.040Nevertheless, at your word, I will let down the net.
00:18:03.300And his perseverance was rewarded when there were so many fish to catch that their nets were breaking.
00:18:09.560This moment led them to become disciples.
00:18:11.940But just think of how different this could have ended up if they just washed their nets and left the area.
00:18:16.420Or if they didn't keep trying for hours and hours.
00:18:18.660They would have missed out on seeing Jesus perform miracles so they could catch fish.
00:18:23.480They would not have become disciples that day.
00:18:26.180And maybe they would have been so defeated that they quit being fishermen forever.
00:18:30.480The issue is a bad attitude could have changed their whole lives by giving up.
00:18:36.240Wayne Gretzky once said, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
00:18:40.440And this hockey quote completely applies to our attitude.
00:18:43.500We give up or don't try something new because we think we're not good enough or that we might fail.
00:18:48.660But instead of preparing yourself to fail, prepare yourself that you'll keep trying no matter what happens.
00:18:55.720This will really help your attitude to improve.
00:18:58.800The disciples had issues with fishing, but there is an amazing catch just waiting to happen.
00:19:03.480They didn't know that, but it happened because they tried again anyways.
00:19:07.420So the question was, what can we do to change our mindset to be a more positive one?
00:19:13.120In conclusion, the best way is to persevere through the hard times.
00:19:17.500If 90% of our actions are a result of our attitude, then we must have a positive one full of perseverance and willingness to try.
00:19:26.060I challenge you that if you have a what if I fail attitude, then change it into a I'll persevere through no matter what happens mentality when you try something new this month.
00:19:45.060And, you know, I wanted to add, I told Chesney this week as I was preparing the weekly action and providing information about what's going on in our education system and then bringing the youth.
00:19:56.520And each video is just so amazing in the speeches.
00:19:59.280But when I got to Chesney's, there's a lot going on with Action for Canada.
00:20:03.160And we're really building a huge organization.
00:20:07.440And I was feeling the weight of it, right?
00:20:09.860I was feeling like, you know, I just at that point is like, I got to just keep going here.
00:20:15.560And it was Chesney's video that I had to upload next.
00:21:52.640And I'm so grateful and so proud of you for standing up for that value of attitude, which is so important.
00:22:00.600I wanted to add as well, you know, what I want our viewers to acknowledge and understand is that when you listen to the youth speeches, I mean, this, the youth are using their ability to think critically.
00:22:15.460They're being thoughtful about what speech they're choosing.
00:22:19.800And then what I see as well is a great amount of wisdom, knowledge and understanding.
00:22:26.280And isn't that something that in Proverbs, the Bible says that these are finer than gold and jewels and anything else.
00:22:32.000And when you see the average student, the average youth that is out there being filled with the propaganda or, you know, being consumed through social media, you've got these brilliant youth who have been gifted with that ability, you know, to think independently.
00:22:54.440What's your comments or what would you add about your experience going through this program?
00:22:59.760Um, I really enjoyed the youth leadership program.
00:23:03.980Like it was a super fun and encouraging five weeks and all of the organizers did such an amazing job at making sure we all felt welcome and comfortable.
00:23:13.100And they were always reassuring us that like, it's okay if we try something new and mess up or like, and this program taught me how to answer like impromptu questions and give helpful feedback.
00:23:30.520I also learned how to write an effective speech, which that's not really taught in public school.
00:23:36.040So it was something new for me to try.
00:23:39.540Overall, it was just really nice to be in a room full of like-minded people.
00:23:44.680And it definitely helped to build my confidence and help me feel more prepared for these public speaking opportunities.
00:23:51.240I'm just very thankful I stepped out and, uh, like stepped out of my comfort zone to learn more about youth leadership and excited to do the next session.
00:24:26.060And just so people know as well, like we want the youth to feel comfortable.
00:24:29.400We want them to learn and achieve, but it isn't a matter that everybody gets a blue ribbon, uh, that, you know, like what they're the sort of, you know, that, um, what they're doing in the school systems now is we want kids to learn to achieve.
00:24:41.820And, uh, to, to, to succeed and to reap the rewards of that as well.
00:24:47.380So we did have a first and second place when the speeches were going through and we do want everybody to learn, but we do want them to, uh, be achievers.
00:27:18.920We were led to a Health Canada office in the airport.
00:27:21.640They said that we risked a $750,000 fine and six months in jail if we didn't take the test.
00:27:29.660Now, my mom knew about the Genetic Non-Discrimination Act, where you can decline tests or treatments that reveal your DNA without consequences.
00:27:39.440So my mom accepted the risk of being fined or jailed, and we got on our flight back home.
00:28:21.760Such an amazing, strong leader that you are becoming.
00:28:24.740And I was really impressed as well when you spoke about coming back from Mexico and mentioning the strong stand that your mom took in not succumbing to the bullying tactics.
00:28:38.560And so parents and adults have a huge role to play here.
00:28:43.900And, you know, our youth are watching us.
00:29:27.020And so that is so important on delivering a speech.
00:29:30.880I just love the personal examples that he put in there because everybody loves to hear a story, a personal story.
00:29:36.980And so what I really got from there is like, you know, it could be a free choice, but it's not an informed choice.
00:29:43.900And I think that distinction that he made was so powerful there because, you know, people think, oh, we live in a free country, we have free choice.
00:29:53.440And so I think that the way he crafted the speech and he included, you know, a little bit of the personal story as well, made it a very pleasurable speech to watch.
00:30:03.900And it was also very passionate that it comes across.
00:30:32.100Next, we're going to actually, Sean is going to be on next and he couldn't join us tonight, but we wanted you to hear his testimony, which he gives in both English and then in French.
00:30:44.740So Terenzia, would you please play those?
00:35:05.060And thank you to all of the parents as well as of these youth.
00:35:08.840You're doing an amazing job raising them.
00:35:11.320It's not just about coming to Action for Canada Youth Leadership and Speaker Program.
00:35:16.340You know, these youth are receiving the encouragement and, you know, at home.
00:35:22.060And even for some of the youth, I'm sure that they were maybe, you know what, I'm signing you up for this.
00:35:27.580And, you know, they were hesitant and joined the program.
00:35:31.260And after five weeks, we've even had some youth, you know, grateful to their mom and dad.
00:35:36.280And, you know, for some, it may be something that triggers them in a year or two as they mature, where they say, you know, that was really, really helpful.
00:35:44.340But on the front line, we're having such an amazing report, and I'm just so happy with the results.
00:36:11.800My name is Genevieve, and I'm 15 years old.
00:36:15.140As a Christian, the rainbow is a huge part of God's promise in the Bible, which is why it is sad to see that it has been usurped and twisted as the LGBTQ symbol.
00:40:01.660What a beautifully crafted speech with one color, every color having a scripture and then an example from the Bible, too.
00:40:09.820I really would like to see this speech really shared by everybody and, you know, really portrayed on a national level because it's so true.
00:40:19.220I just get, takes my breath away when I see a rainbow and God meant for it to take our breath away.
00:40:26.600But the way that you crafted that speech and gave each color that significance, it's so meaningful.
00:41:05.400And it's a system of governance that provides us the freedom and democracy that we have.
00:41:09.680And every Western nation that's built on biblical principles runs as a democracy.
00:41:14.620And any country that hasn't and has a different belief system, like the 56 Islamic-majority countries, North Korea, China, there's incredible people living there, but they live under tyranny because it's based on a different belief system.
00:41:28.980So we believe with our youth that it's really important for them to know their foundation.
00:41:34.720And then they can write based on that.
00:41:37.900It doesn't have to be biblical-based, but this is just what these youth have chosen.
00:42:47.840Glynis, is there something else that you would like to add as well?
00:42:50.340Yeah, no, it's just amazing to see, you know, your confidence at that age, Genevieve, and, you know, the passion that you have for these causes.
00:43:10.240And I love it because, you know, with the youth that are going through multiple programs with us, I mean, we want to get to a point with the youth freedom movement where they become mentors, where they take on a role of leadership.
00:43:25.760And because I think that will serve them very well.
00:43:28.720We don't know if Genevieve is going to run for office one day or how she's going to serve her community, but we want to develop at Action for Canada on the youth leadership side and grow with them as we figure out where this is all going to go one day.
00:44:35.080So in our next program, it's going to be a level two program.
00:44:39.160We're going to take all of the basic things that we learn in level one and take it to the next level.
00:44:44.140But we're also going to give some basic techniques if this is your first time joining, being a youth.
00:44:50.820Now, I don't know if some of you know, but I did run for school board trustee twice.
00:44:55.580And in the process of my political, you know, run for public office and things like that, I do realize that you do need to be very persuasive in your speaking.
00:45:06.360Not only do you need to know how to say it, but also how to really craft your message.
00:45:15.720And so those are some of the techniques that we are going to be, you know, really dwelling on and focusing on.
00:45:23.560So the level two course will include persuasive strategies that youth can use in order to be influencers in the community.
00:45:33.780We get all of the negative influencers that we see on Instagram, et cetera.
00:45:37.780But our youth can be positive influencers.
00:45:41.680And so these strategies will include advanced impromptu speaking techniques and debates.
00:45:48.800We're going to have some debates using powerful tools like problem and solution.
00:45:55.520So what's the problem and what's the solution?
00:45:57.460The pros and cons of a certain issue, the cause and effect and the compare and contrast.
00:46:07.320All of these techniques in order to make your speech persuasive.
00:46:13.400OK, so this will also include various methods of providing feedback and how to really be an effective listener.
00:46:21.280Because in order to be a persuasive speaker, you do need to be a very effective listener to be able to listen where that other person is coming from so that you are then able to speak to that point that that person is making.
00:46:37.100So really being able to be an effective persuasive speaker is something that we're going to focus on in this coming course.
00:46:45.860We're also going to touch upon values, leadership values, because you know what?
00:46:50.660In our schools these days, there are no values being taught.
00:46:54.280So we are going to be talking about values, values such as relationships.
00:46:58.980The goal of that lesson would be how to choose to build bridges to increase your friendships and not to build walls.
00:47:08.060So building bridges to create effective relationships.
00:48:15.360I especially liked what you were saying about forgiveness.
00:48:17.860Isn't that something that can, you know, really do a lot of damage in relationships and friendships when at times it could be so simply sorted out?
00:48:27.740It is really important to navigate through that.
00:48:30.340Terenzio, would you bring up the poster, please?
00:49:54.920So thank you for giving this the importance that it deserves.
00:49:58.720And I also want to thank Sheila and Heather and all of the different moderators, because without them, you know what, we wouldn't have such a world-class program, which I think it is.
00:50:07.820So thank you to all of the people on your team that helped make this program a success.
00:50:18.920Sheila has been a driving force in the communication with you and making sure that we get it set up.
00:50:23.780And then, you know, we have those that volunteer their time on Friday nights and facilitate.
00:50:28.920I know we need a couple of more volunteers on the Friday night to help.
00:50:32.040If you have any of the Maxwell experience, speech experience, please reach out to us, because we foresee that this program is going to grow.
00:50:39.780But we need some really we need a few extra really committed people who understand the program.
00:52:23.240And, you know, so we've got to go back to the old school.
00:52:26.180I remember doing a lot of canning of all kinds of different things with my mom growing up.
00:52:32.000We made applesauce and canned cherries and just a wide variety.
00:52:38.280And, you know, we had the old school cellar downstairs and it was always stock nice come the fall.
00:52:43.620And I think it's very, very important that we learn how to do that again and that we pass these wonderful gifts on to our children.
00:52:50.660All right, so can we have the Bible verse is next.
00:52:56.560So do all things without complaining and disputing that you may become blameless and harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as light in the world.
00:53:11.820And that's from Philippians 2, 14 to 15, New King James Version.
00:53:16.080I think this is really, really important, right, that we be those shining lights in the darkness.
00:53:21.100And the incredible thing about having faith in Jesus Christ is that God does not give us a spirit of fear and he doesn't give us a spirit of confusion.
00:53:30.920You know, it is just such an amazing, those are things that the enemy wants to do.
00:53:36.360He wants to drive us through fear and confusion.
00:53:38.840And they're trying to confuse our kids in the school system right now and look what it's doing to them.
00:53:43.920So we are just standing firmly and saying no to all of that and standing firm in our faith.
00:53:49.860And so I just want to always leave the show with a word of encouragement.
00:53:54.860If you haven't picked up a Bible lately, you know, start in Psalms and maybe in John and read the story of Jesus and how he came into this world and how he sacrificed himself for every single one of us so we could have everlasting life.
00:54:08.880It's really an incredible book and an incredible story and I just encourage you.
00:54:14.540So I just want to say I hope I see you next week and I hope when this Empower Hour comes out, you will share it widely.
00:54:21.240And God bless you and God bless Canada.
00:54:23.940I'm going to thank God and God alone for the ground that I'm standing on.
00:54:45.940I'm going to thank our founding fathers for giving their lives and sacrificing so much for our freedom.
00:55:09.140We have guaranteed rights in this country.
00:55:12.520We are putting chapters across the nation.
00:55:23.100We are going to be in every town and every city.
00:55:26.620And we are going to build communities within these communities of life-minded people who are actually going to care for one another again and love on each other and give each other the help when they're down.
00:55:37.660We are going to use the teams and the people that build within chapters to support our businesses.
00:55:46.340The government's actions are completely 100% unlawful.
00:55:52.980Judgment will again be found on justice and those with virtuous hearts will pursue it.
00:56:00.120You have a virtuous heart if you are here today pursuing freedom and righteousness.
00:56:08.400And then verse 23 comes along with a promise.
00:56:13.240God says he will turn the sins of evil people back on them.
00:56:22.760I take great comfort in that because I serve a mighty living God who has allowed us to go through this season of discomfort because we as a nation have turned our backs on him.
00:57:20.440God bless you and God bless you and God bless you.
00:57:50.440God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you.
00:57:53.320God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you and God bless you.