November 3, 2008 - 4:56am — newey
What I learn from organizing MIRAI camp
During 24-26 October 2008, Youth Venture Thailand team organized another project development workshop for 28 youth from all over Thailand under the 'Mirai' campaign. Mirai is 'future' in Japanese. We are influenced by one of our team member, Aki-san.
I have been to camps and in the past five years organizing numerous camps. This Mirai was exceptional and very successful in every mean. Most participants were quite young since normally YVTH work with 17-24 years old but in this camp mostly high school students. We used to helping youth find an idea and then walk them through goals setting and planning their projects. Never before we delivered workshop on life planning and did expect teenagers to think about their lives in the next 60 years!
Mirai camp turned out to be 'Miracle' Camp as Boy;one of our team member said. We did not need to run any games for ice-breaking. They liked each other almost immediately they met and entertained themselves by taking turn to lead games and singing/dancing. It was the most participative, active, fun camp I ever held.
Every stories we told about social entrepreneurs, poem we read together and Jeff Skoll's speech did cast a spell on them. They were all inspired and put more than 100% effort to work on their life planning which they carefully brought back with them along with a shoebox that ready to collect what life and future may bring along the first step they will create.
Today I learned that 28 of them sent their project ideas back to us and will launch their first venture toward their dream. We have 7 more teams to follow up since they missed the camp... Anyway... Mirai gang will make my 2009 amazing, I am certain.
I learned so much just to observe. I get inspired all over again by the power of the innocence. This world really be hopeful.