Volunteer Airdrie is celebrating their First Fabulous 15 Kids from their new LEAD Program.

Last Wednesday (May 31st), the 15 Airdrie students completed the 12 week course which included a lot of helpful skills.

"There are 10 different sessions that they go through on different topics...understanding leadership styles, personal wellness, being able to deal with diversity, communication skills, teamwork, problem solving," says Executive Director Melanie Taylor.

One of the biggest parts of the 12 week program was volunteering for 20 hours a week in the community.

Taylor says this was one of the toughest parts of the entire program.

"It really helped them to find out what it took to make those connections. In many cases, when we don't feel included, it's because we don't know how to be included or how to ask for that inclusion."

Taylor was referencing the recent results of the Youth Satisfaction Survey, which showed that many of Airdrie's young people want to feel more included in the City.

Taylor says the LEAD program taken a lot of work from not only the organization but the City of Airdrie and Calgary as well as many other sponsors such as the Rotary Club and the RBC Foundation.

With the first class finished, Volunteer Airdrie will be moving to the summer, where they plan to open a volunteer camp at Genesis Place.

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