The academy that creates young leaders: the story of the NMF Youth Academy 2014

Contents · 4 sections

1. How did it all start?
2. Atiya (Class 1: public speaking)
3. Shumnatitsa (Class 2: self-knowledge)
4. Shumnatitsa (Class 3: trainer)

The story of the Youth Academy of the National Youth Forum (NMF), 2014.

How did it all start?

Have you ever been sitting quietly in the office, on the sofa at home or even lying in bed, scrolling through Facebook with no purpose? It was exactly at a moment like that, on a summer afternoon in August, during a break from work, that a friend messaged me. So far, nothing unusual. But he got in touch to invite me to an event. To be honest, as an active member of several youth organisations, I get invitations like this every day.

Still, I opened the link he sent and started reading with curiosity. It was about a "Young Leaders Academy" to be held in early September on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. As I read, I thought about how worn out words like "leader" and "leadership" sound in everyday life, and I wondered what I could possibly learn, given that I had attended many seminars and trainings on the subject. I had even been invited to give talks on leadership myself. But then again, a late free holiday at the seaside would do me good.

So I decided to apply. I had to answer questions about "civic participation", "youth policy" and "lobbying". Soon after, I got confirmation that I had been accepted, so I packed my bags and set off for the sea without any great expectations.

Atiya (Class 1: public speaking)

As soon as I arrived at the slightly run-down holiday camp in Atiya (near Sozopol), I knew things would not be quite what I had imagined. From early morning until late at night we had training sessions, talks and exercises. But they were not the kind you get at university: the knowledge came mixed with interactive games and relaxing activities. Different trainers covered topics such as youth policy, lobbying, democracy, the electoral process, debating and leadership. Everything was presented in a way that made each of us want to learn more and more. My dream of a September beach holiday turned out to be a mirage, but it was replaced by something more interesting, more useful, more powerful and much more motivating: the NMF Youth Academy.

Meeting around 60 young people from all over Bulgaria, of different ages, with different interests and ways of thinking, made me realise I was not there by chance. I was as different from all the other participants as I was similar to them. These young people had somehow stood out from their surroundings and had a strong desire to change the world they live in for the better. I was amazed at how much I could learn from each of them, and at how much I could pass on to them. And the evenings on the beach, around the campfire and to the sound of an accordion, created a unique atmosphere.

Shumnatitsa (Class 2: self-knowledge)

After the first part of the academy in Atiya, I was determined to continue and complete all 3 parts, but it was not that easy. Places were limited, and only half of the participants would go on. To move on to Class 2, each young person had to apply with their own initiative and later present it to the other participants. So a month later I found myself in Borovets with 30 of the academy participants.

Unlike Atiya, the second part, held at the Shumnatitsa camp in the mountain resort, had no talks or seminars. They were replaced by lots of activities for self-knowledge, role play, group tasks and discussions. The days went from heated debates, through votes on every big or small detail of living together, to choosing a form of government for our micro-society. (We chose a monarchy, fell victim to one person's hidden authoritarianism, had a coup, then authoritarianism again... and in the end realised that direct democracy suited us best as a group.)

However well you think you know yourself, you can always look deeper inside (especially in extreme conditions), discover something new and grow as a person. That is exactly what I understood, together with the other participants, for some of whom the academy was not over yet.

Shumnatitsa (Class 3: trainer)

Two weeks later, again at Shumnatitsa, the last part of the youth academy took place with the twenty or so remaining participants. Unlike the first two stages, the third class prepared each of us to become a trainer and to start teaching and spreading knowledge and skills to other young people in Bulgaria. My trainer training gave me lots of useful information, practical knowledge, techniques and methods. I learned not only how to train other people and run seminars, but also how to communicate better with those around me.

Although I have always believed in my own skills and abilities, if you had asked me before the academy whether I wanted to become a "trainer", I would probably have answered with a short "no". But taking part in all three stages made me realise how much I love working with young people, and that this way I can create positive change not only in myself but also in society.

After the third part I was invited to join NMF's team of trainers, and my journey as a trainer is only just beginning. If you are young, want to grow, want to help others develop and want to become a good leader, the NMF Youth Academy is the right place for you. 12 days of unforgettable adventure with great people.

This article was originally published on leadership.bg.