There are many days in your life when you go through a routine: you get up, stumble through your morning, and get off to work, etc. Friday was not one of those days. I am here in Dominican Republic for the fourth year of Hero Holiday, and yet again, my heart has been touched and […]
...continue readingArchive for the 'Newsletter' Category
Press Release: Absolute launches character education initiative, sponsors services to Canadian schools
Published by May 23rd, 2008 in Press Releases, Newsletter, Faculty Site, Student Zone, Hero Holiday and Mainpage. 0 Comments
Hamilton, ONTARIO - May 23, 2008 - Absolute Leadership Development, Canada’s leading student empowerment organization, is a charity that has been partnering with Canadian schools since 2001. Their “Motivational Experience” - a hard hitting mixture of young speakers, multimedia and music - was the most popular motivational assembly amongst Canadian schools. Building upon the success of this presentation, Absolute is launching a new program called Think Day. Remaking the popular one hour motivational presentation with cutting-edge MakeYouThink® character education curriculum, Think Day will also give schools the option of adding workshops and global awareness sessions to create a comprehensive motivational program that will have lasting results in student’s lives. All of Think Day’s content is suitable for both Catholic and public schools.
“We look forward to increasing the effectiveness of our motivational teams, and we believe these additions will do just that”, says Vaden Earle, CEO of Absolute Leadership Development. “Our goal is to continue to inspire this generation with a relevant message that their lives have purpose and value”
The workshops and leave behind video curriculum are designed to facilitate discussion between students on issues that are fundamental to them. Global awareness sessions have a huge impact on the perspective students have of not only the world, but their own lives as well. Together, the package is a vital tool for schools that want their motivational and character education efforts to have a lasting impact.
The incredible news for schools is that in conjunction with the launch of Think Day, Absolute is fully sponsoring their services (that other organizations charge over $5000 for) with a donation based model of payment, so that all schools, regardless of budget or demographic, will be able to take advantage of the best student empowerment opportunity in North America.
Absolute is accepting bookings for the 2008-2009 school year and can be reached at www.thinkday.org or 1-866-432-4464
Click here for promotional brochure PDF! http://thinkday.org/thinkday.pdf
Step One: Care, Step Two: Act.
Published by May 14th, 2008 in Newsletter, Student Zone, Hero Holiday and Mainpage. 0 CommentsWhen you go on a Hero Holiday you cannot help but become completely attached to the people you meet along the way. Probably because these people undeniably touch your heart in one way or another.
Around this time last year I applied for a trip to the Dominican Republic; not knowing anyone. Closer to the departure date I found out that a peer from my High School, Sarah Mens, was also attending the trip. At the time we hardly knew each other.
When we returned to Canada, Sarah and I were in agreement that we could not continue living a typical Canadian lifestyle. Together we came up with some ideas of how to get the community involved and raise money for the people we met on our trip.
When September rolled around Sarah and I approached our Principle with a crafty power point presentation and a list of some cool ideas. Unknowing that we were trying to establish a group in our school that already existed, Social Justice. (It’s a good thing too. After all our school was named after Lester Pearson a Noble Peace Prize winner.)
Anyways… we instantaneously joined Social Justice and brought forward our cause. There were many other students with various causes, so we initiated a vote. To our surprise the students agreed with us that this was indeed a superb cause and although each cause was equally important and deserving the votes were without a doubt in favor for HUGS.
We were truly excited and the planning began. We have organized lots of fun fundraisers within our school since. Some examples are Guitar-Hero Fridays, Valentine’s Day Raffle, Easter Raffle, Music Entertainment, Talent Shows, Bake Sales, Pin Sales, A Penny Drive, Awareness Days and the biggest of all our School Charity Fashion Show, which also included a 50/50 draw and a Silent Auction.
The Charity Fashion Show was organized by two very devoted teachers Mrs. Galley and Mrs. Spencer, plus five main graduating students, Krista Sharpe, Nia Pavesi, Alicya Samuels, Michelle Cochrane, and Jen Bozak. We had three great MC’s including Sarah Mens, Rebecca Strauss and Jordan Gray plus a crew of 45.
It was a lot of fun practicing and presenting our work to the community, friends, family and special guests such as Christal Earle, however, it was not a simple production to put together. This event took us months of hard work by both students and teachers. Stress was inevitable because the teachers, organizers and crew were so incredibly adamant that the show would be perfect. These organizers cared so much and spent every last hour tweaking the production and in the end their caring really showed because it was a fabulous show. I thank you all for your hard work.
There are so many ways we can get involved and make a difference as individuals, so many that sometimes you don’t even know what’s out there. You just need to care enough to show up and participate. I encourage everyone, young and old, to get involved because it is the first step to a better future for everyone and when you look back on your life you can feel gratitude that you got involved and took a chance.
-Danielle Clouse, Lester B Pearson High School, Burlington ON
Summer Hero Holiday Updates
Published by April 14th, 2008 in Newsletter, Student Zone, Hero Holiday, Mainpage and Featured. 0 Comments
Have you been wondering what you are going to do with all that spare time you are going to have in July and August this year? Are you looking to do something that is fun,meet new people, and participate in something that is deeply fulfilling? Do you want to improve someone else’s life and find out that yours will be changed in the process? Why not join us on a Hero Holiday–IT’S NOT TOO LATE!
We would love to have you join us this summer in either Dominican Republic July 16-27 or Mexico on August 2-12 or 16-30. To help make the decision easier, we have even extended the deadline for the the Dominican Republic (July 16th-27th trip) to May 1, 2008. YOU STILL HAVE TIME!
Deadline for all Mexico applications is April 30, 2008.
Looking for something to do next year? Not quite prepared for university but ready to move on? Why not consider joining our School of Leadership for a year: change the world and get changed in the process! Absolute’s School of Leadership is a one-year alternative education program that allows you to travel all over Canada, study topics such as cultural diversity and religions of the world, live in Mexico for a semester, and have the time of your life!
Hey! My name is Andie, and I primarily joined the School of Leadership as an ‘intermission’ between high school and university. Little did I know all the opportunities that awaited me in this program! I just finished touring all over Western Canada, giving motivational assemblies in high schools, where we have been addressing relevant issues such as self worth, depression, and violence, as well as challenging students to be agents of change and to take up the cause of social justice.
I never imagined myself living on a pimpin’ tour bus and speaking to peers my age about a topic I cared so much about! It was an incredibly unique and life-changing experience that allowed me to connect with other teens from all sorts of backgrounds and situations. I wouldn’t give it up for the world. I am now living in Baja, Mexico for four months, immersed in a completely different culture. While here, I am studying social justice courses, volunteering around the community, building houses and community centers for families, and helping with the Hero Holiday humanitarian trips. It is incredible to have an opportunity like this where I am surrounded by such a rich and diverse culture.
Absolute’s School of Leadership has handed me so many awesome experiences, given me insight to a world outside of our own, and helped me to grow and mature so much in the past year. I am so stoked to be part of it and I invite you to experience it for yourself! Through what I have learned this year,the people I have met and friendships I have developed, and the lives that I have touched, I now realize something powerful: like Mahahtma Ghandi once said, “We must be the change we wish to see in the world”!
Since our last newsletter, Absolute and Hero Holiday have been making tracks all over the world! We have completed six Hero Holidays in both Mexico and Thailand, our high school teams have spoken to approximately 45,000 students across Canada in over 50 high school shows, and our new book release: One, A Face Behind the […]
...continue reading4,451 Km
Published by March 26th, 2008 in Newsletter, Team 1, Road Team Blogs and Student Zone. Closed4451 Km,
65 hours,
And far to much fast food
Oh the joys of been on the road.
So here we are in Vancouver, after a short stop over in Winnipeg to catch up with the Hundredfold boys, (who treated us like royalty may I add).
Having looked round Vancouver and spent a couple of days with our amazing […]
On the Elephant Trail
Published by March 16th, 2008 in Newsletter, Staff Blogs and Hero Holiday. ClosedWe are in northern Thailand on a Hero Holiday, and having the adventure of our lives! In the world in which we are working in, nothing ever goes according to plan, and we now have a favorite saying: everything is TBA! The children’s home that we are working in now has over 100 kids, and […]
...continue readingFamiliar Faces and Changes
Published by February 7th, 2008 in Newsletter, Hero Holiday and Featured. Closed
As many of you may have already realized, Cathy Reid is no longer with us. She has left us for the warmer climate of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and we were very sad to say farewell!
Cathy began working with Absolute Leadership Development in 2004 as the Director for Hero Holiday. Cathy’s hard work and dedication to see Hero Holiday through its early stages have become the foundation for many of our trips today. Cathy was the catalyst behind the kick-off of Hero Holiday in the summer or 2005, and since that time, she has been a vital part and a familiar face on many of our Hero Holidays in Dominican Republic and Mexico. We are incredibly thankful for the big part that she has played in the current success of Hero Holiday.
We appreciate all her hard work and wish her all the best and success in her up and coming adventures!
In the future, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the newest members of our administration team: Nettie Brown or Derek Boyce.
nettie@heroholiday.com
derek@heroholiday.com
Job Position Openings: Road Team Assistants and Road Team Manager(s)
Published by January 9th, 2008 in Employment, Newsletter, Faculty Site and Mainpage. 6 CommentsUpdate: The following job postings have been filled as of Feb 1 / 2008. However please feel free to continue to apply for future opportunities.
We have some exciting job position openings for dynamic young adults that love to make a difference and enjoy new challenges, experiences, and travel. We have immediate openings for Road Team Assistants and Road Team Manager(s) for our Canadian school tours. If you are interested in these opportunities or have questions, please contact Christal Earle at christal@absolute.org, or (905) 777 1662, or on Facebook:
Road Team Assistant
We have openings for Road Team Assistants for our Feb 1 to May 30 2008 Canadian school tours. Here is a brief description of the position:
- Qualifications:
- Good Public Skills: willingness to share your story and speak in front of crowds
- Team Work and Interpersonal Skills: able to work well as part of a team and interact maturely with other team members
- Compensation:
- In addition to a small stipend salary, we will provide free housing while local and cover all travel costs while touring.
Road Team Manager
We have a job position open for an individual (or possibly married couple) to lead one of our road teams that performs motivational presentations in schools across Canada. Here is a description of what we are looking for in this position.
- Personal Skills
- Ability to think and learn independently
- Major adaptability and desire to learn and enjoy new situations and challenges
- Have a philanthropic world-view instead of self-centered world-view (desire to use your life and sacrifice to help others less fortunate)
- Good sense of humour
- Desire to travel
- Strong and mature interpersonal skills
- Ability to genuinely care and listen
- Make people feel significant
- Very positive thinking and speaking. Negativity from leaders will destroy team morale.
- Dynamic public skills
- Comfortable in front of large crowds
- Ability to speak with passion and conviction, and tell an engaging story
- Ability to “cast vision” and promote and represent Absolute’s vision effectively
- Team Leading Skills
- Take responsibility and assertively (not aggressively) take charge in tough situations.
- Ability to resolve conflict and remain objective and rational
- Technical Skills
- Basic knowledge of Audio and Visual Equipment is helpful
- Problem solving skills
- Above average computer skills an asset
- Experience
- Have previous experience in a leadership position, team management and public communication.
Recent Comments