the butterfly effect of teaching kids about service leadership

The Butterfly Effect of Teaching Kids Service Leadership

Moorelands Kids believes that teaching young people about service leadership has a butterfly effect. In this post, we’ll break this down using the 5 W’s model: who, what, where, when and why.

WHO…

If you are on this page, then you may already have guessed who is doing the teaching—Moorelands Kids!

Moorelands Kids is a not-for-profit organization committed to empowering and transforming the lives of low-income children and youth. We also foster a community that strives to build safe and healthy spaces where children and youth can build positive relationships. To read more about who we are, click here.

Who does Moorelands Kids teach? We teach children and youth! Poverty affects 1 in 4 kids in Toronto; by teaching service leadership, Moorelands is empowering kids to overcome those barriers.

WHAT… is service leadership?

Before going into the other W’s, it is important to understand what service leadership is.

Service leadership is a philosophy where the goal of a leader is to serve those around them. This is not only a positive leadership style, but according to Forbes, this is the style that changes the world!

WHAT… is the butterfly effect?

A butterfly effect is a small event that has the potential to majorly influence events in the future. The butterfly effect is like a ripple in water. It begins with one small ripple before turning into a chain reaction of many ripples.

As Moorelands Kids teaches service leadership, the child or youth takes these skills learned to their family, friends and eventually their communities, in a butterfly effect of sorts. To understand more about how this takes place, continue reading!

WHEN… does the butterfly effect take place?

The butterfly effect can happen at any moment. Moorelands implements intentional growth models, like Positive Youth Development (PYD) and intervention methods like the Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NCI) in all programs. Service leadership in activities, games, and skits impacts the lives of children and youth by their very participation in such activities.

Essentially, the butterfly effect begins at any moment, and amplifies when a child demonstrates service leadership. As kids interact with those around them and help others grow, their positive energy and kindness lives on in who they help. This is the beautiful part about the butterfly effect—it doesn’t just impact the life of whoever created it, but countless others. It has the power to potentially influence those who need it most.

WHERE…

Moorelands Kids offers various programs such as after-school programs, overnight camps and virtual cabin groups to name a few! Through our programs, kids continue to apply service leadership skills in valuable skill-building activities. These opportunities give children and youth valuable preparation for the rest of their lives, encourages them to lead by example, and to live a life of service to others in need. This brand of leadership style has the power to create a ripple effect that will influence countless lives.

ONE SMALL CHANGE MAKES A BIGGER ONE.

WHY…does teaching service leadership have a butterfly effect?

Habits and Qualities poster

Moorelands teaches kids how to lead and serve at the same time. This is best demonstrated through our Habits & Qualities curriculum.

When young people learn the Moorelands Habits & Qualities, we encourage them, through various skill-building activities, to adopt them into their daily lives.

Eventually, kids start to see things in a different way. Work becomes not just about the task, but the people they do it with and for. Not only will this improve the quality of service, but contribute to an increased quality of life for everyone.

by Angel Persaud and Kyle Dedecker

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