My new CYL skills

On this page:

• CYL graduates ARE young leaders
• The role of sponsors
• What could I do with my new CYL skills?
• Two real-life experiences

 CYL graduates possess valuable leadership and facilitation skills that will get stronger the more they are used.  These skills can be applied within the credit union and co-operative sector, of course, and also in clubs and associations elsewhere.

CYL GRADUATES ARE YOUNG LEADERS

Many times, for example, CYL graduates are asked by their sponsoring credit union or co-op to help out  at meetings, fund raising events, youth councils or even to say a few words about CYL to members.

Through CYL,  participants have deepened their self-confidence, and developed their leadership, communications and facilitation skills.  They often become active in the community, in their schools and in their co-op or credit union. They BECOME young leaders, and every time they get to practise their skills, what they’ve learned becomes stronger and their confidence levels continue to increase.

 Sponsors are encouraged to remain in contact with their CYL youth throughout the year. The relationship was first created (or deepened) when the co-op or credit union sponsored their young member to attend CYL. Keep that relationship alive!  Involve them in meetings and events, in your organization and in the community - their CYL magic is contagious!!
Contact your participants after they return from camp, and have them write an article for your newsletter, work with your youth group or make a presentation to your board or membership. Engage them 52 weeks of the year!
On Co-op encourages all co-op organizations to include the Co-operative Young Leaders program in their youth engagement and recruitment strategies.

THE ROLE OF SPONSORS

 As Co-operative Young Leaders alumni, participants may be asked to take part in a variety of activities which support and promote CYL, the co-op and credit union movements, and the Ontario
Co-operative Association.  Here are some real-life examples of things past CYL graduates have done:

WHAT COULD I DO WITH MY NEW SKILLS?

There are many co-operative events that take place throughout the year.  Session Youth Representatives are invited to attend a number of events and there are a number of ways you can put your newly enhanced skills to use!  Below are some of the opportunities available to you:

• Help run the silent and live auctions at the Ontario Co-operative Association’s Co-op Gala in October
• Be a panel member in a workshop to help inform sector leaders about youth involvement
• Give presentations about CYL to co-ops and credit unions and potential sponsors
• Attend Central1’s Annual General Meeting in April and participate in a panel presentation on CYL
• Help facilitate a workshop about youth involvement at the Co-operative Housing Federation national AGM
• Agree to be interviewed or quoted and have their photo used in the CYL newsletter and On Co-op/CYL materials
• Attend the GROWMARK, Inc. AGM in Chicago, and network with other youth from across Canada and the USA who are involved in the co-op movement and rural leadership
• Attend a CYL sponsor’s AGM or board meetings to encourage them to continue sponsoring CYL, and to let them know what you get out of the program
• Meet and work with youth from other CYL sessions
• Network with leaders in the co-op and credit union sector
• CYL senior session graduates may return to CYL and become Intern Facilitators the following summer
• Attend an Advanced CYL session
• Become involved  in their community to promote leadership and co-operative principles

This list doesn’t include any of the things that your sponsorsing co-op or credit union might suggest for you, now that you’ve gone through CYL.

Two graduated CYL alumni drew rave reviews from the audience after taking part in a Credit Union Directors of Ontario (CUDO) conference in Toronto.  Vanessa DeMelo, sponsored by Health Care Credit Union in collaboration with the Ontario Credit Union Charitable Foundation, and Kaitlyn Veitch, sponsored by United Communities Credit Union, assisted with registration, sessions, and networked with Credit Union Directors.  These young ladies demonstrated that our CYL Alumni certainly know how to hold their own in a room full of business people!