By Tina Swarens. April 2024
About 50 refugee students ages preschool to high school spent 10 weeks learning what it means to be a champion in life.
The students gathered weekly on the west side of Indianapolis for “Champions: I am a Leader,” a values-based leadership development initiative of Migros Aid.
“We hope that students will begin to see themselves as leaders, even at a young age,” said Joel Vestal, founder and lead facilitator of Migros Aid.
At each of the program’s gatherings, which included a meal, students were asked as a group to say in unison “I am a Leader!” and then point to the person next to them and say “You are a leader!”
“We want everyone to understand that leadership begins with leading yourself,” Vestal said. “We lead ourselves to respect others, do our homework, be kind to others, and reach out to someone when we are sad or stressed, etc.”
About 12 volunteers served weekly in the program leading students in small groups based on their ages. One week students were asked to name three things that stress them out. They answered, “ low on food, low on money, family, friends, school, myself, my mom, no sleep, thinking about my future.”
“Our goal and vision,” said Vestal, “is that we can plant seeds in those who come so that they can be a leader. Everyone needs encouragement and someone who believes you.”
Among the weekly topics were self-control, integrity, personal power, perseverance, respecting others and earning respect, kindness, and a positive attitude.
At the program’s final gathering, Indianapolis Colts RB Zavier Scott spoke to the students about how his faith in Jesus helped him become a leader in life on and off the football field.
Scott was born at the United States Army base Fort Cavazos in Texas.
He said his family moved several times during his childhood because his father served in the Army. He graduated high school in Germany.
Scott told students perseverance is important in succeeding in whatever you do in life. He said there were times when he didn’t feel like practicing football, but he pushed himself to do it because it was important for his success and his team’s success in the sport.
Students received an “I am a leader” T-shirt and a special meal after completing the program.
