An opportunity to help others and build her self-confidence has lead Charlotte Chilton from Ashburton to sign up to a Future Leaders Academy in Fiji.
At the end of September the 17-year-old will join 40 other students from New Zealand, Australia and Fiji on the eight-day course.
Charlotte said she has always struggled with her confidence so when the course popped up on her Instagram and after talking to other about it she decided to take the bold step of applying for it.
‘‘I think the course will help boost my confidence as we will take leadership roles as part of it,’’ she said.
She loves helping people and often volunteers her time to bake for elderly and cancer patients, balancing that with her school work and working as a retail assistant at Modes.
As she prepared for the course, she said there were things she was looking forward to like meeting new people.
‘‘I hope to make lifelong friends from my time on the course,’’ she said.
She is looking forward to helping the community in Fiji as they will spend time volunteering. ‘‘We don’t know what the volunteering will involve we have been told it will just be sprung on us,’’ Charlotte said.
The programme will include hiking jungle trails, visits to villages, and leadership tasks that attendees have been told will push them outside of their comfort zone.
Participants will take part in leadership workshops, team building exercises, practical scenarios as well as learning about environmental and humanitarian issues and youth well-being.
It won’t all be full-on learning there will be an opportunity for fun with a beach day planned along with learning about each other cultures.
Charlotte has travelled overseas previously to Vanuatu, Fiji and Australia on family holidays, but this will be her first trip on her own.
Among the items being packed in her suitcase are pairs of rugby boots. The young people are taking these to give out to locals.
The year 12 Ashburton Christian School student is about a third of the way through her gold Duke of Edinburgh award. The course will enable her to tick off the residential part of the award.
Charlotte is undertaking her Duke of Edinburgh award through the Joshua Foundation which is a community focused organisation that is built upon character, courage, commitment, integrity and respect that looks for opportunities to develop leaders in the community.
Being this far through her award while in year 12 is an achievement.
She has completed hours towards the volunteer and recreation components and is working on her skills to complete her fire arms licence.
The cost of the leadership programme is $5000 and she is very grateful to Ashburton Rotary, Braided Rivers Community Trust and Zonta Ashburton for their financial support.
Future Leaders Academy vision is to strengthen the Southwest Pacific by developing effective junior leaders and strong future networks.
