Huge Congratulations to all the Wild Swans who graduated from the Wilderness Foundation UK women’s leadership programme on Saturday 17th February. We’re very proud of you all!
Their thoughts on the journey they have all taken:
Wind blowing as quick as time
anticipation of a wild future
the challenging tensions through the season
leaves falling as a sign of relief
the cheerful buffeting of the wind is refreshing
the wild swans are settled in the warm yurt
calm and relaxed setting in nature
The howling reflections make us free to
grow as saplings
***********
The howling wind is buffeting the leaves
Nature’s reflection of wild tensions
Saplings wait in anticipation of warm relief as seasons change
Changing time, breaking free
Settled in the yurt, feeling calm and relaxed
Our spirit grows cheerful, our souls refreshed
Our Wild Swans Programme selects young women from Essex who are studying or working and particularly from areas where they face difficulties through force of circumstance and not through lack of talent or integrity, and propel them to the forefront of leadership within their own communities and sphere of influence thus sharing their learning and making a positive difference to others.
The Wild Swans programme involves the following:
- Participants being carefully selected through written and interview processes and for proven engagement or interest in leadership;
- They are expected to write a comprehensive blog after each session;
- They will participate in workshops and activities to help them develop their leadership skills;
- They will have a personal mentor to help them on their leadership journey and deliver their project;
- Wild Swans will take part in nature based activities or wilderness trails;
- They will meet inspirational leaders on a regular basis – learning from their life stories and insights;
- They will share their voices, thinking and vision with others;
- They will take part in a short ‘wilderness’ journey which takes places in Scotland to embed learning and give the group final personal development, skills and learning.
- The group will aim to fundraise for themselves to journey to South Africa where they can re-invest their own growth and learning with young women in a selected highly disadvantaged community in the Western Cape.
and comprises of a series of six natured based outdoor working days addressing such issues as:
- Confidence
- Self-awareness
- Resilience
- Discovering personal leadership potential and ambition
- Communication
- Ability to Deal with Change
- Social and Environmental Awareness
If you are interested in joining the programme please contact us on 0300 1233073
