WHY YOUNG PEOPLE?
A gift is more than your strengths or what you’re good at. Your gift is a combination of all your strengths & struggles. the giving gifts is shifting the conversation around struggling from shame to possibility!
IDENTIFY YOUR GIFT
Creating possibilities to allow young people to look at where they have come from, the history of their culture, family, and even their mental health. Identify patterns and behaviors that they have been exposed to and ingrained. Asking the question for themselves and their communities, “what is working?” & “what needs to change?”
NAVIGATE HOW TO USE YOUR GIFT
We are challenging an aid-dependent mindset by coming alongside young individuals who have the vision to use their gift in their community. This may look like creating mentorships, scholarships, and micro-loans that give individuals ownership over using their gift in their community and this world.
SHARE YOUR STORY
You are important, valued, and needed in this world. Your story should be heard and shared. Stories are what connect us, what motivates us, and what brings a very divided world together. The Giving Gifts is creating space for real people to share real stories because we believe your story is a gift and a gift that will continue to give.
DISCOVER IS ALL ABOUT CREATING possibilities for young people to begin the lifelong process of identifying their gift, navigating how to use their gift, and SHARING their story. THE DISCOVER RESOURCE WILL ALWAYS BE CUSTOMIZED TO THE INDIVIDUALS & THE COMMUNITY IT IS SERVING.
DISCOVER:SURF
DISCOVER:Surf is a resource created for youth (12-18 years old).
DISCOVER:Surf is a hands-on experience inviting young people to try something new and fun while exploring vulnerability, failure, and courage.
DISCOVER:STORY
DISCOVER:Story is a resource created for young people in transitional stages (IE Jr. high to High school, HS to college, College to adult OR youth correctional center, aging out foster, etc.)
DISCOVER:Story is a hands-on experience inviting young people to explore their stories and identify ways to express them. Using Shellebrate as an example, when you can identify your gifts, you can create an impact in this world.
DISCOVER:CREATE
DISCOVER:Create is a resource created for young people (15-22).
DISCOVER:Create is a hands-on experience inviting young people to create (IE, cooking, jewelry, ceramics, community gardens, painting, photography, coffee production, etc.) while exploring the ideas of creativity, sustainability, and social impact businesses.
*It is important to note that all The Giving Gifts resources have a foundation of trauma-informed care & incorporate basic mental health practices. The Giving Gifts will always work with local community leaders to develop and deliver the resource specific to the young people being served. The Giving Gifts is committed to learning and research as we create more resources. If you would like to know how the resources are developed, the research that has been done and will continue to be done, or anything else along these lines, please do not hesitate to reach out!
