Doug is one of 4 lucky young leaders, selected from 100 candidates who, earlier this year, attended the 2009 National Leadership Camp in July. The trip ahead will no doubt be a life changing experience for Doug and company, all of whom will get the chance to develop life skills such as communication, organisation, creativity, decision making, problem solving, and team work.
This opportunity for the 18 year old from Malvern came about following his attendance to The Young Leaders County Training Day in April and then subsequently The West Midlands Regional Camp in May at which he demonstrated sound leadership skills and as a result was then nominated to represent Worcestershire at The National Camp in July.
During the week long camp Doug continued to demonstrate his capabilities as a young leader and in the summer, was invited down to Wembley for an interview with FA Representatives.
Along with fellow young leaders Elizabeth Adewole (London), Sarah Cummings (Manchester) and Joseph Brownless (Isle of Man) as well as FA representatives, Doug will be part of a team from The FA sent to Botswana to support the South East District Youth League (SEDYEL). This is a youth-led sports and community development programme which was developed to channel the energy and enthusiasm of young Botswana away from risky behaviours through the positive diversion of sports.
The programme runs a district-wide football league that currently has a total of 112 teams registered (25 of them being female teams). Apart from the Sports programme, SEDYEL also has a very successful Peer Education program which intervolves HIV/AIDS, life skills and leadership development into the sports activities. This is integrated across the district via trained peer leaders who work within the communities and schools.
Doug reflected on the events so far and commented on his forthcoming trip…
‘I've always played football, and going into coaching was a natural progression for me. I started off helping out with the U8s with the club I played for, before taking my Level One and helping to run a number of different sports and football camps. This gave me the confidence and experience to take on my own U9s side this year as well as helping out in school and where I can with my County FA! Through this volunteer work, I was selected to attend a County Young Leader's training camp and then picked for a regional training day. From these workshops, I was lucky enough to be selected for national camp, a fantastic experience where I met over 100 people with the same interests as me and learnt a wide range of new skills from highly experienced professionals! I couldn’t believe it when a few weeks later I was asked down for interviews at Wembley and eventually invited to go on the Africa experience! I've been told that the Africa experience is a life changing one. It is therefore with a sense of great excitement and anticipation that I look forward to Africa. I wish to develop not only as a coach and a young leader but as a person as well, and I believe Africa truly has the power to do that. I know that it helps give me a fantastic view into what I hope will be a lifelong ambition-to help children worldwide enjoy the beautiful game’.
Matt Jones, WFA Football Development Officer said ‘The development of young leaders is a top priority for Worcestershire, like it is for the entire country, as ultimately they are the future voluntary workforce of grassroots football. Doug is a fine example of a young leader and his early commitment to volunteering and learning has brought about this great opportunity. On behalf of the association I would like to wish Doug a safe and successful trip, I am in no doubt that he will make the most of the experience and represent the county with pride'.
The Young Leaders and The FA depart for Botswana on Saturday, returning on Wednesday. Visit the website in due course to get feedback from Doug’s Trip.