Youth Leadership Camp Helps Woman in North Caucasus Win Scholarship

When Katya Borisevich first heard about the prestigious Potanin Scholarship, which supports students from across the Russian Federation in designing social and entrepreneurial projects, she dreamed of applying but never imagined she could win. The bubbly 18-year-old student had focused more on getting good grades than developing her leadership potential. A chance encounter with an IREX representative led her to apply for the 2009 Youth Leadership Camp, which gave her the knowledge, skills, and confidence to apply for the Potanin Scholarship. She was one of only 10 winners from her university, and is currently busy preparing a proposal for a $4,000 social project to be carried out as part of the scholarship program.

A native of Nalchik in Kabardino-Balkaria, a republic in the North Caucasus region of the Russian Federation, Katya is a second-year student in the Department of Government and Management at Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University in neighboring Stavropolski Krai. At the end of her first year, she joined the Students’ Youth Active. Her first event as a member of the group happened to be a seminar for budding leaders in Pyatigorsk organized through the Small Grants Program of the Youth Initiative for the Promotion of Peace (YIPP) – a three year, $3 million program funded by USAID and implemented by IREX that promotes stability and prosperity in the North Caucasus by reducing the potential for violent conflict and empowering youth with leadership skills to bring about positive change.

YIPP Program Officer Tatsiana Hulko attended the seminar to introduce the YIPP program and establish contacts with youth groups in Stavropolski Krai. After the seminar, Katya inquired further about the YIPP camps. She had never participated in a summer camp and was afraid she would not like the experience, but the YIPP presentation convinced her to apply. “I really felt I could use some of the camp trainings in my personal and professional life,” she explains. “I wasn’t a seasoned leader and I felt like I could use a chance to enrich my expertise.”

Katya arrived at the camp shy and uncertain, and admits she had second thoughts. “The first day was so impressive – all these leaders from throughout the North Caucasus – I didn’t feel I quite belonged,” she claims. But she decided to stay anyway. She notes that she initially “tried a little bit too hard to be active and share ideas.”

Soon the whole camp got caught up in the elections for self-government organized as part of the Leadership Workshop. Katya and her team wrote slogans, prepared speeches, and organized campaigns. Then something totally unexpected happened – Katya’s group nominated her as a candidate (“I think my hyperactivity paid off,” she quips). Although she didn’t win, being nominated marked a turning point in her camp experience. “I finally had a feeling of belonging and my artificial buoyancy disappeared,” she explains. “After that I focused more on the trainings and less on getting social approval.”

The trainer who worked with Katya agrees she benefitted greatly from the camp experience, becoming more self-confident and logical. “At first she was somewhat a Smarty Pants, always picking an argument,” the trainer notes. “When the group selected its leader and it wasn’t Katya, the girl went in opposition almost immediately. However, after a couple of days she learned to be respectful and work productively.”

Katya admits she was upset the group didn’t choose her to be its leader, but she realized that didn’t mean she wasn’t a leader. “I learned that leaders have different functions, and I found my niche,” she notes. “It was the most rewarding experience – learning to be observant, attuned to group’s needs. And as soon as I saw what the group needed – encouragement at one time, a heavy hand another – I was there to provide it.” During the last training session, Katya’s group named her its second leader.

Upon her return to university life, Katya was determined to use the skills she acquired during the camp. She went to the Head of the Students’ Youth Active and offered to organize a student meeting where she could tell her peers about the camp experience. The group held a round table where not only students but also university professors were present. Katya made a presentation encouraging her fellow students to be active in their community. A couple of weeks later, the Dean of Katya’s department asked if she would be interested in joining the Board of Students and Associates. Katya became the youngest member of the Board and took it upon herself to mentor first year students. She was then invited to take part in the Training of Trainers’ Assistants Program at the university. After completing the training, Katya volunteered to assist in trainings for the first year students. Together with a certified trainer, Katya organized three trainings for 20 students.

“It was a great experience – like our camp, only I was trainer’s assistant this time,” Katya notes. “It was easy for me since I could understand what the trainees felt and what they wanted – I was a trainee myself not long ago.” Katya kept in touch with her YIPP camp trainer to ask for guidance and advice. The trainer provided her with materials and helped her develop interactive exercises.

Her next endeavor was applying for the Potanin Scholarship. The camp training program included a two-day session on project writing and management that is helping Katya and her team as they develop their project.

Meanwhile, Katya and other camp alumni (two from Stavropolski Krai and two from Kabardino-Balkaria) organized an exchange visit for students from Stavropolski Krai to Kabardino-Balkaria in October 2009.

“I believe that we all are leaders, but programs like YIPP help you discover and develop your leadership potential,” Katya explains. “I know most of my fellow camp participants will agree. We stay in touch, and I know of many who are not afraid to be active now.”