Calling All Young Leaders and Change Makers!

As 2013 draws to a close OYE is more than happy to turn its attention to the future, and this means selecting new scholars and planning for the 2014 year. This past weekend the process of preparing for 2014 kicked off in earnest as we interviewed potential OYE Scholars. With board members settled to arrive at the end of this week the tumultuous agenda preparing for next year shows no sign of slowing down. Board members, beneficiaries, and staff will participate in both long and short term planning sessions.

Program Coordinator, Dunia Perdomo, Introduces the first exercise.

This past weekend the organization hosted its first round of interviews for 2014 OYE scholars. In addition to returning OYE scholars, approximately 30 local youth were invited to participate in both

OYE Volunteers Morgan and Alex
observe new applicants with board mem-
ber Walter Molinari (Black t-shirt).

group and individual interviews. For the first time, OYE implemented a dynamic Group element, allowing a diverse committee to evaluate how applicants interacted among their peers. Divided into groups of youth with like ages, the applicants were given challenges and the committee assessed who took leadership roles, who was a good listener, who demonstrated rational thinking or deduction, and what was the general group dynamic. This was the first time that OYE has used such tactics to gain a deeper understanding of how applicants think, function, and transact with their peers.

First time applicants work together

In addition to being a great observational tool, the dynamics gave the applicants a chance to accommodate themselves and gain some confidence before entering the individual interviews. The individual interviews give the applicants an opportunity to express their hopes and aspirations and convey things that one cannot see during a dynamic group activity. As Walter Molinari pointed out, the personal interviews are essential to finding youth with leadership potential, as opposed to those who have already developed a strong sense of leadership and voice. At OYE we are seeking youth with positive attitudes and a desire to make their community a better place, a clear distinction from a competitive drive and take-charge attitude. Walter lauded the individual interviews as a great tool, identifying some of OYE’s greatest leaders like Gerald and Sandra who never would have come across in a group interview.

Activity #1, Applicants collaborate to build
unique model homes

The next phase of the process involves home visits. This allows OYE staff to know where the scholars live and meet their families. Vice versa the families of OYE scholars have the chance to meet OYE staff. Both sides arrive to a better understanding of the other. Information is confirmed and OYE has the chance to develop a personal relationship with its community. (This is by far my favorite part of the process.)

All in all the process is evolving and offers a well-rounded perspective on aspiring OYE scholars. The applicants this year have been inspiring. It is so hard to select the ones that

Applicants work as pitch team, selling
their model home to OYE

will receive OYE scholarships, but as our programs expand  we can realistically offer each and every applicant the chance to benefit from OYE’s Leadership and Capacity Building classes and participate in OYE youth-led community outreach programs.

DeAngela’s Dish: Meet Oscar Ruben Suazo

By DeAngela Alexander

On February 4 2012, OYE held it’s first official meeting for its’ 55 scholarship recipients. Amongst the crowd of eager faces were three students who received a thunderous applause when their names were called from the roster. Nathaly Adilene Alberto Santos, Oscar Ruben Suazo Dominquez, and Samuel Adonay Reyes are the newest members to be join OYE.

This past week one of the OYE staff members had the opportunity to sit down and do a two part interview with Oscar Ruben Suazo Dominguez. This young man has a smile that lights up any room, and a calm demeanor that is very endearing. After explaining to Oscar how the interview process would work, he smiled from ear to ear with such delight. Oscar seemed excited to know that he would be featured on OYE’s blog.

Oscar is 12 years old and he attends Notre Dame. After being asked how he found out about OYE, he responded by saying that Fabiola Oro, one of the coordinators at OYE, referred him. Oscar and his mother Gloria are family friends with Fabiola and the rest of her family. Oscar’s favorite subject is natural science, and when he gets older he would like to be an architect. Oscar, like many of the kids his age, likes to play soccer, watch movies, paint, and make new friends in school. After speaking about all of the things he enjoyed the last thing he added was that he enjoyed studying as well.

Oscar was asked what he was looking forward to most when he came into the OYE office on Saturday. He said, after taking some time to think, that he is looking forward to the important “talks” he will have. He then went on to say that he is also looking forward to learning about new topics. Through OYE’s capacity building workshops Oscar will hear and learn about various social issues. After the interview Oscar politely got up from the Oro’s kitchen table, thanked me for interviewing him, and headed back home.

In the second part of the interview Oscar spoke about personal challenges, fears, wishes, and he ended the interview with a couple of words to describe himself. Being in his home this time giving the interview one could see that his mother Gloria was very proud of him. There were pictures from his graduation, medals that he had won, and various art projects hanging on the wall. Gloria smiled the whole time. Oscar, as he had done before, answered each question thoughtfully.

After being asked what he would wish for if someone granted him the opportunity to have just one, he said that he wished to go to college to study architecture. He also expressed a desire to work in another country. One of Oscar’s biggest fears is “not passing school.” It is safe to say that his education is very important to him. The next question was hard for Oscar to answer. When asked what the most difficult thing in his life was, he answered that it was not having a father around.

Despite not having a father present, Oscar seems to have a good outlook on life; he also has a clear direction of where he wants to go. The last question that was asked was “If you could use one word to describe yourself, what would that word be?” With little hesitation Oscar responded with “intelligent” and “friendly.” Although only one word was asked, one could not object to them both. Oscar is indeed a friendly individual with a bright future ahead of him.

DeAngela Alexander is an OYE intern and student at Mary Baldwin College.