Voices of the Future: A stepping stone to endless possibilities

The year 2016 has been a year of great learning and life changing experiences.

• From meeting great women at the United nations headquarters in Geneva Switzerland and learning together.


• I also met with some great women change makers in Paris France and having a ball learning some incredible life changing skills together.


• Back at home, I was invited to be a part of change by the organizers of IMPACT LEADERSHIP 21 at the united nations headquarters in New York for the 3rd Annual power of collaboration Global Summit.


• Next, I had the utmost privilege to be handpicked and trained as an Ambassador for women's health by Days for Girls International.


• Then came knocking one of the biggest and life changing opportunities World Pulse’s signature training program Voices of the Future, where I was selected among 30 women from 21 countries around the world to get leadership training.

My journey through the Voices of the Future program gave me yet another opportunity to attend a three and a half days empowerment workshop at the Empowerment Institute Rhinebeck New York thanks to my mentor who worked tirelessly to make it happen. Going to college and having a degree or graduating from nursing school were all great achievements but my journey up the hills at OMEGA was truly the icing on the cake.

The journey to OMEGA

My journey to upstate New York was supposed to start at Penn station at 2:30pm. But by some means I really can't explain, I missed that train and had to re-book for the 5:47pm train. Because of my hatred for lateness, I burst into tears and even wrote to my mentor because I couldn't talk.The three hours wait was excruciating. But once I got into the Amtrak train and started the journey, the site of the beautiful Hudson river changed everything. I could feel myself smiling from within as all the sadness was suddenly replaced with these thoughts of gratitude. The journey was beautiful and smooth. When I got to the train station in Rhinebeck a drive was outside to take me to OMEGA as I had miss the 4:30 shuttle.As we headed on,I was speechless at the beauty of the village of Rhinebeck. Lakes on both sides of the road and the site of sheep and cows gracing on the hills which reminded me of life back in Cameroon.My mouth was left open at the serenity and quiet nature.

And as we entered more and more into the hills,my amazement kept increasing.Then in the middle of nowhere we arrived OMEGA-A PARADISE.

Without any waste of time,I was checked into my room and headed straight to class as there was a session already going on.The three and a half days workshop was filled with moments of tears of joy and sadness, reflections, re-awakening,soul searching, fears and great learning from Dave and Gail the founders of the program.

Some Lessons Learned

I discovered so much about myself. Some limiting beliefs and their turnarounds.

I learned that to nurture others I must be a role model by taking care of myself.

I learned that to be a champion or change maker, I must learn to change first, and become the champion,only then I can champion or encourage others.

And I learned about my intentions, growing edges and limiting beliefs,all three words that were used in an extra ordinary way.

My takeaways

My take away from this workshop was to know that my dreams are valid but are like seeds and must to be nurtured everyday.That everything I need to give birth to my dreams is within me thus i should never underestimate the contributions I can make to the world whether big or small.

Commitments

The end of the workshop was one of the most solemn I have ever witnessed. Dave who founded the Fire of Peace in the 80s gave all of us candles as a symbol of fire(light).He lit the candle first,shared his commitments and then each of us had to light each other's candles after saying our commitments.

My commitment was to take that symbol of fire and shine as a point of light to the women and girls of Cameroon and other parts of the world and let them discover the hidden secrets and beauty that lies untapped within them..

When I had time to chat with Busayo recently,she told me that since going to the empowerment center,her life has never been the same again.I totally agree because I feel the same way.That is not a place you go and leave the same person.

Sincere gratitude to the entire World pulse team most especially VOF staff. Deepest thanks to my mentor Mama Sarah Whitten, my sister Chi Yvonne for being a constant pillar of support, Mme Busayo Obisakin who taught us the Empowerment Model during VOF 2016 and increased my interest in the empowerment of women,all my VOF 2016 sisters and to God for making it possible for all of us to cross paths.