Global Youth Leadership & Social Change Summit
Event Dates: 6 - 12 July 2026
Number of days - 7
Number of hours - 3 hours/day (Total = 21 hours)
Timings - 5 to 8 pm GST
Grades - 8th to 12th
Program Fee - USD 500 per student
Leadership Bootcamp by Harvard Mentors
Premier Leadership Immersion Experience
An immersive offline workshop to boost high schoolers’ debate skills through engaging, hands-on learning.
Soft Skill Mastery & Unparalleled Networking
Engage in intensive sessions, workshops, and activities that challenge, inspire, and mold you into the leader of tomorrow.
What will you learn?
Module 1
Kick off with a warm welcome and introductions to mentors, followed by a dynamic "Get to Know You Bingo" icebreaker to build connections among participants. The module then delves into defining leadership, featuring interactive case studies and videos to explore various leadership styles. Engaging activities will guide participants in refining their personal leadership approaches, setting the foundation for effective and adaptable leadership skills.
Module 2
Students will explore common traits within teams and their personal strengths using the VIA test. They will apply these strengths in survival scenarios, solve a riddle, and use a problem-solving toolkit to address real-world issues collaboratively. The module includes analyzing adaptive leadership through case studies and practicing brief defense arguments on random topics.
Module 3
This module explores leadership in the digital age with a focus on innovation and transformation, featuring a Netflix case study. It includes a session on persuasion and negotiation with role-plays for practical experience. students work on their social change project presentations, crafting engaging hooks and strategies. The module concludes with feedback and preparation for the following day's activities.
Module 4
In this module, students will reflect on their experiences through a Story Game and Letter to Self . They will interact with mentors in a Mentor Hotseat and identify influential figures in their lives. Following this, students will practice and refine their presentations, culminating in a Shark Tank-style session where they showcase their projects. The module concludes with a parent engagement session, where students present their projects and receive awards for their achievements.
Social Change Project Journey
Step 1: Spin the Wheel
Start your journey by spinning the wheel to discover your social change topic. Get excited about tackling a new challenge and making a difference!
Step 2: Understand the Problem Statement
Dive into the problem statement to decode the issue. Research and explore to gain a deep understanding of the social problem you’re addressing.
Step 3: Brainstorm on the Problem Statement
Dive into the problem statement to decode the issue. Research and explore to gain a deep understanding of the social problem you’re addressing.
Step 4: Develop Solutions
Turn your ideas into action! Design innovative solutions and select the ones that will make the biggest impact on your chosen social issue.
Step 5: Presentation
Step into the spotlight for a Shark Tank-style presentation! Pitch your solution to a panel of ‘sharks’ (judges), showcasing your project’s impact and convincing them of its value.
Know your Mentors
Leadership bootcamp by Harvard mentors brings fresh and relatable perspective to the workshop. These mentors are approachable and enthusiastic, breaking down age barriers to build strong connections with students. They are passionate about teaching and learning, evolving alongside participants throughout the program. Their guidance ensures an engaging and supportive environment, forming lasting mentorship bonds that extend beyond the workshop.
Chassity K. Coston
Originally from North Carolina, USA, Chassity K. Coston is a second-year Doctor of Education Leadership candidate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. At Harvard, Chassity is also a teaching fellow, aspiring teacher mentor, and a member of the Harvard Marching Band Color Guard. Prior to Harvard, Chassity was a teacher and principal in Mongolia, Kuwait, North Carolina, and Massachusetts. Chassity founded an educational consulting firm, TBP, LLC, to mentor educators & aspiring educational leaders, and also wrote about some of her experiences in her blog, The Bossy Principal. In her spare time, Chassity loves to dance, travel, attend sporting & social events, and spend time with her sassy Shih-Poo named Sasha. Chassity looks forward to meeting and learning from each of you!
Kate Vandermel
Class Year: 2025
Concentration: Economics & Statistics
Kate Vandermel is a senior in Eliot House from Northern New Jersey. Academically, she is concentrating in Economics and Statistics, with a secondary in Media. On campus, Kate has served on the teams of the The Harvard Crimson Business Board, Harvard Investment Association, and conducted research for the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study. She has also performed with Harvard College Opera Society, the Drama Club, and the Jazz Combo. She has experiences in technology and entrepreneurship, investment management, and media.
Safiya Hasan
Safiya Hasan is a community organizer, entrepreneur, and aspiring educator. Her passions, both professional and personal, center strategic social innovation as it relates to building successful communities and companies. Safiya has years of experience community organizing for various organizations serving marginalized youth groups across North America. She is a graduate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education (Ed.M ’25) and the University of Virginia (BS.Ed ’24). Safiya is originally from Hyderabad, India and is born and raised in the United States. In her extracurricular time, Safiya enjoys immersing herself in Urdu, Hindi, Arabic, Farsi, and English poetry/ghazals/qawalis. She is also an avid bullet journaler, Bollywood-enthusiast, and outdoors advocate!
All programs are designed and organised by Big Red Education. Certificates issued for these programs are awarded by Big Red Education and may be co-issued in collaboration with a university or corporate partner, or independently signed by the program faculty, depending on the specific program.
