Independent (Alexia Mary Tzortzaki)

Since 2009 I have had the Vision of creating a 'School of Young Leaders', where its students will grow into courageous Global Active Citizens who care for the Planet and its People. Since that time many volunteers have supported the cause with their expertise and time. In 2013, the main modules of the School were constructed into a system that was scientifically and empirically tested both at a university undergraduate programme and within one of my client companies. This was initially called the ‘’Spirit to Serve Leadership System’’ and now it has developed into the ‘’SPARKS Leadership Development System’’. The principles of Compassionate Leadership or Leadership with Kindness form the underpinnings of the system. In 2024, we run the very first ‘’Leadership with Kindness’’ Workshop, in Greece, training 36 managers. The School is organically coming together steadily and step by step, as it needs to be a co-creation. It is to be a hybrid, global School with a very alternative operational mode, similar to Marshal Rosenburg's philosophy on non-violent communication and non-directive education. Students can act as Teacher-Mentors and vice versa, so there is no hierarchical structure. Students will receive scholarships based on proof of their passion to bring forth their unique talent or idea. Skills and support will be given generously to each student tailor made to their needs by experiential learning either on a 1-2-1 non-directive coaching fashion or within a group. The experiences will be generated by undertaking projects chosen from a network of Destination-Holders or Masters or from the students' own choosing. Some students will receive payment depending on the project and its impact on the local community or the globe. Initial exploration of skills and talents will be done in an ‘incubator’ which will be safe and, in a hybrid, playful way and under clearly agreed key humanitarian values. The values will be protected by custodians. Once the first bricks and mortar base of the School will be established, more satellite schools will be founded around the globe for expanded impact. School buildings will be more like hot-desking pods, places where students can stay for a short period of time, either in order to train collectively or to be welcomed on-board the collective or to celebrate a milestone. Currently, we are at the stage of a select few of us from across the globe are meeting monthly and virtually for support and exchange of ideas. An online gathering of passionate, like-minded, mainly young people with a global mindset, all eager to make the world a better place. We call our group ‘’the Global Changemakers Collective’’. We are now looking to involve local authorities and jointly apply for funding to create a Summer School, to test the idea at a more tangible level. – Additional details can be found at https://www.artofjoy.gr/en/vision/ or by contacting me, Alexia, directly.