Sicangu Youth Are Inspiring Change Worldwide
Our Interns Represent the U.S. at Global Youth Leadership Conference in Japan
At the end of November, five high school interns from Sicangu Co’s Learning and Development Program had the incredible opportunity to travel to Japan to participate in an international youth leadership event. Emilee Dubray, Gabi Kenny, Kyle Crow Eagle, Lexis Witt, and Savanna Stands on Top represented the United States and shared their community-focused projects with young people from around the world. 🌎
The trip was part of our partnership with Design for Change (DFC), an international organization that empowers youth to create meaningful change in their communities. Through the DFC program, students identify local challenges, design solutions, and take action, all while learning leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. Each summer, Sicangu Co interns develop a project using this curriculum and have the chance to submit it for international recognition.
One of the key global events for these projects is the annual Be the Change Celebrations, a worldwide platform where youth showcase their ideas and inspire others. The celebration brings together leaders, educators, and influencers to stand with youth, affirming their power to design a more compassionate and sustainable future starting today.
Spotlight: We Can 祭
Theme: We Can. ~Planetary Well-being~ 🔰
In Japanese culture, the word matsuri means more than a festival or celebration. It is also an expression of gratitude. We Can 祭 celebrated youth harnessing their “superpowers” to create positive change in their communities.
Planetary Well-being was the sub-theme, reflecting the deep connection between human health and the health of the natural world. By tackling global challenges like climate change, mental health, and inequality, young people are building a sustainable society that supports both people and the planet.
We Can 祭 is a celebration of gratitude, action, and the power of youth to shape a better future today!💪🏼
At the conference, Sicangu Co interns presented a series of wellness-focused projects addressing mental health, self-care, community health, environmental issues, and access to resources. While many international teams presented a single project, our interns showcased a connected “wellness series” that highlighted how multiple aspects of well-being for individuals, families, and the community are interrelated.
The interns also participated in workshops exploring Japanese culture and traditions, including fan making, samurai history, gongs, and grass rope weaving; which reminded them of sweetgrass from their own communities. 🎎 They exchanged stories, stickers, candy, and U.S. flag pins with youth from dozens of countries, forming connections across cultures and building friendships that transcended language barriers.
Beyond the conference, the interns explored Tokyo, especially time in Shinjuku, and Kyoto, experiencing the unique blending of modern cities with ancient shrines and traditions. They learned about cultural norms, respect, and community practices while navigating airports, language barriers, and new experiences. Many of which were their first time traveling internationally. 🏯
Chaperones and staff saw the students grow in confidence, curiosity, and independence throughout the trip. What started as a mixture of excitement and nervousness quickly became pride and enthusiasm as the interns engaged fully with every experience.
This incredible opportunity would not have been possible without the support of families, staff, and our community. Families attended meetings, coordinated logistics, secured passports, and provided encouragement every step of the way. Our staff and chaperones ensured that the trip was safe, meaningful, and educational while giving students the freedom to explore and learn.
Looking ahead, next year’s cohort of interns will have the chance to participate in the next Design for Change conference, set to take place in Athens, Greece. These trips are designed to be both educational and fun, giving students real-world experience in leadership, teamwork, cultural learning, and global citizenship.
For these interns, this journey was a first step into the wider world, a celebration of their hard work and creativity, and a launchpad for future experiences and possibilities!
Stay tuned on our social media. We’ll be sharing many more photos and videos from the trip after editing is all done!
