U-Lead #2

We are incredibly proud to announce that the Operation Smile student leaders of Panama planned and ran their own U-Lead conference! When we went to Panama City, we wanted to "Inspire Waves of Change." The goal of our mission was to give the already strong leaders of Panama to the tools to help others become more involved with the organization and become leaders. The hope was that we would create a ripple effect. We did not just want our impact with our week in Panama. We hoped that students would take what they learned at our three day conference in March 2011 and use that knowledge to teach others in similar conferences. This May, Ana Isabel Correa, Roberto Zuñiga,  and Natalia Londoño completed that goal. With the support of club sponsor, Marìa Gabriela Sagel and Operation Smile Panama, the students worked extremely hard to put together an extremely successful conference. These student leaders were extremely integral part of the first U-Lead conference. After meeting them, we knew that these were leaders with vast amount of potential, passion, and innate talent. It was immediately clear that these students could inspire their peers more than we ever could. We knew that their experience helping to raise money and support medical missions in Panama combined with their amazing drive and commitment to the organization could truly inspire waves of change. We truly cannot express how proud we are of these students. Operation Smile Panama stands as a testament of the vast potential of student leaders in mission countries. As Operation Smile International works to send American students to help on medical missions and U-Lead missions, the organization is also developing sustainable initiatives to unlock the talents of in-country student leaders. This second U-Lead conference shows how students in mission countries are willing and able to make an impact in the organization. This conference signals a shift in the organization to increased in-country student involvement.  The first U-Lead conference in Panama was simply a push in the right direction. We gave these students tools to help others and they exceeded expectations in every way.
We hope that other countries will follow Panama's lead. Operation Smile Panama has been incredibly supportive of student initiatives and now holds one of the strongest Student Programs in the world. While the organization works to complete screenings, medical missions, and post-op therapy, they are also looking toward the future by training the leaders of tomorrow.

Way to go Panama! We are so proud of you. Keep Inspiring Waves of Change.