Youth Leadership Expedition 2012

A Message from Jami Quesenberry, Koins for Kenya Expedition Leader

Youth Leadership Expedition 2012

As the application deadline for the Youth Leadership Expedition fast approaches, I wanted to share both the genesis of this idea as well as introduce our wonderful mentors.

I have been the Expedition Coordinator at Koins for Kenya for 2 years.  One of the joys of this position is being able to see the “before” and “after” of our participants.  The transformation from “my friends can’t believe I’m going to Kenya and honestly I can’t believe it myself!” to “that was an amazing experience- when can I go again?” is gratifying to witness!  And I should know.  I went through it myself.

The most meaningful transformations, though, are the ones I see in the youth.  Time after time I’ve seen youth with varying degrees of privilege go to Kenya – three of those youth being my own – and then come home grateful for all they have and anxious to get involved in causes bigger than themselves.

I have pondered how to get more youth involved in these trips.  For, just as I appreciate the very real problems in third world countries like Kenya, I also appreciate the very real problems our youth in the US face.  Believe it or not, there are problems associated with having too much!

Thus, this idea of having an expedition geared exclusively towards youth.  I’m hoping that the youth who participate will:

1) Gain greater gratitude for their freedoms and advantages;

2) Grow in their sense of responsibility that comes with freedoms and advantages;

 3) Develop survival skills - both physical and emotional - that they may not get to develop in our cushioned country and thus increase that feeling of empowerment that comes from developing those skills;

 4) Learn leadership, decision-making, and team work skills that will help them as they navigate their educational, professional, and family life;

5) Find lifelong mentors and friends who will encourage and counsel them in their lives; and

 6) Recognize the spiritual and emotional sweetness that comes from meaningful service –and commit to make service a habit in their lives.

To help with these goals, we have recruited three warm-hearted, talented, and enthusiastic mentors.  Their passion for volunteerism is infectious and I am honored to work with them.

They are:

Emery Blanchard

Emery in Kenya, 2011

Emery fell in love with Africa and the Kenyan people in 2011 on her first expedition to Africa.  Since returning from that first expedition it was clear that she would return to Africa to serve and learn more about the culture.  Emery has a deep love and respect for all cultures and beliefs and actively seeks out cultural experiences.  She also has a passion for volunteerism and service.  Emery has served over nine years in the US Air Force.  She is an avid naturist and outdoors woman who always welcomes fun and adventure.

Brian Gelsinger

Brian Gelsinger

Brian grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where he was lucky enough to spend some of his childhood living in a home with no running water, heat, or electricity. At the time it was a struggle, but this experience proved to have a profound impact on Brian's life. A seed was planted in his mind that grew into a deep appreciation for a more natural way of living that relied less on modern convenience. He studied Sociology at Northern Michigan University which further developed his appreciation for human diversity and different ways of living around the world. Since then, Brian has worked in a variety of fields. His favorite job to date has been working with at-risk youth at Second Nature Wilderness Program, teaching them outdoor-living skills and therapeutic tools. There he was able to combine his love for wilderness with his desire to help youth find new opportunities for growth in their lives. Brian currently lives in Utah where he enjoys hiking the desert and mountains, riding his bicycle, cooking (and eating, of course), reading, and doing most of these things with his dog, Smoke.



Lacee Frampton

Lacee Frampton

Lacee watched her brother Dallin live in the village of Dzivani, Kenya, for five months while building a school.  This inspired her to join the 2010 Koins for Kenya expedition.  Lacee currently works as an elementary school teacher at Challenger School.  She spent the last three summers as a counselor with Especially for Youth (a summer camp for teenagers). Lacee currently lives in Holladay, Utah with her family, 2 dogs, and her bird Molly.

Applications for the 2012 Youth Leadership Expedition are due January 15, with pre-expedition meetings starting the next week.  There are still a few openings available.  Please email me if you would like more details.

Jami Quesenberry

seqesq@msn.com