What makes MIKE meaningful

Becca Lloyd, Part-time Youth Worker and Sixth Form student at King Solomon High School in Ilford, writes for Careline about Jewish Care’s MIKE programme

There are lots of youth leadership programmes but not many come close to the uniqueness of MIKE. MIKE stands for Motivation, Inspiration, Knowledge and Education; aiming to benefit young people’s lives with not only education on becoming a leader, but providing them an experience unlike any other.

Not only do MIKE's insightful sessions give participants a taste of leadership, but it also provides participants with opportunities to volunteer at Jewish Care services, community events and takes participants on residential weekends away.

“THE PROGRAMME LED ME FROM BEING INTROVERTED INTO A CONFIDENT YOUNG WOMAN.”

All of these experiences combine into shaping our leaders of tomorrow, the people who will contribute to making our community what it is; a family.

For instance, from my experience at MIKE, the programme led me from being introverted into a confident young woman. I started off in Year 9, shy and uncertain, not often putting myself forward to answer questions; I ended in Year 12 having won both the Jack Petchey Achievement Award and the prestigious Saul Keene Award for Excellence in Youth Work as well as speaking on behalf of the programme at the MIKE Awards evening. Now, I work as a part time Youth Worker and run the same MIKE sessions, giving back to a programme that has always given me so much.

The reason I was able to do this is because MIKE encourages young people to seize every opportunity they are given, inspiring them to continue involving themselves in leadership programmes inside and outside of Jewish Care. For instance, many participants from MIKE have gone on to do the incredible programme Diller Teen Fellows that inspires over 600 participants from around the world to explore their Jewish identity and to build connections from around the world.

Current Year 10 participants of the programme, Sofia Maragaris and Shai Carmel-Brown described MIKE as “Engaging and enjoyable.” Shai said that MIKE has taught him that “As a leader you should always take people’s opinions into account and make sure everyone feels listened to”. Sofia said that MIKE “Makes me want to get involved in Jewish Care due to how much it encourages us to get involved and volunteer.”

Jamie Shone, MIKE Programme Coordinator, said “My role not only helps me to shape our community’s next set of leaders, but I learn from them every day too! There is no other programme like MIKE. We have no religious affiliation and no other agenda (other than to shape the leaders of tomorrow).

We have a proven track record of creating leaders who are now leading in Jewish communities across the globe. I am delighted that we can finally bring this programme to more young people across the community with the launching of our first cohort at Jewish Care's Sandringham campus.”

If you would like to know more about the MIKE programme or know someone who may be interested, in MIKE either at Redbridge or Sandringham, please contact MIKE Programme Coordinator, Jamie Shone, at jamie.shone@jcare.org.