We are thrilled to announce that the opening session of the Youth Leadership Lab 2021 took place on Monday, June 21. The YLL 2021, IDF Europe’s online-based leadership development programme designed for young people living with diabetes, consists of six modules that alternate between webinars with the participation of expert guest speakers and fellow diabetes advocates, e-learning sessions, and group discussions/exercises on the basis of a ‘learning-by-doing’ approach. The YLL 2021 will take place over a period of 4 months and will end on November 21 2021.
Within the training period, we want to build a strong community by facilitating several social activities, from casual conversations to online Zumba sessions, board games, and movie nights, to create a community where young advocates can be themselves, communicate and collaborate. IDF Europe Regional Chair, Dr. Niti Pall and Prof. Nebojsa Lalic, IDF Europe Chair-Elect, welcomed the participants to the 11th edition of the programme on Monday night. Dr. Pall began by dedicating the session to Alojz Rudolf, passionate diabetes advocate, IDF Europe Treasurer, and Member of the Youth Committee, who sadly passed away last week. Alojz was very involved in the YLL programme and his presence will be dearly missed by all. Uros Bogdanovic, YOURAH Steering Committee Coordinator briefly introduced the YOURAH programme.
Introductory remarks were also provided by our partners. Maurizio Guidi, Diabetes External Engagement Leader at Lilly Diabetes Corporate Affairs, highlighted the need for the whole diabetes community to unite their voices in an effort to raise diabetes on the national and European policy agenda. Miray Kaymaz from Medtronic Diabetes EMEA shared her message about the need to transform diabetes care together, for greater freedom and better health for people living with diabetes. Anne-Marie Felton, President of the Foundation of European Nurses in Diabetes, mentioned the particular challenges health care services and people with diabetes faced over the past eighteen months due to the pandemic. She shared her hope to see the eLab participants become active advocates at national and European levels and the diabetes leaders of tomorrow. We also wish to thank Kyle J. Rose and Cajsa Lindberg for their inspirational talks about their journey to diabetes advocacy and for their enthusiastic and continuous support.
A big thank you to our 18 young diabetes advocates for joining the opening session! We look forward to seeing you again and to sharing this wonderful new experience with you!
Read more about the YLL and other Youth initiatives here.
