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Several business students at the Desautels Faculty of Management are giving back to the community by volunteering in outreach programs around Montreal as part of a "Leadership Challenge" project.

The "Leadership Challenge" project is meant to help students understand that leadership and power are the essential ingredients for making a difference. This project is a new component of an undergraduate Leadership course taught at the Desautels Faculty that focuses on teaching students how to become an effective leader as well as a team player, with a moral purpose.

Student Nour Antably is volunteering with her teammates at Benedict Labre House, a refuge for the homeless, on introducing the idea of healthy eating to the disenfranchised citizens of Montreal.听 Their group planned and researched some classic recipes and improved on the nutritional value by providing better alternatives to various ingredients.听 They have prepared meals for about 80-100 people who arrived at Benedict Labre House for dinner and engaged in conversation with some of them, learning about the realities of living on the cold streets of Montreal.听

"I have learned that we don't need to have all the money of the world or to be a president to make a change. In fact, I have learned much more by serving homeless people than by sitting behind a desk during hours," says Nour. "This experience made me grow up by making me realize that a smile can make a difference."

At the Programme Mile End high school, Anne-Sophie Leroux and her teammates are each playing the role of a "big brother" or "big sister" to students of the alternative high school, helping them in whatever they need, including math tutoring and visiting CEGEPs and universities.

"Each member of our team spent a few hours building trust and a relationship with a single student at the school in order to help this student become confident in his or her academic choices" says Anne-Sophie. "We felt that it was very meaningful to the students and we are currently looking for other volunteer students interested in taking over after we finish the project to ensure continuity."

Empowering, rewarding, valuable are a few words that the students in this Leadership course used to describe their experience during this challenge. 听Students such as Joyce Mak are learning that her business skills can certainly make a difference, "I was able to utilize my leadership skills and bring forth local change to the Montreal community. I valued the lessons I have learnt to bring forth a small, but powerful impact."

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