Unlocking the 'make a difference gene'

I first saw it when Grace emailed me about running a DanDaLion event at St Mary's College, Ipswich. Then again when Taylor and Bec came to me at the finish of our first Baking Pride experience at St Peter's College, Indooroopilly and asked 'how do we get involved with DanDaLion?'.

Our schools are full of great young people awaiting opportunity. They don't know it, but they have inside them a special gene! I reckon some people, not everyone,  are born with it. It remains dormant until awakened by an experience that warms the heart, stirs the soul and provides the key to unlocking their 'make a difference gene'! They will never be the same again. They have just had their value as an individual redefined.

It is these same wonderful people who go on to be future change agents in our community. There is no time limit on it but sooner or later, now that their special gene has been unlocked they won't be able to help themselves. They will find a way to contribute back to their community. It's in their genes!

Here's the mane point. How amazing is it that the ones who hold the key to unlocking the 'make a difference gene' in our community are our Pride members. They are using their different ability (aka diffability) to engage event volunteers and students in a profound experience. To quote Centenary High teacher Lachlan, talking about his students' involvement in our recent FREEDOM BAKE event, "I know it has been a life changing experience."

 It goes further than that. Parents now have enormous pride in seeing their son or daughter making a real impact using their skill as an educator.

To our Pride members who are using their diffability to create inclusive communities that care:

Thank you from all of us.