The Fleurieu Future Leaders Program (FFLP) is seeking passionate individuals from across the region to apply for the 2020 course. 

The program — run by boutique consulting firm Face the World — encourages candidates to pursue their dreams, grow in confidence, learn business logistics, and overcome barriers to success. This is achieved while having a good time experiencing new things and collaborating with others.

“Through FFLP I got to eat cheese with the people who run Alexandrina Cheese. I got to dine at Oscars in McLaren Vale. I even got to go abseiling!” says 25-year-old Blaze Pilgrim, who was one of the 20 successful candidates for 2019. 

Blaze launched her media business Digido Studios in 2018. She then became involved with Onkaparinga Youth Enterprise Hub, a creative space and service for youth innovators, change makers and entrepreneurs based in Noarlunga. 

It provided Blaze with the opportunity to grow her business dreams. She quickly rose to a leadership role, was given a platform for public speaking, and began running photography and business workshops through the youth hub. 

Due to these outstanding contributions to her community, the City of Onkaparinga sponsored Blaze to attend the Fleurieu Future Leaders Program.

“The program exposes you to things outside your comfort zone. You’re connected with a learning buddy and a syndicate to see you through these experiences. It’s okay if you completely screw up learning new things because you’re in a safe environment.

“The program fosters a sense of community with the goal of seeing the Fleurieu become a more enriched and connected region,” Blaze explains.

In her class were people from varied backgrounds and age groups. There were councillors, viticulturists, graphic designers and even someone with circus skills. 

FFLP enabled Blaze to work on a community project with her syndicate. By graduation, they had created the blueprint for a not-for-profit entity called Mentormap. The long-term goal is for Mentormap to become a platform that helps young people get back on track with personal and career development. In the meantime, they are diligently creating a pool of experienced mentors to support the next FFLP intake to prototype their idea.

Blaze says the projects instigated through past years of FFLP have, "contributed phenomenal value to the Fleurieu, it’s insane.” Among them are Ideas on the Fleurieu, a successful community service that hosts events, and the Awesome Foundation, which awards grants to 'awesome' projects.

Blaze has grown through her experiences with FFLP, especially those that involve problem solving. She is someone who throws herself into every opportunity that comes her way. 

“I made the simple decision to choose to pursue things that are satisfying, joyful and exciting to me. If I keep pursuing at least one of those three things through the opportunities that are right in front of me, then life’s going to take me somewhere wonderful, and it has.”

Victoria MacKirdy (CEO of the City of Victor Harbor) with Blaze Pilgrim (FFLP 2019)

Applications for the Fleurieu Future Leaders Program 2020 close Tuesday 31 March.

You can find out more here: fleurieuleaders.com.au