Since its founding, Cumorah Academy has pursued one mission above all others: empower young people to become leaders. Not through lectures alone. Not through textbooks. Through experience.

People often ask, What is the best way to build confidence? Many search for answers in achievements, social media, or personal success. Yet, time after time, we have discovered something different.

The fastest way to grow your confidence is to forget about yourself for a moment and serve someone else.

That simple idea sits at the heart of our service projects for young adults. Leadership begins when we notice the needs around us and decide to act. Every act of service becomes an opportunity to develop courage, compassion, and responsibility.

As Cumorah Academy celebrates five years of community impact, we want to remember five moments that shaped both our students and the people they served. These stories remind us that even small actions can create a ripple effect that lasts for years.

1. A Day of Caring for Children and Families

On March 27, the maternity center in Havlíčkův Brod welcomed a group of Cumorah Academy students with open arms. The Esther group had spent days planning the visit, determined to support an organization that quietly strengthens the entire community.

This maternity center does much more than help new parents. It provides essential services, including support for single mothers and a safe place where parents can leave their children while they work or study. For many families, it offers stability during difficult seasons of life.

Students, together with Aneta Bočková and Daniel Čaňo, who served as driver and interpreter, stepped into a world that depended on kindness and practical help. They did not arrive to receive recognition. They came to contribute.

One of the greatest lessons from leadership comes from realizing that the smallest acts of care often solve the biggest problems for someone else.

You can read more about this project here.

2. Lending a Helping Hand at Zoo Jihlava

At first glance, cleaning a zoo might not sound like a life changing experience. Yet the Esther group discovered that meaningful service rarely comes with a spotlight.

Their project took them to Zoo Jihlava in the Czech Republic, where they spent the day sweeping floors, pulling weeds, and cleaning different areas of the facility. The tasks were simple. The impact was not.

Working side by side gave students time to talk, laugh, and solve problems together. They also gained a deeper appreciation for wildlife conservation and the people who dedicate their lives to protecting animals and educating the public.

Service has a unique way of connecting people. When we work together for a purpose greater than ourselves, friendships become stronger and communities become healthier.

The experience reminded everyone involved that leadership often grows through humble work and shared responsibility.

Read the full story here.

3. Connecting With Nature Through Service

Some of the best classrooms have no walls.

One memorable morning, students gathered at the school and climbed into two vans, excited for a project that would take them into a nearby forest. Their mission was simple: clean the area and collect wood that could later be used in Cumorah Academy facilities, including the gym and the fireplace.

The weather could not have been better. Clear skies and a cool breeze made everyone eager to work. Daniel Čaňo and the maintenance team welcomed the students, explained the plan, and made sure everyone had the right equipment.

As the day unfolded, students discovered that caring for the environment also means caring for one another. The wood they collected would serve the community long after the project ended. The forest itself became a symbol of stewardship and gratitude.

Leadership means leaving places and people better than you found them.

You can learn more about this experience here.

4. Restoring a City Park Together

Communities become stronger when people work side by side.

On September 13, Cumorah Academy students partnered with the Wallace Toronta Foundation and local organizations to clean and restore a city park in Olomouc. Families use parks to gather, children play there, and neighbors build relationships there. Keeping these spaces beautiful creates opportunities for countless positive moments.

The Wallace Toronta Foundation, established in 2003, has spent decades organizing service projects across the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Through these initiatives, volunteers from different backgrounds come together with one goal: to strengthen communities through action.

For many students, this project showed them that service can unite people who might never have met otherwise. It also taught them that local action can create a lasting public impact.

Read more about this community initiative here.

5. The Story Is Still Being Written

Perhaps the fifth moment is not one event at all. Perhaps it is the collection of every conversation, every friendship, and every lesson that grew from these experiences.

Over the last five years, dozens of service projects for young adults have given students the opportunity to step outside their comfort zones and discover their leadership potential. Every project starts with a simple question: Who needs help? The answer always leads to growth.

The communities benefit from the work itself, but students leave with something equally valuable. They learn resilience and teamwork. They learn that leadership has less to do with titles and more to do with taking responsibility.

The world does not need more spectators. It needs young people willing to recognize a problem and take action.

Of course, these are only a few stories from our community. You can explore an overview of all the 2025 initiatives here and browse the complete collection of projects here. 

Why Service Matters More Than Ever

After five years, we can already see the impact these experiences have had. Students who once doubted themselves have become mentors, entrepreneurs, missionaries, and community leaders. The confidence they gained did not come from competing with others. It came from serving others.

That is why we believe service projects for young adults matter so much. They teach skills that classrooms cannot always provide. They create memories that last a lifetime. Most importantly, they help young people discover that they can influence the world around them.

If you are a young adult searching for purpose, direction, or the confidence to take your next step, maybe the answer is not waiting for the perfect opportunity. Maybe the answer is creating one.

Join a community that believes leadership begins with service. Step outside your comfort zone. Build lifelong friendships. Make a difference in someone else’s life, and you may discover that the person who changes the most is you.

At Cumorah Academy, every act of service becomes the beginning of a bigger story. Your story could be next.