Developing young leaders is one of the most critical investments we can make for the world’s future. Around the globe, communities and organizations are confronting an urgent and growing issue: the leadership challenge. According to a recent study, roughly 77% of organizations report a leadership gap, meaning that most companies lack strong leadership at different levels. Even more concerning, 58% of managers say they never received any kind of leadership training. The result is a world where too few people are being equipped to guide others, inspire vision, and lead with integrity.
At the same time, a 2021 Harvard Graduate School of Education survey revealed a sobering truth: 61% of young people between 18 and 25 experience deep loneliness—many describing themselves as feeling lonely all the time. Compared to only 36% among other age groups, this statistic highlights a growing emotional and social gap among the very generation we rely on to shape the future.
These two gaps—the leadership gap and the emotional gap—are not separate issues. They are deeply connected. When young adults lack guidance, mentorship, and education, they not only feel lost but also struggle to step into their potential. And when society fails to invest in them, it risks losing the creative and moral leadership needed to face global challenges.
Developing Young Leaders: A Shared Global Responsibility
Developing young leaders is not just an institutional goal—it’s a shared mission for all of us. Young adults today hold extraordinary potential. They are talented, creative, and capable of solving complex problems. Yet many feel directionless, disconnected, and uncertain about their purpose. They are looking for meaning, belonging, and the confidence to lead with courage and compassion.
The good news is that this generation can rise—but only if we give them the opportunity. Education, mentorship, and purpose-driven leadership training are essential to unlocking their abilities. These are the tools that transform uncertainty into strength and loneliness into belonging.
At Cumorah Academy, we believe that developing young leaders is one of the most powerful ways to create a better world. Our programs combine leadership education, business training, personal development, and faith-based mentoring. Students from around the globe come to our campus in the Czech Republic to learn how to lead themselves first—so they can later lead others with clarity, humility, and hope.
But access to education remains a major barrier. Many talented young people simply cannot afford the kind of development opportunities that could change their lives. That’s where the Giving Hope Campaign comes in.
Giving Hope: A Campaign to Uplift and Educate the Next Generation of Leaders
Giving Hope is Cumorah Academy’s annual scholarship fund campaign—an invitation for people around the world to invest in the rising generation. It’s an opportunity to turn gratitude into action, transforming blessings into possibilities for others.
As we approach Thanksgiving, we reflect on the opportunities we’ve been given—by family, mentors, and friends who believed in us. This season reminds us of the power of generosity: the simple yet profound act of lifting others as we rise. Giving Hope embodies that spirit.
Every donation to the campaign goes directly toward scholarships that enable students to participate in Cumorah Academy’s programs. These programs are designed to help young adults:
- Discover their identity and purpose through personal development courses.
- Learn leadership and communication skills that prepare them to make a difference.
- Strengthen their faith and values, building character to face life’s challenges.
- Gain practical business knowledge to create meaningful opportunities for themselves and others.
Since its launch in 2023, Giving Hope has already transformed lives. Many of our scholarship students have gone on to start businesses, serve their communities, and mentor others. They leave Cumorah not just with knowledge, but with a renewed sense of direction—and a desire to give back.
These stories remind us that when you invest in one student, you’re not just changing one life. You’re shaping countless others who will be touched by that person’s example, leadership, and service.
The Ripple Effect of Developing Young Leaders
Every leader begins as a learner, and every confident voice once doubted itself. Every act of service begins with someone who cares enough to believe.
That’s the essence of developing young leaders. By supporting young people today, we’re planting seeds that will bear fruit for generations. The future will be led by those we choose to empower now—those who will stand for integrity, compassion, and progress in their communities.
When we close the leadership gap, we don’t just fill positions; we transform societies. We build organizations guided by empathy. We inspire innovation that benefits all. And we create environments where the next generation can thrive emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually.
Through initiatives like Giving Hope, Cumorah Academy continues to dedicate its mission to developing young leaders who are prepared to meet the world’s challenges with faith, wisdom, and purpose.
Turn Your Generosity Into Impact
In this season of gratitude, you have the chance to make a lasting difference. Your donation—whether large or small—can open the doors of education and leadership training to a young adult who dreams of creating change.
When you support the Giving Hope Campaign, you’re not simply contributing funds; you’re empowering transformation. You’re helping a student gain the confidence to lead, the faith to persevere, and the skills to serve others.
Give skills. Give purpose and give the next generation the tools to succeed.
Your generosity can help young leaders discover who they are, what they can do, and how they can make a difference in the world. Every scholarship helps a student move from uncertainty to clarity, from isolation to community, and from potential to action.
Together, we can turn gratitude into opportunity—and hope into leadership.
Donate today to empower young leaders at Cumorah Academy.
Written by Fernando L. Ferreira Jr.
Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer
