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Chapter Head FAQ

What is the Believe Leadership Course?

The Believe Leadership Course (BLC) is a student-run branch of the Believe Initiative that works towards teaching important leadership skills to high school students. This is an multi-step Course that consists of 6 Core Leadership Lessons (Including Innovation & Creativity, Collaboration & Teamwork, Confidence, Discipline, Resilience, and Leadership), Optional Work Weeks, a Chapter Inspiration Fair, and a National Collective Inspiration Fair.

What is a BLC Chapter Head?

Chapter Heads are students who run the Believe Leadership Course in their school or community. They teach the BLC programming to their students and guide students to develop projects that create change in their community (called “Passion Projects”). All the training & resources you will need to run your BLC Chapter and teach students will be provided if your Chapter Head application is accepted.

What will I have to do as a Chapter Head?

By the end of the Course, Chapter Heads will be required to complete the following:

  • Set up, promote, and maintain your BLC Chapter
  • Teach Chapter members sessions about leadership
  • Guide Chapter members to complete their Passion Projects
  • Host an Inspiration Fair to showcase your Chapter’s Passion Projects

When are Applications due?

Early-Acceptance Applications for the 2023-24 Cohort are due September 12, 2023. Applications will continue to be reviewed through until October 20, 2023 for this year.

I am having trouble accessing the Application Google Form, help!

Sometimes certain school emails block our Google form! Please try opening the form using a personal email/google account. If this does not work, send an email to info@believeinitiative.com!

Will I have to come up with the content?

No! Believe Leadership will provide you all the session slides, notes, activities and everything you need to run a successful chapter.

What are Passion Projects?

Passion Projects are projects that Members create while going through the Believe Leadership Course (BLC) program. They combine a passion they have with a problem they want to solve to develop a project that creates change. You will receive more information on Passion Projects in your Chapter Head training, if accepted to be a BLC Chapter Head, and can check out past Passion Projects on our website or on the @believeleadership and @believeinitiative Instagram pages.

Can Chapter Heads create Passion Projects?

We would strongly recommend against this, as we want Chapter Heads to really focus on being the best leader possible for your Members! Being a Chapter Head is a big responsibility, and we often find that if a Chapter Head tries to also work on a project, this can impact the quality of their Chapter Head tasks.

How long does the training process take?

Before you have your first official BLC meeting, you will watch the 5 Chapter Head Training videos and read the corresponding 5 Chapter Head Training manuals – each video is about 30 mins. You can do these at your own pace, but this training must be completed before you launch your chapter and gain access to the session materials. Typically students spend around 5 hours completing training. You can ask us questions at any time as you go through the material.

What is the time commitment as a BLC Chapter Head? How many volunteer hours will I earn from being a Chapter Head?

You have an opportunity to earn volunteer hours for time spent on Chapter Head training, promoting your Chapter, hosting an info session, communicating with members, facilitating sessions, creating social media posts, and supporting members as they work on their Passion Projects.  You would get volunteer credit for all of those activities and more. With a recommended timeline of 6-7 months, Chapter Heads typically earn an average of 3-4 hours every-other-week, for a total of approximately 50 hours.

How many students (members) do we need to start a Chapter?

We want to positively impact as many people as possible! A good starting goal is to have 10 people in your Chapter (this may mean recruiting at least 20 to join at the start to account for possible drop off), but past Chapters have been anywhere from 10-90 people in size! There is no “right” number.

What are the benefits of becoming a Chapter Head?

There are many benefits of becoming a BLC Chapter Head! You will learn important leadership skills by leading a group of chapter members through the sessions, and you will obtain access to a network of other BLC Chapter Heads across North America. 

This opportunity allows you to meet new people in your school, learn from them, and create a ripple effect of change in your community while guiding the newest generation of leaders.

You will also receive volunteer hours for your involvement and a Digital Verified Credential to showcase your experience on your resume or LinkedIn!

How many Chapter Heads are allowed per Chapter?

We typically accept 1 or 2 Chapter Heads per school. Under special circumstances (for example, a very large school/Chapter) we will accept 3 Chapter Heads.

If you have more than 1 Chapter Head, it is important that roles are clearly divided so that every Chapter Head has a purpose, and that both Chapter Heads complete the training. 

If you won’t be leading a Chapter beyond this year, we suggest that you have a second Chapter Head who can learn the ropes and is able to continue the leadership role next year.

When do we receive news about our Application Status?

You’ll receive news about your application status in approximately 1-2 weeks after the application deadline. If accepted, you will be guided through the Chapter Head Training and will be able to start your very own BLC Chapter, helping develop the leaders of tomorrow and helping create change in your community!

Does my school already have a Chapter?

Send us an email at info@believeinitiative.com to find out! We are constantly adding new Chapters to our list, so many sure you apply as soon as possible! An important thing to note, is that we do have all Chapter Heads re-apply each year, so even if you school has had a Chapter previously, you still have an opportunity to become a Chapter Head for the upcoming cohort.

What is the cost of starting a Chapter?

Thanks to our amazing sponsors we can offer this program free for schools! That means no expenses for the school, Chapter Heads, or members. 

If you are a private federation or organization, there is a small fee for the training, but we do our best to ensure the program is still accessible for as many people as possible!

Want to become a Chapter Head?

The Chapter Head Application consists of 2 written questions, and 1 video submission. Once you have completed the application form, it will be reviewed by BLC Admin and you will be informed of your Chapter Head status as soon as possible!