Restarting the Leadership Institute - Safely

As our supporters know, CLI made the difficult decision on March 21 to pause our Leadership Institute program in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. Though all of us are still working through the pandemic and its effects both the US and the DRC, CLI is pleased to announce that (with a modified schedule respecting the moratorium on large gatherings), we are in the process of restarting our program so that our Class of 2020 can graduate on time. 

Here are the details of the plan created by co-founder Robert Kumkum: 

  • All CLI sites will conclude their program with the following small group meetings (6 people each) rather than the standard 30-person meeting

  • Meetings will take place on June 5, 8, 10, 12, and 15

  • On June 20, youth will receive their certificates of completion, officially making them CLI Alumni

  • All sites have been provided a budget for masks and hand sanitizer, in addition to additional funds to help youth pay for transportation fees since most have not been able to continue working during this time

Moving into our next fiscal year, we expect a similar schedule to continue for at least a few months. Our first meetings with the new class of young leaders begin in September, and we expect the DRC’s social-distancing mandates to still be in effect to some extent.

Thank you for your support as we continue to navigate this unprecedented period.

Nathaniel Houghton