The aim of the day was to give students the tools and determination required to become successful leaders within their community. The day was facilitated by the Central Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network FReeZA and Engage programs along with The FRANK team motivational speaker Sacha Kaluri.

"I have been a youth motivational speaker for 15 years and, I found this group to be showing the signs of becoming spectacular future leaders," Sacha said.

"At the beginning of the day the young people were quiet and nervous about what lay ahead, but, by the end of the day they were bursting with ideas, listening to others and feeling empowered to take on the world.

"Though students thanked me at the end of the day for all the tools they had been given to become successful leaders, the truth was I felt just as grateful to meet them and give them the space to be the best version of themselves."

CGLLEN Engage and FReeZA staff where extremely happy with how the students embraced the opportunity.

"The passion that we saw on the day, with students coming up with some fantastic ideas to implement events and activities for other young people in Ararat and Stawell," project officer Meagan O'Brien said.

"Not just your typical event, but events that we have not seen in Ararat and Stawell before and events and activities that will be enjoyed by everyone! We are really looking forward to seeing how these ideas evolve."

The feedback from participants has also been terrific.

"After a successful leadership training yesterday, I have come up with a new fundraiser idea or maybe some sort of a foundation. After talking with the organisers of the leadership day my idea might become reality," Alex said.

Ms O'Brien said they were really excited to get back to work and see feedback on the Facebook page in regards to these new ideas.

"It just makes us see that there are young people in the community that want to give back and in our line of work, it is exciting to see," she said.

Following on from the training, CGLLEN project officers will be working with three groups of participants to organise the activities that were brought to the table by the young people throughout the day.

The FReeZA and Engage teams welcome new comers to help them develop and organise awesome events and activities in Ararat, Stawell and Lake Bolac.

If you would like to be a part of this team and make things happen in the local area contact Luke, Meagan or Sarah on the Facebook page Freeza Engage Ararat Stawell, call by phone on 5352 3266 or come in and see them. You will find Meagan and Luke at 68 High Street, Ararat and Sarah at The Powerhouse in Stawell.