We believe the most important part of leadership development occurs at the local and national levels. It is here that we can equip the large numbers of volunteers and workers needed to have a significant impact on reaching young people in the nation. At the local and national level, there is time and ongoing contact to develop relationships and provide mentoring. The uniqueness of the local culture is understood and addressed. We can focus on the "how" and provide appropriate practical materials in the local language. Within YFC, the majority of our training and leadership development occurs at the local and national levels where we can impact the greatest number of workers for the least cost. Most of the funding for local and national training is raised by the YFC national program directly and is not part of this area-wide IGNITE training initiative.

Within the Asia Pacific area of YFC, most of our national programs have embraced the importance of identifying leaders and providing thorough training and mentoring to them. In addition, YFC conducts significant training for volunteers and church youth workers not part of YFC. Across the area, different national programs have different levels of resources available and varying experience with leadership development.

Many nations lack good materials in their language. Most of national programs have asked for outside trainers and speakers to supplement their own teaching. YFC on an international level is working hard to address the lack of materials and has released a number of strong training materials within the past two years. IGNITE will attempt to address the need for outside speakers and trainers to supplement the exiting local trainers during strategic, national staff training conferences and events.

The current plan is to assist a certain number of nations each year by providing funding for travel assistance. Not all nations in the Area need assistance and many teachers can pay their own way. But, the reality is that some can't. Therefore, this funding will enable certain individuals to add value and supplement national training initiatives that would not be able to occur without assistance.

It is the goal of IGNITE to facilitate many trainers/speakers who can self-fund their participation as well.