When we first started bringing young people into our projects, we used the usual terms: interns, placements, or volunteers. All accurate, but none particularly exciting.

One day, after helping set up a mountain of equipment, one of them joked:

“We’re basically your minions.”

It made everyone laugh, and the name stuck.

At first, it was just an in-joke among the group. But over time, more of the young people started using it themselves. It felt right, playful, cheeky, and somehow more personal than “intern.” So eventually, we leaned into it and made it official: our young helpers became affectionately known as The Minions.

But here’s the thing, they totally own it.

They’ll shout “Minions, assemble!” to call a meeting. They’ve turned up in Minions hoodies, bought the board Minion-themed gifts, and even signed off thank-you letters as Founder of the Minions. It’s become more than a nickname, it’s part of their identity, their culture, and how they show pride in being part of something.

Like many, we felt a little uncomfortable with it at first. It sounded politically incorrect, and to be honest, the fact it makes some adults cringe is probably one of the reasons the young people love it so much. But it wasn’t until we looked into the origin of the word that we decided to fully run with it.

Where the Word Comes From

The word minion actually has a surprisingly rich history. It comes from the Middle French word mignon, meaning a darling, favourite, or lovely person. That in turn likely comes from the Italian mignone or a Germanic root linked to love or affection.

Let’s take a quick look at how it evolved:

• 1300s (French): Mignon meant someone charming or beloved.
• 1500s (English): “Minion” entered English with meanings like:
  • A servile or devoted follower
  • A favourite of someone powerful
• Later years: It took on a more negative tone, used to describe someone who blindly obeys.
  Ironically, even that feels weirdly appropriate in a sarcastic way. So many young people are given a fancy title, “assistant”, “intern”, “junior this-or-that”, but still expected to follow orders without real agency. Our Minions flip that on its head. They own the title, use it playfully, and bring real value and voice to what we do.
• Modern pop culture: The word got a complete makeover with the rise of the Despicable Me films. The “Minions” became symbols of goofy loyalty and chaotic but lovable energy.

In a way, the journey of the word mirrors the journey of our own Minions:
From helpers in the background to central, beloved characters in our story.

So no, we don’t have evil plans to take over the world (yet), but we do have a team of funny, bright, hardworking young people who bring energy, ideas, and laughter into everything we do. Calling them “The Minions” is our way of saying we see them, and we love having them around.