"Every generation has its own worries - the things that really get us." -- Emma Thompson, award-winning actress and campaigner against human trafficking. Click here to read Thompson's post.
I am eighteen years old and have been living in Sri Lanka my entire life. Coming from a stable background, I was never in need of anything and have happy memories of my childhood. However, when I was about six years old, my idealistic view of the world changed when my mother introduced me to reality. It was then that I became fully aware of the plight of street and slum children in Sri Lanka. I originally started out by being a playmate to these children and as I got older it grew into a serious bond. I currently volunteer with an organization that works with these children not only educating them but also providing them with a stable home environment, free from hunger, drugs, abuse, neglect and other social ills. Most of the children I work with come from deplorable conditions and have no hope for the future. With the help of the organization my mission is to make these children realize that there are people who care about them and their future, and that they don't have to be restricted by the circumstances they were born into.
This January in Guilford, England, the British Council brought together 60 young leaders from 43 different countries to discuss issues about which they felt passionately. Six of us were chosen by our peers to represent the voice of youth at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting. The experience of being one of the youngest panelists at the WEF exceeded my wildest expectations. During the conference, a common obstacle we all encountered in our respective activism was the difficulty in speaking to leaders who had the power and the resources to initiate the necessary change. At the WEF we realized that we had been given the opportunity to get our voice heard and could thereby create an impact not just for ourselves and our 54 peers but for youth activists worldwide.
At first, I must admit, it was overwhelming to look around and see a congregation of world leaders and realize that we were actually there among them. However, as reality started to sink in and we became more in touch with our new environment, we began to approach people, introduce ourselves, and invite them to our session. We met different kinds of individuals: world leaders, businessmen, cultural leaders, social entrepreneurs and numerous media personnel. While conversing with them I realized that although people have different personalities, opinions and interests in life, each person present had a purpose and a goal, and just like us, they too were attempting to draw attention to their respective cause. This made me grasp the fact that in life we are never going to stop canvassing for what we feel passionate about. However, the beauty of the situation is that we have the ability to set and the freedom to fulfill our goals. This is when I became conscious that the children I work with deserve this freedom that many of us take for granted: the freedom to aspire. Being at the WEF among people with ambition made me aware that these children deserve a more ambitious future, and that I cannot stop fighting on their behalf.
On my return home a common question I am asked is, "Where do you intend to go from here?" The truth is that I'm not entirely sure. I realize that time is short and we need to stop talking and start acting. At present we are working to find funding for a building project to help house the many needy children who don't have stable homes and, although by God's goodness the plans are shaping up, there are still obstacles in the road ahead. However, my experience at Guilford with the other 59 participants taught me that it doesn't matter if I don't have a million dollars to help further my cause and it doesn't matter if people think I'm fighting a lost cause, what matters is that I'm not alone. Young activists are working the world over to bring about change and even though we are a minority, if we truly believe, then we can not only make a difference but be the difference this world requires.
See more on www.roadtodavos.net.
Watch the "Future Shifts" session here:
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I am so happy to know that people like you exist in this world. Congratula