"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.
70% of adults in Sierra Leone are illiterate.
Every time I hear this statistic, I am horrified to think that most adults in Sierra Leone cannot read or write. Had I been born there I would most likely not be able to read directions to a game or write this blog. Many opportunities are closed to people who are not literate- so many jobs require these seemingly simple skills.
The fact that huge numbers of people are illiterate further perpetuates the poverty that individuals and countries face. When people become educated, opportunities are opened up to them- doors that have been locked are no longer closed.
Education releases human capital and innovative ideas into the communities.
As I learned through my research about Sierra Leone and the living situations of the people, I knew that I had to do something. I wanted to build a school to give the children an opportunity to transfer their dreams into possibilities and realities. To achieve this goal in my high school, the Building Futures group and I raised money through different fundraisers over two years. We organized car washes and gift-wrap and rummage sales.
Many adults thought that our sights were too high; I was told that we should cut our fund-raising goals in half. But we were determined, and we stuck with our efforts. We persisted even when it seemed we would not reach our goal of $9,600 US. This amount would pay for the building of a school, a washroom, one teacher's accommodations and training for a year, blackboards, desks, and supplies for the kids.
After two years, and to the surprise of many, we not only reached our goal, but also surpassed it by so much that we were also able to build a water program.
Through this I learned that everyone can make a difference in the world; age is irrelevant. Through hard work, determination, passion and realism you can effectively change someone's world.
In meeting so many active young individuals at the Road to Davos forum in Guildford and then at the World Economic Forum, I was able to see even more clearly the power that we have to have a positive influence on the world around us. I knew going into the World Economic Forum that I would not be changing the world with words, but I learned more about the power of influence. My presence at Davos might not change any major actions that a world leader takes now, but if my words spoke to one person who will now think a little differently about a world issue or their power to do good, then I will feel that I was able to help change the world in a little way.
This ties in directly with my goal to build a school. Although the one school that we built will not pull the country out of poverty, it is a little step that will bring opportunities to the community and people. As more and more people begin to see that their little actions will make an effect, they will all add up to a world that is better for all of us to live in.
See more on www.roadtodavos.net.
To see the entire "Road to Davos" series, click here.