Global Changemakers

The Global Changemakers have finally settled in their venue at London. Despite the severe jet lag that many participants is having the evening was bubbling with all the participants sporadically connecting, interacting and sharing their experiences and activism with others. We’re blessed in that sense that we have almost absolutely no language barrier since everybody here speaks such a good English with over 40+ countries represented.

It’s great to hear inspiring stories from youngsters from all over the world. For example, Sam from Australia who is involved with organization called Emergency Architects which do non-for-profit post-disaster reconstruction programs. Just recently he’d been to Solomon Islands that were devastated by April 2007 earthquake and tsunami. But perhaps more inspiring it is to hear from Thireindar from Myanmar (formaly Burma) who is working in the field of micro finance by proving small loans to those in need. As you might know, Myanmar still has tight military-led government so the she and another lady from Burma have come to London secretly since the title “Changemaker” can be very suggestive to their government.

One of the guest speaker today was Paul Hidler who is campaign director of online campaigning site Avaaz.org who you might now from the video “Stop the Clash of Civilizations” (below) which won Youtube 2007 award in political category. He explained the basic principles of online campaigning and lectured everybody on how to use it in their own projects to raise awareness about different causes. Avaaz.org is a true success, they managed 1.4 million people to sign a petition to Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tibet, calling “restraint and respect for human rights” and the opening of “meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama.”

But the true highlight of the day has been performance by award-wining English comedian Francesca Martinez who has a physical disability (but prefers to describe herself as “wobbly”). She reached much resonance with the participants by telling how stand-up comedy truly made her accept herself for what she is. She herself says: “By measuring myself against the society I lost every time and that is why I came out with my own set of values. That is really liberating.” It is fascinating how can a struggle with disability relate to racism issues - many participants truly connected with this.

It is beautiful that there is no sign of intolerance here - people truly create bonds and there is no problem of Bahranian playing guitar in duet with British/Russian guy who lives in Argentina with a Global Choir backing them up.