"Be the change you want to see" M. Gandhi
In the morning, the program was explained in detail. The participants got really curious about what would happen during the day.
At the end of the day participants have started working on their own projects or on a project they like. It was very motivating to start the journey with this aim.
During the time of personal presentations we got to know each other better and strengthened the collective feeling. We shared expectations and motivations and learned from all the people participating...Who is here?
People with diverse backgrounds have one interest in common: to get inspired and to exchange ideas to create social change. Many people want to start new social projects right after the end of the summit, others to exchange ideas. The main question that arised was how to put good ideas into action.
We played a card game, called Barnga. This game simulated situations that we might face in future teamwork. Only non-verbal communication was allowed, thus everything had to be expressed by mimics, gestures and sounds. We only could hear people laughing during the activity. Through this experience we understood the importance of good and precise communication.
In the afternoon we built collective ideas. Concepts like social entrepreneurship and sustainability were developed in small groups. In this process, we realized that everyone has the qualities to be a changemaker. You don’t have to be extraordinary to become active!
Sustainable projects should…
… start with a good idea which is supported by appropriate knowledge and a well structured business plan. It is crucial to find a good team which is willing to overcome difficulties.
… aim at positive social and environmental impact without ignoring economical sustainability.
… shape innovative ideas based on good communication and consider the impact on society.
After lunch, we had the chance to listen to 2 experts who are engaged in their society.
Franklin works in Brazil and Switzerland raising awareness about multinational's practices which go against the interest of the society. He referred to San Lorenzo in Brazil where Nestlé bought areas rich in water resources with the aim of selling bottled water, limiting the access to these resources to the local population and even going against Brazilian laws. Franklin told us about how the community of San Lorenzo gathered and raised awareness in Brazil and in Switzerland to highlight Nestlé’s activity. The protest led to the closure of the bottle company.
However, there were lots of obstacles: he and his organization were victims of a spying campaign ran by Nestlé. The case was brought to court in Switzerland. A description of the case is written in the book "Affaire Classée".
The second inspiring speaker was Olivier, an entrepreneur coming from Belgium. He started working in social projects at university and identified a big interest of young people in social issues. He gave us some tips:
- Just start! Many things about social projects can be learned on the way.
- Recognize society’s needs and create a way to solve them.
- It is important to invest in team building.
- Evaluate results.
After all these advices and inspiring examples, it was time to follow one's own intuition and start new initiatives!
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