By Dennis Shaughnessy
On April 23, the Social Enterprise Institute had the great pleasure of hosting John Wood, founder of Room to Read, and Nick Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, Pulitzer Prize winners and authors of “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” for a panel discussion, moderated by Sheila Mercado, founder of Care.com. The session was focused on the importance of child literacy and empowerment as an escape route from poverty, particularly for young girls in the developing world. I thought I would briefly share some of the insights from John, Nick and Sheryl, for everyone but especially for students and soon-to-be graduates. I’ve taken the liberty to add my own thoughts to the core ideas offered by John, Nick and Sheryl.
1. Be an “action figure”. There’s a reason why kids want to play with action figures, not talking ones. Too many people only study and discuss poverty and the pathways out. Talk and study is an important first step, but it’s not enough. Let’s all dig in and do the things that it takes to actually make change, starting today.
2. Travel off the beaten path. Don’t just study abroad or travel in and to London or Paris. Go and visit the villages and cities of Africa, Asia and the rest of the developing world to see how billions of people live their lives and overcome challenges unique to growing up and being poor, disadvantaged or disempowered. To have a complete world view and to be a true global citizen, you need to experience life as it is at the base of the pyramid.
3. Get (stuff) done! Start by taking action to make positive change in the world. Don’t overthink it, just get going! There is so much to do to make the world a fairer or more just world, and it begins with small, specific and concrete steps that can make the world better for one person, one child, today.
4. Make the sale. Often people working for or on behalf of non-profits are reluctant to push too hard for the donation, investment or other commitment. If the cause and the enterprise is deserving of support in your judgment, make the case with others, and make it happen.
5. Build social change into your everyday life. You don’t need to give up a career in finance to be a person who commits to making the world a better place; you can have an impact in many small ways every day. It only takes $250 to send a girl in India to school for one year, you and your friends can find a way to make that happen in a heartbeat!
6. Pay it (education) forward. When it comes to education, most of us have been very fortunate to have access to great schools and teachers. Recognizing that student loans are often a big burden, and the job market isn’t what it should be—still, one day consider returning the favor of a great education, investing in the education of just one other person. Social enterprises like Room to Read and Lumni offer great ways to do just that.
7. Stand up for women and girls. There are tens of millions of “missing” girls and women around the world, women and girls are trafficked and enslaved, and every day millions of girls are denied access to school, work and community. All of us, especially men, must be a champion for women and girls, especially those that are disadvantaged, marginalized or mistreated.
8. Be an optimist! We have seen great progress in the last two decades in reducing poverty and disease, in increasing literacy rates and creating opportunity where it never existed before. There is reason to celebrate! At the same time, there is a long way yet to go, and we know that with the will to finish the job it can be done in our lifetime. Positive, optimistic and passionate people can and will rid the world of poverty and all that goes with it.
9. Make an impact near and far. Many of us focus on global development issues because that is where the greatest good can be achieved at the lowest cost. In other words, it’s more efficient to focus on literacy, poverty alleviation and empowerment in a poor country in Africa—we can often see greater progress for fewer dollars where the need is greatest. However, we should always consider the opportunities to make change and have an impact at home, in the neighborhoods close by. We can work for change in the Annawadi slum of Mumbai and at the same time volunteer at Haley House right here in Roxbury.
10. Explore and discover the world of social enterprise. There’s seemingly a new social enterprise or social venture popping up every day, and many are not only innovative but exciting. Consider the organization College Advising Corps (CAC), introduced to us by John Wood, who sits on the organization’s Board of Directors. CAC partners with academic institutions to help train recent college graduates to be college guidance counselors in underserved high schools around the country. Like Teach for America, one of the most successful social enterprises in education, CAC presents young people with the opportunity to make a difference, now.
Congratulations to the Northeastern University Class of 2014!
(Please note that this article was not reviewed or endorsed by John Wood, Nick Kristof or Sheryl Wu Dunn.)
