Meet a Changemaker (2)

Friday, 28 November 2008 | posted by Matt_BC
Activism, CAPs (Community Action Programmes), Guildford 2008, WEF Davos 2008

Inspired, motivated and changing the world

Hello all, my name is Gillion Bosman, I am a 20 year old student at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa. I am currently doing a social sciences degree in politics and sociology. During the month of January 2008 I was selected by the British Council to attend the Guidlford Forum in the United Kingdom. At this fantastic forum I met 59 young people from all over the world. We spent the week getting know each other and exploring our activism, the challenges we face, the solutions we have and most importantly learning about each others worlds. The support at the conference made this so easy and before I say anything more I would like to say thank you to the Davos-UK TEAM, many of whom you are bound to meet: Felicity, Louise, Caroline, Matt, Gillian, Yasko, Asania and Ben. You are the ones who made the most amazing week of our lives possible. And I have not forgotten the architects that stimulated us all, Linda Gaskill and John Martin.

Before the Guidlford forum I was involved in various community projects and the opportunity to spend a week debating, dancing and singing with likeminded individuals was the right medicine for me. I was excited at the prospect of learning from those around the world. The forum provided us to explore issues we feel passionate about and also share best practices with those around the world. I can truly say I am now more aware of global events, I keep up with the news and I have a better understanding of global citizenship. The other participants at the East Horsely helped me strengthen my commitment to making this world a better place. They helped me work in a team, while Linda and John challenged me to develop my potential as an individual. Working with this group of amazing young people changed my life and allowed me to see that we are not living in a vacuum and the world has become so interconnected through globalisation. The Guildford Sixty are the ones that reignited my youthful idealism and showed me that we are able to change the world if we are committed, passionate, imaginative and have the resources.

The week was not all spent in the conference halls of East Horsley, we took needed time out for long walks to get to know each other and I am happy to say that the pool competitions provided an excellent space to get to know each other and relax. Whether the boys were teaching the girls how to play or Mimi used all “her tools” at once we had fun. I remember my favourite activity was making the videos. Not all of the participants came across as articulate and well spoken and for some of us English was our second or third language but we were patient and listened to people’s ideas to get the best out of the week. It was always a reality that we had to select Six people to represent the group at the World Economic Forum in Davos but by the second day we had forgotten about Davos and just wanted to learn from each other.
As the week drew to a close we were all so relaxed in each other’s company, we joked about everything. Whether it was Sanya losing her room keys or Jossetta telling us about the “ beautiful beaches” they have in Sierra Leone we all knew we had to vote.

The election of the Davos Six was the worst part of the week but I was happy with the fact that I have made the most amazing friends and I am going to walk away with lifelong friends. I was satisfied with the learning and eager to get back home to implement the new ideas. But I was fortunate to be selected by the group as one of the individuals to represent the group at the WEF. I am honoured at the confidence shown in me and proud to be part of the Davos Six. If there is one thing I would like the incumbent Guildford Sixty to know is that this forum is not about going to Davos. It’s not about lobbying people to choose you. It is about exploring your activism, igniting your passion and challenging your peers. If you make Davos the prize then you are depriving yourself of the most amazing learning opportunity in your life.

Once ready for the Davos session Whitney, Juan, Nick, Rahdeena, Yunan and I formed an unbreakable bond. We shared the same anxiety when confronted by cameras, press and the Swiss army but we stood our ground and as Rahdeena would say we used “ The Future Shifts: The Voice of the Next Generation” session as our chance to speak truth to power. Before Guildford my challenge for the world leaders was that they must engage with young people and make us part of the decision making process. This is the same thing I said at the Davos forum. I was happy to be supported by Emma Thompson, Becky Anderson and Madam Ogata. The Davos session gave us an opportunity to give the voice of the next generation. A voice so desperately needed at all levels of decision-making.

On my return home I started broadening my involvement, Asanda and I are now working with our local British Council to manage a schools climate change project. We also helped them organise the WEF Africa youth discussions and were happy to host Greenwich alumni, Aida Rommeli, Chanda Ghoora and Guildford alumni Nick Henderson and Oumayma Boulla. The week in Cape Town allowed us to regionalise the discussion and also to further explore our global partnerships. At this meeting Nick and I developed the idea of broadening Youth End Poverty (YEP-a project Nick was already running in Dundee) which is now a charity operating in South Africa, Scotland, and we are setting up YEP in England, Uganda, Zambia and Washington. We are engaged in discussion with investment banks about our micro-finance YEP Bank that will make loans available to young entrepreneurs. As I am writing this we are planning the biggest AIDS conference in the United Kingdom with the Scottish Minister for Public Health Ms Shona Robinson attending. I can tell you one thing none of this would have been possible if the British Council did not bring us together at Guildord and continue to support us afterwards.
 
It has always been my believe that young people are the agents of change and my philosophy for social change is that it starts with you and with all the community work I have been involved with I have always believed that it should start with the individual, then flow to the family/community, the country, region and then the world and this is the same approach we are using for Youth End Poverty.

I would like to also thank Franz Morrissey from the University of Bern who provided us with endless support in Davos, relaxed us with writing exercises and made sure we are comfortable even when he was not there to work. Franz you made it possible for us to focus on our strengths and your jokes and songs are the most amazing. To Yasko our mommy, Allice who made sure we are on radio, TV and in the news. I would also like to mention that Franz organised a visit to the Davos Middle School and when Nick, Rahdeena and Yunan met with Gordon Brown. Juan, Whitney and I met with the most amazing students at the school. They were not involved in their school and were oblivious to the WEF and a bit irritated at it. But they were amazed that we were there and talking about issues pertinent to young people. After inviting them to become active in their community and school and to join us on the road to Davos I am happy to report that after speaking to Andrea from the School they have now set up their own Student Council and they have proven that even if we did not change the minds of the WEF we changed the way a school is run. Now this is the last thank you, Emma Thompson. You were an amazing panellist, energetic, compassionate and very youthful but the support you have given us is most encouraging. Thank you for being a friend even after the WEF. Thank you for the e-mails just to check up.
To all of the new members from all over the world, welcome to the family and best wishes for the festive season.

Gillion Bosman

Davos Six 2008