If you are among the applicants, make sure not only to check your Inbox but also your Junk mail, since the notification message may be filtered by overzealous spam filters.

Thank you for your patience! Only a couple more days…

A quick “Dummies Guide” to Fasting (Ramadan)

1. Muslims fast for 30 days from Dawn to Dusk without food or water.
2. It is a time to contemplate and be thankful for what we are given.
3. It also teaches us restraint over mind and body.
4. The Quran (Holy Book) was revealed during this month.
5. The money saved is donated to the poor

As for the office team… were all back …

Fran arrived yesterday, cheerful as ever, with all her stories from the US: flat tyres, tantrums, dresses, strange people…the usual, I guess… this is Fran were talking about…

Gaby is also back… Funnily enough, people in Georgia think she is under 16 years of age… which caused her some problems… On the plus side.. You must have got on the bus for half the price? ( Gaby’s the one in orange.)

Katherine is busy eating everyone’s food without asking… Yes, I did see you taking Matt’s biscuits…

Matt is being his usual self…

Anne is complaining about food … She had some inedible food for lunch yesterday…. At least it makes me feel better for not eating…

The selection for the GYS 2010 will be made some time this week… So good luck to all those who applied… Keep a look out on the website for any delays etc.

Since I will not get a chance to blog again for 4 weeks… I wish everyone a Happy Eid wherever you may be… HAPPY EATING…

From THE Global Changemaker / Intern / Spy / Superman / Muslim / Kashmiri / English
(OK, now I’m fed up with wording up my identity)

As always… message me with any queries or problems.

CSR: Being a fish in the sea

CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) cannot be an optional topping on the corporate pizza; it must be more like the yeast in a loaf of bread. CSR must be a critical component, part of what defines the corporation, not something that is added on and can be done without to save money.

That was the main point Prof. Emil Salim wanted to get across when we sat down to discuss the current state of CSR and corporate sustainability in Indonesia.

Emil is almost a legend in Indonesia. An intensely patriotic Indonesian who developed a taste for Japanese food while living under the harsh conditions of the occupation of WW II, he was educated at University of Indonesia, and went to Berkeley on a scholarship; he came home with a PhD and since then has held various Indonesian ministerial posts, including 10 years as minister for population and the environment.

He is a professor on the Faculty of Economics at his alma mater, University of Indonesia, a member of countless boards, associations and foundations, most doing work on social and environmental sustainability. He is also a member of the Presidential Council of Advisors, where his guidance on issues related to sustainability helps form public policy. Emil is a committed environmentalist, often speaking on the relationship between economics and sustainability; being 80 years old hasn’t slowed him down or eroded his commitment.

That CSR needs to be an inherent part of any corporate culture was the main message he wanted to deliver. For sustainability itself to be sustainable, Emil argues that the sense of social responsibility must be embedded in the corporation’s DNA; sustainability must be an inherent component of every corporate activity.

Hugh Collett, a teacher at the Jakarta International School, is another committed environmentalist. He is in the process of developing a “sustainability village” that will be a model of sustainable living; it is to be an educational resource as well as a practical example of how life can be carried on while leaving a minimal footprint. Emil is on the board of directors of the foundation created to manage the village.

Collett argues that if sustainability is not inherent in a corporate culture, bureaucracy and other structural issues can be a hurdle. How important is corporate commitment? “That…depends on how willing such corporations are prepared to ‘walk the talk’. In my experience, promoting my own environmental initiative of an educational eco village, talking is easier than walking (and less expensive!),” he says.

As to the practical implementation of the concepts, CSR consultant and university lecturer Patrick Guntensperger, another member of the board of Collett’s village, insists that sustainability decision-making must be at the highest possible level of the corporate structure. “At the very minimum, there should be an executive vice president with the word ‘sustainability’ featuring prominently in the job description. Of course, a committed board of directors is vital too.”

What he is getting at is that for sustainability to be a prime criterion for corporate decision-making to become habitual, the process must be overseen by someone with the highest possible authority and sustainability as a core value. Emil also adds to this point. “The technology is there. What we need is the will to make it happen, and that is the decision of the board of directors.”

A perfect example of this is Body Shop. Dame Anita Roddick, its founder, was known for championing the unconventional way of doing business by promoting its ethical aspects. She famously summarized the company’s way of doing business: “The business of business should not just be about money, it should be about responsibility. It should be about public good, not private greed.”

Indeed, Body Shop took part in numerous campaigns that embrace sustainability, “Our Incredible Planet” being one of them, since the establishment of its first store in 1976. The company’s mission statement also strongly emphasizes sustainability; the corporation strives to “courageously ensure that our business is ecologically sustainable, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future.” As for its products, without promoting sustainability and protection of the planet, Body Shop is just simply not Body Shop.

Collett also points out that the main roadblock to sustainability issues is actually a moral issue. “In essence, I believe that human selfishness and prevailing attitudes based on greed, self-interest, and ignorance are the root of the difficulties”. Nevertheless, with more and more corporations including CSR as a fundamental aspect of their style of business, things seem to be changing.

The key to implement CSR effectively, therefore, Emil argues, is that corporations must build a symbiotic relationship with the society of which the corporation is part. “You must be the fish in a sea, in which the fish and the sea are interlinked; not as an island, detached from the sea. The role of CSR is building that relationship of being the fish in a sea.”

Ghian Tjandaputra, 20, is a Global Changemaker from Indonesia. He is a youth advisor to the Indonesian delegation in COP15. Reach him at ghian.tjandaputra@hotmail.com or on Twitter: @ghiankr

This article was first published by The Jakarta Post.

Are you a member of the http://www.global-changemakers.net  community? Do you have something to say?  Send your blog entries to me!      The best entries will be published on Mondays’ Speakers’ Corner.  (Blog   entries should be submitted as Word documents. Please attach   any   pictures you have separately.)

The NewMe SmokeFree initiative is a partnership between the Oslo Cancer Cluster and the Young Global Leaders -a community of the World Economic Forum-. The 2010 World Economic Forum Global Risk Report, ranked the rise of chronic diseases as the second most severe of all identified risks for our global population. The single most important factor to prevent chronic diseases is to stop using tobacco. The Global Changemakers who work on anti-smoking campaigns will work together with the Young Global Leaders and the CEO of the Oslo Cancer Cluster to come up with innovative solutions to prevent children from smoking and to help smokers quit. One of the ideas that was presented at the launch of the program is an antismoking iPhone application. Watch this space to find out more about this promising partnership. And send us any ideas you have to prevent young people from smoking!

“I would like to say thank you again and again first to be a member of Darecha family real am proudly of it, the knowledge that I have got during the training its unique I will never thought such a thing I would like to say thanks to Darecha was made me. The knowledge and experience about entrepreneurship, life skills in all how to share idea with others there a lot brothers… Right now am prepared for form six national exams in all I would like thanks again and again” by James Aloyce, Finalist Darecha 2010

In 2010, Darecha brought together 20 talented finalists from a pool of hundreds of applicants from all over Tanzania. They were very enthusiastic, energetic and passionate to learn entrepreneurship from a team of exceptional young entrepreneurs (Edwin, Sifael, Alfred, Ambele and Lusekelo). On 14 August 2010, the day of the Grand Event, finalists presented their business ideas, then three of them were chosen by a panel of successful entrepreneurs as top winners.

Here is what young entrepreneurs responded on their experience with Darecha:

Gloria Nkane, the first winner of Darecha 2010 who presented the idea of starting a company that will supply water from deep bore well with the use of solar panel said:

“I was so much excited and my heart was full of happiness when it was announced that I won the contest as a number one winner. At first, I did not believe that it was me who won the contest! My whole family was very happy for my success. Now I know that nothing is impossible. Thank you DARECHA for your commitments to the Youth. Thanks and regards.”

Sylvester Chigwala, the second winner who presented the idea of installing Solar Panels in his community had the following to share:

“I’m glad I did participate in this challenge as it has unleash some entrepreneurial potentials in me, which I believe is most important thing in making positive changes in my society and making further step forward toward becoming an entrepreneur. My gratitude thanks to all the DARECHA team, the founder of the competition Mr. Julius Shirima and the sponsors of the challenge British Council and Global Changemakers for making the competition possible.”

Lastly, Ester Minja, the third winner who presented the idea of establishing high quality and profitable public toilets in the cities had the following good news to share with us:

“I’m so happy for being the winner I would likes to thank the Almighty GOD for giving me health and confidence to participate and present at the competition, also I thank my guardian,my friends for supporting me when I was thinking about this competition. Last but not least to all DARECHA team.”

Finally, Darecha team would like to thank all participants, guests and individuals who contributed to the success of this year project. We thank you British Council-Global Changemakers for trusting us. We promise to always produce excellent results. Soon Darecha will launch the first ever “entrepreneurial magazine for youth” in Tanzania, we look forward to receive your support in this send us your ideas or connections at applications@darecha.org

—Julius James Shirima, Global Changemaker

With the guidance and coaching of an ICRC communication specialist, selected candidates will produce a news report on their mission—in print or film—to be published and/or shown in a variety of media outlets. The finished products will be presented during a ceremony held in Geneva, Switzerland, around May 8, 2011.

Check out the details on the ICRC website.

It’s that time of year again… FUNDING for your Projects…

The call for applications will take place between 1-15 September 2010.

As many of you are aware, we take applications for CAPs (Community Action Projects) twice a year. However, this year we have made an exception and will ALSO be taking applications for RAPs (Regional Action Projects) and GAPs (Global Action Projects)…THIS IS A ONE-OFF OPPORTUNITY… Amazing news right?

Most of you will be wondering: what is the difference between a CAP and a GAP/ RAP?

GAPs and RAPs are large-scale events or campaigns, reaching out to a large and varied audience and aiming to raise awareness on an issue while inspiring youth to become active. There must be at least four Global Changemakers working on each GAP or RAP project. Remember the GAP and RAP application will be a ONE time only opportunity for Changemakers that have taken part in summits OTHER than the LACYS 2010.

Community Action Project, or CAP: perhaps the most integral part of Global Changemakers is that the Changemakers are invited to design and run their own Community Action Projects. These CAPs complement and deepen the engagement begun at youth forums and ensure the sustainability of the programme. They are supported by the British Council by means of seedcorn funding and mentoring.

Check out our CAPs Map to see some of the projects we are currently funding.

SO… how to apply? 

To apply for projects you need to find the link to the online application form on our guidelines. We recommend that you use our tools to design your project (check out the CAPS section - note that you need to be registered and logged in!) and to check out the sample forms we have on how to fill an application.

All the projects we support must:

• Lead to measurable, positive change in your community 
• Develop mutual trust and understanding within and between different groups in society 
• Help to foster positive attitudes and behaviours in society 
• Create greater awareness of important issues and problems

Questions? Send me an e mail, I’d be happy to answer them! 

Gaby

P.S.: Please note that you need to be a full Global Changemaker in order to apply for CAP, RAP or GAP funding - that is, you must have taken part in one of our summits. If you are a member of the community and have signed up on the website but have not taken part in a summit, you cannot apply for funding!