Global Changemakers

I am very fond of Google’s search engine. Well, partly because it’s a wonderful place to start with if you need any assistance in quickly finishing off your home assignment; but more so because on quite a lot of occasions, it leads you through links-courtesy that vast web of global interconnection- to places that enables you to be a part of something that completely spins your life off to a wonderful new direction. It did for me.

I do not how I happened to browse through British Council Philippines website, where I read an experience write-up by Jason, a Global Changemakers alumni, about the amazing week he had in what he called the ‘Guildford Forum’ in London. As I read through his piece, with both a bit of reservation (I mean, how can I, from a small corner of this world, ever be a part of it? No Chance!) and curiosity, on how youth of my age got together –shared and devised solutions to  global concerns.

It’s exactly a year later today as I write this blog for the Global Changemakers; and after having participated in this year’s Guildford Forum myself, I cannot possibly agree more with Jason- this is certainly a life changing experience.

Over the fantastic week we had in the UK, we learnt many things that was new, and yet very important in our quest for changing our community for the better.  The 58 of us, who were a part of the 2009 Guildford legion, shared our activism, the problems we were facing and tried to seek suggestions within ourselves for minimizing those problems. I still remember Linn and Andrew sharing how their autocratic administration is very vigilant over agents causing change, and their involvement despite the difficulties they are facing. Nur- from Pakistan- told us about the poor state of women and children in the local Nathyagalli- and how she goes there every year to help them. Leo, from China, held a Patent for a water purification system that he invented. David- who had a friend who visited Nepal not very long ago- was a environmental activist from Canada whose outstanding environmental conservation initiative had already been recognized. Katherine’s stance on promoting gay rights through mass awareness stint as well as Sofia’s work to promote multiculturalism and creativity were very interesting. Elsabe’s articulate standpoint on helping the poor orphans in Namibia, despite any hindrances that might come on her way, was amazing. Each one of us had at least one unique, inspiring experience to share and this was what made the Guildford Forum incredible.

I have now returned from my trip to the UK, completely motivated and rejuvenated to continue my education project ‘Minimally Invasive Education’ and take it to the next level. It was just last year that we started the project after realizing the need for instilling quality, effective and life-long education amongst the Nepali students, which we believe is so central to any efforts to usher this country in the path of development. We were funded by Save the Children USA for a year and supported by the Nepal Government for our initiative, and now, with added financial and moral support from Global Changemakers, we are expanding to two more schools- one in the Kathmandu valley and the other in a remote school of Lamjung District, which is about 400 kilometers North-West of Kathmandu city. In the forum, some of us also got together and devised a Mentor and Tutor Program, which we will all be doing in our own countries under one common umbrella- a small example of countless benefits that we garnered from the forum.

Certainly, we all have big plans. Personally, I do not know, as yet, if Minimally Invasive Education concept will be emulated in all the Nepali schools throughout the country nor do I know if its Mentor and Tutor Program and Beyond Classroom Initiative will be expanded all over the Southern Asia region. But there is one thing I am sure of: anything and everything that we do – no matter if its something to do with environment, human rights, education or poverty- is going to contribute in some way or the other to make this place a lot better place to live in.

And I know for sure that we can ultimately change the world for the better. Go Changemakers!

NIMESH