The WEF 2010 Countdown: Q&A with Carmina (3)

What was your first reaction when you found out you’d been chosen to go to Davos?
I was really excited and humbled! I smiled and jumped around a few times. Then I had the urge to buy a massive suitcase so that I could stuff in all the other 54 Changemakers and bring them to Davos with us because I miss them and they all deserve to go just as much.

What are your hopes for Davos?
I hope that the youth’s voice in Davos is one that world leaders would be willing to listen to and begin to base their decisions on.

What are your fears for Davos?
Perhaps my biggest fear is that I would forget to get across an idea that another Global Changemaker had.

In which area would you want to see more youth engagement?
It would be wonderful to see youth passionately involved in any area, really. The youth’s voice is powerful enough that regardless of which field it finds its way in, it would have a significant impact. I believe that’s what our world needs.

How can you make this happen?
A branch of the CAP I’m currently working on with some Changemakers actually focuses largely on using the media as a tool to influence the mindsets of teenagers about poverty issues. Apart from this, however, I believe that passion is contagious and so if we as Changemakers are able to convey our passion through our words and actions we would be able to collectively encourage youth engagement!

What will the world look like in 2050?
That’s a tricky question. What I envision is a world with all the technological means to carry out nearly any task. I believe that the main issue would be regulating the use of technology to ensure that they are used in poverty, climate change, and all the different areas we’re involved in.

If you become the new UN General Secretary, what would be the first thing you’d do?
I would push for more monetary support to be given to NGOs and launch a program similar to Global Changemakers but without an age restraint. This would be the best starting block to make changes immediately.

What quality do you like most about yourself?
Hahaha, this question is really hard to answer! I would probably say that an attribute I have that I would like to maintain is that I’m quite an open-minded listener who’s willing to remodel an opinion based on new information.

If you could invite three historical figures for dinner, who would they be, and why?

  • Gandhi: I admire how he was able to bring political change peacefully.
  • Einstein:  He seems like an interesting person to talk to who never runs out of ideas.
  • Hitler: I’m interested in finding out about how the mind of such a radical individual works. It would also be nice to have such a man juxtaposed with wonderful people like Gandhi and Einstein. Hopefully he’ll regret implementing his ideals. I want to attempt to change his outlook.

If you bump into Bono or Queen Rania in the elevator, what do you say?
I would use the ’27 second pitch’ technique! I would also tell them that I admire their dedication to charity work and hope that they would continue to use their influence to reach out to more individuals.