Global Changemakers

Well, it’s been a week since the WEF and 2 weeks since the Guildford Forum and everybody is back home trying to adjust emotionally and practically. I think although we all keep having flashbacks of certain memories like falling in the snow and feeling a burning sensation in the ear coz some snow managed to get in there and screaming it burns! or having Juan singing songs that are centuries older than him and having him almost lose his voice before a couple of days before the WEF session , We’re also trying to implement what we learned, which I believe is the key point.
However, doing that also has its own challenges – the balancing act of one’s everyday life and all that comes with, something very well pointed out by Atulya: "i really want to get into action after what i learnt (greatly inspired) by u all.. but there is a big barrier.. the SCHOOL..the TEACHERS..the FAMILY".  This is a challenge that we all face in one way or the other and like we were sharing ideas in Guildford, I’d like us to share ideas on how one can successfully balance activism and one’s ‘life’.

Once again, showing that it was not a mistake that you were selected to go to Guildford, Jason has a already made points that I was gonna make, one being to make your activism part of your everyday life – link it to your work or school/varsity:  "when i was in high school, i make sure that my projects involve some of my teachers, either as coach or advisors so that i wouldn’t have a hard time explaining to all the other teachers. they usually give considerations. balancing school and extra-curricular activities is challenging. but i learned one important thing, and that is to leverage. i learned how to tie-up with other organizations (also student-led) to divide the work. i also make sure we have well planned, well- assigned and well-scheduled tasks. don’t hold meetings if you can simply post the information on the yahoogroups, or text them. and one more thing, it is also very important to keep your team motivated, so long as they are passionate about your cause, they’ll find a way to devote some time in your work."
I can back this up because when i was in varsity and was on the student council i made my activism to fight for the needs of students with disabilities and because i could easily link it with being a student leader, i managed to push a lot of buttons and step on so many toes my university changed from being on the most disability unfriendly institutions to one of themost advance because i knew who to put pressure on to get the R14million to make the necessary cahnges and boy did they know me at the end!
So, it’s doable.
Jiahui also make a very interesting point for those who’ll be leaving school or even leaving the country to study abroad but would still like  to do something: "I’m joining current organizations and hope to contribute with ideas and effort, rather than initiating new ones. It’s a nice balance for me between what I love, what I’m passionate about, and what I have to do to continue doing what I love and what I’m passionate about. "

Remember we briefly talked about this in one of the sessions in Guildford; the idea of joining existing organisations, provided you feel they understand what you’d like to achieve and take you seriously.
So,  if you have innovative solutions of how you can let the activist in you live while you’re achieving your long term goals like studying, share with us. Afterall the theme of this year’s WEF was ‘Collaborative Innovation’
much love,
Asania