Global Changemakers

During the World Economic Forum on Latin America I remember John Martin asking me what were my motivations or the reasons that made me an activist.  I took a few minutes to answer that I had two very special facts that turned me into what I am.  First of all it was my parent’s origins and past followed by one month during highschool that I will never forget.  At the age of 17 I led a strike against corrupted authorities in my school.  It was the second longest students’ led strike in the history of my nation.  It changed my life forever.  I can say I became a Changemaker after that.
 

Always leading our way, John and Francesca.

One more time, I was blessed to have the chance of representing the glorious GCMs in an amazing Summit organized by the World Bank Institute.  The name couldn’t explain it better: “VOICES AGAINST CORRUPTION”. Fifty outstanding young people from all over the world (leaders, journalists, and musicians) gathered together to say “Corruption, you’re in serious danger”.  It is one of the most innovative approaches that I know about and guess what: youth is the protagonist!

 
Since the very first moment I arrived to Brussels and met the GCM group composed by Francesca Martonffy, John Martin, and Nadia Siraj; I knew this experience would be amazing!  It’d be boring to tell these three people titles (which are very important but can’t even get close to show their true magnitude as individuals).  They’re just in a different level, where titles are just badges that cover the singular capacity of reaching your heart, touching it and showing you how much more you can do (something they do adding your life with tons of inspiration and life examples).  This is not only about them but about all the GCM team in Berna and all over the world!  In addition, I met two fellows Changemakers that are literally changing the world from their countries, Mohammed Al Bous and Mohammed Saeed. Yup the “Ms” rule! (you can ask Mousa if you don’t believe me haha he’ll tell you)

 
The sessions were very interesting.  Some of them were video conferences were groups from different corners of the world could participate. We also had videoconferences with people from the World Bank in Washington and we had the chance of participate in great workshops where learning was something easy.

I was the youngest of all the participants which was a privilege and like John told me once, with privilege comes responsibility.  So there I was, a baby among a great youth that dedicated their lives to fight corruption.  I can’t compare myself in any sense with them.  They were from outer space.  I listened to most of their stories and speechless is just the right way of making a comment that’s up to their actions.  It is one thing to talk about the reality in which you live and how you’re trying to change that.  It is a very different thing to listen to so many experiences and say HEY! we share common things even though we tackle it in different ways and we could try to formulate a new strategy from that situation. 

I make family wherever I go, maybe because I try to open my heart as much as I can to different people and be honest with them.  Some of these people stole my heart crossing it by this bridge called passion for their countries and the link named fight against corruption.  I belong to my country and as I told them during my speech, I will change it, with my life or with my death (and I know they will do the same).
 

I didn’t sleep a lot nor did most of the participants.  We were talking about corruption, it was energy draining but luckily we had AMAZING BELGIUM CHOCHOLATE mixed in the snacks we had during the breaks.  YUP YOU CAN BE JEALOUS! Haha! BUT you must know that we did our best to represent the Global Changemakers like you deserve and I think we did it!
 
OH!! FRANCESCA, in order to wake up people during the Summit, LED A WORLD WIDE SHAKEOUT!!! JOHN MUST BE REALLY PROUD!! Hehe..  She facilitated one of the sessions one morning and we were connected to at least 4 other countries through a videoconference (I remember the groups connected through the videoconference were huge, like 20 participants) and yes! they stood up and made the SHAKEOUT!!

Shake it! Shake it! The Changemakers shake it!! Woohoo!! hahaha
 

Representing the Summit group in a concert.

Let me showcase some things I found out during the Summit:

• A British DJ and an Arabic singer, the Dj doesn’t speak Arabic, the singer doesn’t speak English but somehow it just works, they work together and they just rock the stage!
• Bands from different parts of the world, with different rhythms and melodies and yet they could make a song in three days.  “Together against corruption”!
• Want to get your message across then speak an universal language that reaches everyone.  Use music!
• Young people are not scared of going against kings, politicians or anyone who threatens them for their fight for justice.  Even if that mean their lives are in risk.  In fact, they want to take their initiatives to higher levels aiming for a better future for their people.

I mean, do I really have to paint the whole picture for you after telling those facts?

Brussels was amazing!! Ok, they don’t have mango juice but yeah.. that’s ok!

Are you interested about fighting corruption?  Are you sick and tired of people that is taking the benefits while the rest suffers in poverty, hunger and pain? Join us at http://www.voices-against-corruption.org or at our community at NING( http://www.voices-against-corruption.ning.com).

Would you like to see the videos featuring what we did during the Summit?  Watch http://www.youtube.com/user/voicesagainstcorrupt

WE NEED MORE CHANGEMAKERS TO FIGHT CORRUPTION.  LET’S DO IT! TOGETHER AGAINST CORRUPTION!

- David Riveros Garcia, Global Changemaker