Originally published on the CGS blog on May 30, 2014.
In the Czech Republic lives a 17-year-old civic-minded student named Vojtěch. His teacher Doug describes him as a prodigy and “by far the most gifted and extraordinary natural student leader that I have ever had the pleasure to meet,” claiming he has the makings of a transformative leader.
However, Vojtěch, like most humanitarians at one point or another, questions whether or not he actually has the ability to make a difference in the world.
Doug recently asked Vojtěch, “If you could save the world, would you?” He immediately replied, “Yes, absolutely, but where should I start?”
For Vojtěch’s birthday this year, Doug sought to help him answer this question by collecting letters from 18 different leading social and humanitarian advocates around the world. He contacted organizations such as the World Policy Institute, the National Coalition for the Homeless, the Nonviolent Peace Force, and GlobalSolutions.org, asking participants to complete the following statement: “If I were you and wanted to invest my life in saving humanity, I would…”
As you may expect, he received a wide range of responses with many different suggestions on what sorts of problems to tackle. All of the messages to Vojtěch are available for you to read, but here are a few excerpts:
GlobalSolutions.org’s President and CEO Don Kraus says,
…the checks and balances that effective democratic governance has promised to provide has not kept up with the challenges we face. Simply put, the system of international laws, norms and institutions we have fashioned are not up to the urgency of problems we have created. The UN and other international organizations are hampered by a democratic deficit limits their accountability, credibility and effectiveness. This must be addressed… Such an enterprise would need to go beyond the kinds of reforms already being considered, but would take into account the nature of the world you find yourself in…
Other letters encouraged Vojtěch to pursue issues such as climate change, education, free speech, peacekeeping and nuclear disarmament, hunger and poverty, and labor rights.
There were, however, a few common pieces of advice that these leaders seemed to agree on:
1. Figure out what humanity needs and find a topic you’re passionate about
Richard D. Kahlenberg of the Century Foundation references his father’s book Pursuing Your Purpose, which recommends thinking about a) what critical skills and talents you have to offer, b) what excites and motivates you, and c) what the needs of the time are.
As Nikki Silvestri of Green for All says, “Find what moves you—what could someone hurt or destroy that would break your heart? Then spend your life protecting and helping that thing to thrive. It will bring you joy, and that will touch everyone around you.”
2. Develop and broaden your mind
In order to do this, Kathleen Rest of the Union of Concerned Scientists recommends the following:
- Study hard and get a well-rounded education
- Become proficient in several languages (especially English and German).
- Read voraciously – both inside and outside your field of study. Follow the news and read fiction.
- Travel as much as you can to increase your appreciation and understanding of different cultures and ways of doing things.
- Be bold. Ask questions, and don’t be satisfied with “that won’t work” or “but this is how we always do it.”
- Experiment and try new things.
- Dare to dream and think big.
3. Collaborate
Julia Chambers of the National Coalition for the Homeless claims that through collaboration, you can achieve anything you set your mind to. “It is so important to learn from the work that others are doing and have done in your field,” she says. “Build a network of like-minded advocates to see real change.”
Yvette Alberdingk Thijm of the WITNESS team suggests:
Talk to the people around you. Seek out organizations and individuals who you feel are doing important work internationally, and offer your services as a volunteer, an intern, an employee. You may not be able to go to Syria right now and capture the stories of injustice that occur, but you can support others to do so through your efforts. Always think critically about these organizations. Learn from what they are doing, the approaches they are taking, and the things that seem to be effective.
And finally:
4. Never give up
Charlie Kernaghan of the Institute for Global Labour and Human rights claims, “Almost no one finds their passion the first time, or even the 20th time. But if you have patience to grow, explore, love, study, work, and be truthful to yourself—you will find your mission.”
Heather McGhee of Demos adds that, “A life lived with purpose is an immeasurably satisfying one, and when you discover that your personal sense of purpose aligns with creating a better world, there is no limit to the amount of joy you can experience.”
To wrap up with something useful for all the Vojtěchs out there:
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
—Margaret Mead
Do you have any advice for Vojtěch? Please share your thoughts with him in the comment section below.
