Gates is working hard on major global issues of Education and Healthcare. Instead of spreading money over many, many causes, he focuses on these key factors and is a huge believer in education. On healthcare, he believes that by 2025 people will not have to die from Malaria, which is currently a leading cause of death in the developing world.
The philosophy is simple: it’s all about ridding the world of inequality. This is something we can all do, on different scales.
How does Bill Gates make such a substantial impact? Besides his huge financial wealth (plus the 31 Billion donated by Warren Buffet), he consults scientists when deciding where to invest, and hopes that in the long-run some of his investment will pay off as successful vaccines and cures, for example.
Mashable posted a detailed article called Bill Gates’ Plan for Fixing the World that summarizes what Gates is trying to do, his advice, and some of his thoughts on the financial crisis.
Gates gave an interesting TED Talk recently relating to these issues, which you can watch below [direct link]:
December 24, 2008 Daniel Francavilla GLOBAL VOICES
Today, innocent children are dying due to poverty around the world – one every two seconds. Yet, on Black Friday, a Wal-Mart worker in the United States was trampled to death by consumers rushing to retail sales.
The impending financial disaster is creating a perfect storm for non-profit organizations trying to aid those in poverty, as donations decline while the need for help rises.
ShareLife, the Archdiocese of Toronto’s charity, is one group stepping forward with programs responding to the increased social services demand.
“The Catholic organizations in the Archdiocese are very involved in helping the most needy,” says Archbishop Thomas Collins. “I’m particularly aware of their great need of resources to help the poor in need. I encourage people in the Archdiocese to support them more than ever.”
Charities face the same stress as many companies, banks and businesses.
The Vancouver Foundation is the largest of Canada’s 165 community foundations and supports about 600 charities per year.
The organization’s president, Faye Wightman, says that “many of these non-profit (organizations) are the last stop for thousands of people … who get hit by larger economic forces and find themselves teetering on the edge.”
Unfortunately, while need increases, economic uncertainty creates a large barrier.
“These charities are hit with reduced donations, corporate sponsorships that dry up, and often reduced funding from government and even foundations,” says Wightman.
Despite today’s economic uncertainty, there are organizations that continue to fund projects both locally and overseas. Long-term planning and new strategies can help organizations survive.
Perhaps the economic crisis will spur people to see that our consumer culture has skewed priorities. At the Conference on Social Entrepreneurship at the University of Waterloo this past November, Marc Kielburger offered a simple yet challenging notion: “if we want to change Africa, we have to change North America.”
As affluent people also begin to suffer financially, perhaps their empathy will trigger social change to benefit humanity worldwide.
Daniel Francavilla is currently a university student in Toronto at the Ontario College of Art + Design. From Brampton, Daniel founded a non-profit organization, ACCESS: Allowing Children a Chance at Education, and Speak Up for Change, a youth blog on poverty and education-related issues.
After reading Leaving Microsoft to Change the Worldduring March Break on a family vacation, I was even more inspired to get out there and do something to change the world. The book is by a former Microsoft executive named John Wood, who left a very promising career track to form a charity called Room to Read at age 35.
Leaving Microsoft to Change the World is a memoir written by Room to Read’s Founder and CEO, John Wood, in which he vividly recounts the decision to quit his executive career at Microsoft to dedicate his life to fighting illiteracy worldwide. John describes the struggles and successes that have shaped Room to Read to this day, detailing the founding and infancy of Room to Read, highlighting key characters and defining events, and laying out the lessons – from the business world and his personal experiences – around which John has sought to build Room to Read into one of the world’s leading educational organizations.
John’s charity helps thousands of children across the developing world break the cycle of poverty through the power of education. This is exactly the type of thing I feel so strongly about, and is the main cause ACCESS Charity.
What’s interesting is that we were both inspired by first-hand experiences in the developing world. I went on a high-school exposure trip to the Dominican Republic, and John went to Nepal – originally just as a getaway from his stressful job – but made a promise to the impoverished people he met that he would one day come back with books. And, he did, and has now opened hundreds of schools and thousands of libraries in the developing world.
Still, some people say there are too many charities and non-profits already. But I believe it’s not about the format or structure of how good work is being done, it’s about the fact that everyone needs to do his or her share.
People say they want a revolution. Well, it all starts with you. There are plenty of problems in the world today… climate change, terrorism, war, poverty, disease, economic disparity, hopelessness and more. But you can do something. Here’s what I learned from Leaving Microsoft to Change the World about this:
Don’t spend too much time thinking about it – just dive in.
Yes, there are things in our way like student loans that need to be repaid, advice from advice from family and friends, the need to write a serious plan of action… Do them; just don’t loose momentum on all these obstacles! As with John Wood, people will talk you out of pursuing your dream. Too many people will tell you why something might not work. Stop yourself from thinking, “I don’t live there, it’s not my problem”.
So, when all you’re thinking about is getting through University and hitting it big as a high-powered executive or owning a successful business, just think of John Wood and people like him. John had to make many sacrifices from his high-class life, like downgrading his condo and firing his personal driver, but doing good work for the world has got him on Oprah, CNN, Fox News, National Geographic TV, Time Magazine, Forbes, the New York Times, and many more!
Success isn’t defined by how much money you make. It’s about what you do with your time and money that makes your life worthwhile.
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world!” – Gandhi
Youth Can Move the World is a symposium where youth learn about and become involved in programs focused on creating a world that is socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable. It is designed to encourage and enable youth to engage with community-based organizations to explore opportunities to transform their interests into action through local volunteerism.
The following is a speech read by Daniel Francavilla at the 2008 Symposium in Mississauga, Ontario.
Good morning everyone. My name is Daniel Francavilla, and I am a grade 12 student at St. Marguerite d’Youville Secondary School, and I am also Founder of my own International Agency. More on that in a minute! I am here to tell you about the Agency Fair which will take place over the lunchtime period.
The Agency Fair was created for several reasons. First, it provides an avenue to promote youth volunteerism and it also provides an opportunity for Agencies to showcase to youth their valuable services in our community. This year we have 22 Agencies participating. We would have liked to have included more agencies, but available space kept us to this number.
By volunteering with one of the agencies here today, you can become a leader! You will help to create new knowledge about volunteering for yourself and for future groups and generations following you. Each of these Agencies has agreed to participate in a research study following the Symposium. The purpose of this research is to:
• contribute to the growth in the number of youth who volunteer their time within the community;
• identify some of the barriers to this, and
• determine some ways in which the experience of this engagement can be enhanced for both the youth and the agencies with which they volunteer.
We will share our research findings with all participating youth and agencies. We will be asking all youth who sign up for volunteer opportunities here at the Fair to sign a “request for release of information” form to enable us to follow up with you and the agencies later about your experiences.
Now to the prizes!
When you registered you were given a ‘passport’. When you visit the agencies, you need to take some time to speak with the staff and volunteers and learn about their good work. They, in turn, will validate your passport. The youth that have visited the most agency booths will have a chance at winning prizes. It’s a simple as that.
So, we invite each and everyone one of you to explore the agency booths, learn more about them, and of course consider signing up for one of their volunteer opportunities. There will be staff and volunteers from each of these agencies ready and waiting to answer any of your questions, tell you about their services, and of course also tell you about the volunteer opportunities they have available.
Along with the agency staff, there will be Sheridan College students who have volunteered today from the Community Worker Program who will be assisting these agencies and assisting Donna McBride, the Agency Fair Coordinator.
Now, I’d like to share some of my story.
As I said, my name is Daniel Francavilla. I’m currently finishing grade 12 at d’Youville – but when I was in grade 10, just 2 years ago, I had a life-changing experience. I had the chance to visit the Dominican Republic. But I can guarantee, I did not experience the Dominican Republic in the way that many of you have – endless sandy beaches, unlimited drinks, air conditioning, massages, pools, huge buffets, or snorkelling.
Instead, I was exposed to the harsh reality of life in the developing world. In this beautiful vacation hotspot there is much suffering. Just outside the doors of the resort, a world of extreme poverty exists.
Whether it be children living in isolated villages working on the sugar cane fields or adults working long, exhausting days for almost no pay, I witnessed a lot of corruption – which is a reality in our world today. But of course, there is hope. Why are we here today? Because we can move the world.
Immediately after I returned home to Brampton, I felt inspired to make a difference. My intent was not simply to satisfy my personal desire to help; but to make a lasting change. After much thought and support from the Church I attend, I came up with the title “ACCESS Charity”. My goal in short: to provide children in the developing world with an education. Something that many of us take for granted here in North America – the chance to go to school!
Fortunately, fundraising began with a bang. After speaking at the services one weekend at St. Marguerite d’Youville Church, I was able to raise $8,500 towards the new project called ACCESS. Amazed at the support, I proudly sent the money to the Grey Sisters in the Dominican Republic who purchased uniforms for as many children as they could. I chose this cause because many times, without a uniform, students aren’t allowed to go to school.
Since then, my friends, family, and both parish and school communities have shown support of ACCESS Charity through raffles and school supply drives. I was very excited to find out that I won the Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award – more publicity for ACCESS and hopefully some encouragement for others to do the same work. It’s great because it is extremely important to raise awareness of the issues related to poverty; not simply raising money, but so that we as a whole, the youth, the next generation of this world, can use our knowledge and resources to enhance our world for the better of all humanity.
ACCESS Charity is about youth making a difference on a global scale. It’s an acronym for “allowing children a chance at education with school supplies”, but it’s more than that. Let’s bridge the gap between our world and the developing world.
I hope that you take the time to visit the website for ACCESS Charity, www.accesscharity.ca, and visit the booth – along with those of the other great organizations here today. If you would like to help fundraise or spread the message, I invite you come speak to us at the booth this afternoon.
As Ghandi said, “We must be the change we wish to see in the world.”
And on another note, being a leader and making a difference can mean something as simple as volunteering some of your time to a worthy cause, or it can mean taking bold action and organizing something, such as a GuluWalk for Peel Region. There really are no limits – only endless needs and opportunities. I was asked to speak to you today by the Youth Can Move the World Steering Committee specifically because of the work I have done to create ACCESS Charity, and to be the change I wished to see in the world. You are all invited to consider how you might make a difference. As this symposium ends, communications with Youth Can More the World should not. The organization will work to bring you information about places where you too could make a difference in the world, either through our website or in partnership with other organizations. And, they welcome your suggestions and recommendations.
Thank you for your time, and thank you for coming out today!
Reflection for International Human Rights Week at d’Youville Secondary School
While it may be a regular school day in Brampton, there is an important issue being promoted this week. That’s because December 10th was International Human Rights Day. In the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations declared respect for human rights and human dignity “is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”.
Now I can go naming articles and quoting sections of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but instead I’m going to tell you what it’s all about and why it’s so important. You see for some reason, although God created us in his image and we are all equal in God’s eyes, humans don’t seem to treat each other this way. All around the world, people are being murdered needlessly, repressed, raped, ridiculed, deprived of basic needs such as health care and nutrition.
Let’s not be selfish and think about all of our rights. We live in a society where we’re pretty much protected. But what do these International Human Rights actually include?
First off, like I just said, article one. It says this: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” International means in all countries. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms of the declaration without distinction – so why isn’t this happening in our world? Oh, because we see ourselves as different from others around us, right? So is that acceptable? No. It says we all have these rights without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other status, regardless of political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs. That pretty much says that I, Daniel Francavilla in Brampton, have the same rights as a 17-year-old boy in Malawi living in a hut.
Recently a British newspaper revealed that GAP clothing was being made by child labourers in India, some as young as 10 years old. You’re not allowed to force me to sit in a filthy, humid room for 16 hours a day sewing logos on Old Navy sweaters and pay me a few cents an hour. And guess what? You’re not allowed to force a 17-year-old girl in the Dominican Republic to do that either. But guess what – it happens. And we’re letting it. You’re letting it happen, I’m letting it happen. When we go purchase those expensive shoes, jeans, or even computers, we’re promoting this industry. And it’s a violation of human rights.
Article 13 says that everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country. So if you want to get a job in New York, you can leave, make some money, and come back to Canada, and you’ll be welcomed back. However, you can definitely come up with several examples of countries today where people are murdered or imprisoned for trying to leave their own country.
Article 18 says that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. So if you’re just sitting there in school and you see that there’s a problem with the way things are being run, don’t just get ticked off – go express your thought – respectfully of course. And if you are slacking in your faith, I suggest you go thank God for the fact that you can express your faith openly and won’t be taken to prison for it.
Article 21 says that everyone has the right to take part in the government of their country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. So when you’re 18 you can vote for someone to represent you. Why are there hardly any young people going to the poles? I don’t know, but in some countries people would do anything to have the opportunity to vote, or at least have their vote count.
You know I’m not going to go through all of these random articles in the Declaration of Human Rights. But haven’t you noticed that these are all great rights that we are all supposed to have, but many people around the world simply don’t. Simple things like the right to rest and leisure from work and the right to education – we just assume we’re all good, because we have them. But there are so many people around the world who are deprived of these basic things! In Canada we could never imagine being forced to work all day with no rest and minimal pay, or to not be able to go to school and get a good job.
So during this week, and during Christmas, let’s appreciate the rights that we have. Human Rights Day 2007 is the start of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Prayer: God, let us be thankful for the rights we have. Let all of us at d’Youville continue to be protected and safe. Help us to pay tribute to those who originally wrote the Declaration, and to the many human rights defenders around the world who have struggled to make their vision a reality. Let’s pray for those who are dying and suffering around the world, and those that are being deprived of basic human rights.
