We're all from amazingly different
parts of the world.
We all have completely different stories
but nearly all of us are striving for the same thing.
What I'm hoping to get out
of this is to learn and learn and re-learn.
Oh my God
I've never been to anything of this scale before
with so many people, it's like speed dating.
But with people saying very smart things.
Our theme this year is belief.
It's mind opening. I just keep taking the notes.
I think that is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
I believe so very fervently
that I am
upheld by
the love and the prayers
of others.
Just the energy that is at Skoll, is just amazing.
Seeing people like Desmond Tutu.
Oh my god, I can't believe I'm in this space
with these people.
Marco?
Marco.
Welcome, nice to meet you.
Hi.
Yes.
It's 2015 and we're doing it again.
We're bringing nine young leaders from nine countries
to the Skoll World Forum to participate
in three days of events and, and panels
and opportunities for them to hone their leadership skills
build their networks and apply those skills back
in their countries with the communities and
and the organizations that they work with.
So you are this year's leader?
Yes.
Awesome.
Congratulations. Oh, I'm so happy to see you here.
On the train, across to Oxford.
I had this sudden panic.
I spent the entire hour journey reading everyone's profiles
over and over being like, how can I stand out?
I'm definitely not as amazing as these people.
The prime services put on the
They'll also participate in the wider events
and plenaries and sessions.
There'll be participants on,
on a number of different panels.
I grew up in mafia de Doma at the age of seven.
my single mother made a bold decision that transformed
my life for good.
I am here today because education has totally
transformed my life.
From my personal experience,
I see that a lot of organizations that have their focus
as been related to young people seemed very detached
from the very young people.
They were, they were seven.
I think the society of the older generation things
like we are just lost
and we can't really address the challenges that face us
When you teach them stuff.
What kinds of projects are they working on?
So even though my parents had to pay thousands of dollars
for somebody could teach me software engineering,
I would love to give it out for free if possible
to people that can't afford it.
Which is the majority of the girls in my country.
Young people have a voice that should be heard
and it should be heard because they have a fresh mind.
There's more liquor stores in my community
than grocery stores, where they can get healthy food.
In my own country of Kenya.
There's a, a huge issue of real unemployment
The political system
to a great extent is not inclusive of young people.
You see children begging when you go out at night
children selling you different stuff.
A lot of the times you, you
you ask yourself, when will this end?
Fundacion Paraguaya is a nonprofit organization
and we have the mission of eliminating poverty
and creating decent conditions for every family.
The African Leadership Academy is a Pan-
African institution that is dedicated
to developing the next generation of African leaders.
Students to take the lead in the classroom, work in teams
be entrepreneurial, work on something that
they're interested in.
We've been working for 17 years to develop nurturing
and educating programs for children.
We give them opportunities to,
to attend different vocational trainings.
After gaining those skills, we support them to find a job.
We teach women I T.
I don't want my girls to be housekeepers.
I want them to make the next Bill Gates software
that changes the world.
What I want to see in my community is
for everyone to have the same opportunities
that I had.
When things become tough,
I look back at where I'm from and I look at
greater opportunities to help other people.
We are going to listen, we are going to give back.
Please remember that after your story
we will first turn to the panel
and then to the whole audience.
We worked with Sundance to repeat the story studio that we
did and enable these young leaders to really
craft their stories and reflect on the skills
and experiences that brought them to this place.
We initiated a movement of young people who are
coming up with African solutions to African problems.
After I listened to what Bob Dylan said
in one of his songs, some people feel the rain
and some people just get wet.
I felt the rain, and I decided to do something about it.
I was orphaned at the age of seven.
I grew up on the streets for five years.
Having people that dedicate their life to enhance stories
and to really communicate a social message through art.
It gives them confidence that every little story
can have an impact.
Every little story matters.
I also love the arc of the story that it was almost
in three chapters, which was the kind of,
which is a classic storytelling technique.
The feedback that we got from the partners
that were there are really going to
help me strengthen my pitch and my, my story, you know
in a way that it can have a bigger impact even in the lives
of the youths that I am trying to, to help back home.
You all in your social entrepreneurial work
will be telling stories all the time.
The stories will change the world
because they belong to the world.
Watching the young leaders grow throughout the week
the confidence grew, their personality shine through as well
with like, you know what? This is who I am.
Young leader open up the chest, state the S
and make it work. Like.
I loved younger students.
I think that they are the future
of our nation, every nation.
And we need all of you.
Thank you.
Keep up with us.
Thank you.
We are old. We are going away.
The last year's Young Leaders Initiative.
It was great because we got connected
after Skoll World Forum through Facebook groups, emails
exchanging information, knowledge, experiences.
What an amazing week I've had.
See the individuals here still optimistic
and still pushing forward.
And just to see how resilient they are.
It motivates me to be an even better leader.
Hear their voices.
It wouldn't just end here.
I think that it's something that I'll
I'll carry forward into the future.
What gives me hope is the fact
that these young people have amazing voices
and there are now more and more ears ready to listen.