Post-WEF 2010: MIPing at Davos (4)

Saturday, 13 March 2010 | posted by Matt_BC
Global Youth Summit 2009, WEF Davos 2010

First installment of MIPing at Davos

Second installment of MIPing at Davos

Third installment of MIPing at Davos

(You can also download Sarah's MIPing at Davos in its entirety as a PDF document here.)

And then let’s end it with some SHOCK TREATMENT shall we? ‘Being Responsible for the Future’- The Closing Session of the WEF 2010, with the 6 Global Changemakers, Professor Schwab and the Archbishop of Canterbury. This was when we were literally put on the spot and told to swim from the deep end. At this point we were real Adrenaline as we found our way through a brilliantly unrehearsed session. We reflected upon what the Archbishop stated and commented on it, whilst adding our own converging points on values, the display was a broad spectrum of intellect and beliefs.



Being part of this journey has undoubtedly helped me redefine how I look at the World; Our World. That is that people are human in their inner core, whether he/she is a Fortune500 CEO or a Professor from MIT. Shelling this inner core is what Davos succeeds in doing, by creating a tie-less atmosphere where people are open to the thought processes of Rethinking, Redesigning and Rebuilding. Thus this openness of thought didn’t restrict the 6 of us from the six of us from being honest, and occasionally bringing the Forum back to reality, by teleporting them beyond the four walls of the Conference Center at Davos into a world where the poverty stricken streets of parts of Asia stand side by side with the dearth in HIV drugs in Africa. These are the big issues that need a sustainable solution at such a Forum, not merely an agreement of the status quo.
Thus, as we have graduated from this chapter in our lives and have flown back home to the realities that awaited us, we will carry with us the essence of hope and determination that makes us reminiscent each degree of challenge, each moment of despair and each standing of failure that we encountered down our skiing slope. It was not an easy ride.



And so as all good things come to an end, Davos too concluded on a similar note where the networks we created and the bonds we made will live on, and will be passed on to the agents after us. Thus there is no saying goodbye from here on, but more like “When do we start on our new CAP - ‘The Davos 6 Family Reunion’?” (We need some help from Gabby on that one!)



And now for the two words that say it all; Thank You
Thank you for taking the Global Changemakers to the literal representation of the World at Davos and for the micro-planning that has beaten Yunus’s micro-financing by far. I owe this sincere gratitude to the amazing Directors of Global Changemakers; Francesca Martonffy and Paola Hjelt and the incredible GCM Team comprising of Katherine Hermans, Matt Kimmich and Gabriela Jager for the tremendous effort and sleepless nights set aside for us in making this a reality. And of course to ‘the Man behind the scenes’ who indeed made us stars at Davos - John Martin, for the invaluable training and guidance that enabled us to courageously face whatever challenge we encountered at the Forum, ranging from TV interviews to convincing a CEO 10 seconds. A special ‘Thank You’ to the Country Director for the British Council in Switzerland - Caroline Morrissey for being there for us, and to the respective British Council Offices that took care of our logistics. Merci to the most impeccable and approachable WEF staff for all the support rendered in enabling a smooth flow. And last but not least, to the Network of the most dynamic Movers & Shakers of the world - THE GLOBAL CHANGEMAKERS for being our backbone of strength all the way. Thank You from the bottom of our hearts.
        
We were who we were because of you.

This Ending is the new Beginning. Viva La Vida!