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WEF 2008 is over - we’re just getting started!
Monday, 28 January 2008 | posted by Matt_BC
Dear all,
I got home yesterday evening after two of the most rewarding weeks I've ever had. I was exhausted and sad - I missed the Davos 6, just as I missed the Guildford 60 - but I was also eager to get back to the office today to get started on my challenge to myself: to support the global network of young activists we've started here.
What will happen to this website? It will continue to bring you updates from the Road to Davos. "Hang on," you might say. "Wasn't Davos last week? If you're still on the Road, does that mean you're taking a detour? Did you guys get lost on the way? Or are you talking about some other place, like Davos, New Hampshire?" (Nope, there is no such place. I think.)
No, we didn't get lost, but yes, we're still on the Road. The 60 are either on their way home or have already arrived there, and their work continues. Our work continues. In the coming weeks and months, there will be updates from the participants of the Road to Davos project, as well as memories and pictures from the Road. There are tons of photos and videos that the world hasn't seen yet 
. And behind the scenes, the first preparations for next year have already started, as we ask ourselves: What worked well? What needs to be changed or improved?
But the British Council is also committed to maintaining and extending this global network of young activists. And I am personally committed to this work. So, I really mean it when I say that the journey isn't over - it's only just begun. In this sense, Davos is not a cold and teensy little place in Switzerland - it's the idea you've all contributed to, and it's the work you've already done. It's your passion, your energy and your commitment. The WEF Annual Meeting is a tiny speck compared to that. (I will refrain from mentioning the number of bad Davos puns that people started coming up with over the last few days - "May Davos be with you!" being the least horrible one...)
During this week, I'll start a number of threads on the message boards so we can start collecting ideas and working on them. Looking forward to seeing all of you on the Road!
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28 January 2008
You are right Matt!!
I hope we manage to make this journey as successful as possible :p
Thank you for the help you are offering to us,
Christina
28 January 2008
Hello all
I am at Dubai Int. with Asania and we are having a blast. The journey feels so empty with out all of you and I keep on thinking that Branco or Rhadeenah will wake me up soon. The WEF was a huhe success for me and I feel that I have met he objectives of the group and have fulfilled my duty as part of the six.
Amid all the media interviews and the running after heads of states the one expierence that grounded me was the visit that myself, Whitney, Juan, Felicity and Matt visited the local school in Davos. The young people at the school was really interested in what our role was in Davos and we spent about 2 hours inspiring them. That was the most inspirational and thought provoking session that I participated in Davos and I know that that is the basis of many of our work as activist.
We encouraged them to form part of the Road to Davos network and I hope that you will welcome them and all the other guests that will visit us on the road to Davos.
It will be “ Davos-stating” if we don’t welcome them…
Gillion
28 January 2008
Beautiful peole!
It’s 01:45am (Dubai time) and as Gilli said we’re at the Dubai airport, waiting for our connecting flight to the beautiful South Africa.
Like most of you already know, saying goodbye is bittersweet; sad to be parting with people you’ve become very close to yet exciting to be going home to use what you learned and that’s how the 6 feel including me, Matt, Caroline, Ben, Armin and all the other wonderful people who worked on this project.
The ‘last supper’ with the five of the six (Rhadeena went to visit her cousin) was a bit surreal; hearing Juan singing songs that 20 yrs older than him,
hearing Nick’s accent and wondering how the hell have we been understanding it all along?! 
and thinking that i won’t have all of that tomorrow morning when i have breakfast… 
and that my friends, is the advantage you all have as the Guildford 60.
Whitney’s sweet face and innocence, Juan translating everybody’s name to Chinese
Remembering Rhadeena’s high pitched voice and hugs and kisses
However, i would not change it for the world for I have learned it’s experiences like these that make you work harder to make the world a better place because you know there are equally wierd and wonderful people like you out there who are doing the same
I’m joining Matt on the journey of creating a Global youth activism network so I’ll be helping him in making sure that most if not all of you benefit from the WEF through contacts that were made or other avenues and to see what other ways global networking can really be used to aid you as activists.
So, Rock on brothers and sisters, rock on!
PS: Happy wonderful birthays to Asanda (South Africa) & Ella (New Zealand)!
ok, gotta go grab something to eat before the plane leaves….
love,
A
29 January 2008
HEEEEY happy birthday for both of u guys i never knew it was someones B-d
And Matt thanx so much u and Asania 4 your help and i also thank the support of the BC, miss u guys all like hell and i wish 2 all of u whos not home yes a safe Trip back home.
Lots of love Seraj xxxxxxx
29 January 2008
Having just read the above I would like to add that as someone who really was on the fringe of this inspirational initiative (Caroline is, and if the phrase is ever appropriate it is here, my better half) that it was an exhilarating week in Monstein. Working with the Six on some creative writing ideas, but also simply being a gopher most of the time has meant that coming home on Sunday meant coming down to Earth with a bump. I would have loved to get to know the rest of you because having visited the website on a regular basis made me see what an extraordinary group of people came together and that with folk like yourselves, there is hope for a brighter future. So thanks for being there in person, Radheena, Juan, Whitney, Gilli, Nick and Yunan, and thanks to Fifty-Four, the iceberg of which the Six were the tip.
Thanks also to Felicity, Matt, Stefan, Armin, Ben, Alice and Asania for being such great company as well as movers and shakers. And, lastly, I just feel I’d like to add Caroline to the list of Birthday People although I’m not sure she would want me to…
Keep on rocking boats, upsetting apple carts, putting cats among pigeons, sing from a different hymnbook and whatever other metaphors one may use to indicate that change can only come about if we do something outside the normal run of things.
Franz
3 February 2008
Where do I start???
Looking back at the last weeks I felt both depressed and exhilarated at the same time. Depressed because serperation is painful and the reality of how much I missyou guys blows me over, and exhilarated because I learned so much from all of you and wouldn’t trade that for the world! All you guys taught me that I’m not alone and I know that, that will give me that extra boost when I desperately need it.
I’m not good with words and so I’ll end this soon before I bore everyone to death…All I can say is thank you for everything and I truly believe that this is only the end of the beginning…together we still have a long road ahead! Keep walking and don’t let your ‘but’ get in the way!