Month: March 2012

What is this life without a dream?

Published on by Helen MartinLeave a comment

What is this life without a dream?
Without a vision for tomorrow
Of peace, love and prosperity
A life without sorrow

Will we ever understand?
Why in our growing population
Crime and violence still grow
Weakening our nation

Do we really hope to see a massive change
In all the things around
When we do nothing to solve
All the suffering that abounds

What can we do to make a change?
What will the outcome be?
If all the people that we know
Would take just some time to see

That every little bit of help
That alleviates some pain
Of all those people in our world
Is to everyone’s gain

Too many people in our world die
Of starvation and abuse
And disease can be prevented
If we put our resources to good use

So, if everybody learns to give
A little here and now
It all will make a difference
To someone, somewhere, somehow!

Wise words from my father, Andrew Gardiner. Thanks Dad!

The good, the bad and the ugly of global cities

Published on by Helen Martin3 Comments

Hong Kong – Xianggang (fragrant harbour). One of my favorite cities of the world. A magnificent financial hub of towering skyscrapers and a 24/7 mentality. If you thought New York was the city that never sleeps…..think again.

I’ve been visiting Hong Kong for the past few weeks on vacation, which has been quite a different experience than purely attending business meetings, events and conferences. I’ve had time to get to know the lay of the land, walk the streets and even practice a little of my Mandarin Chinese.

Last night, I attended the Hong Kong Art Walk, an event which is held once a year. Art galleries open their doors to the public, showing special exhibitions and the evening is made quite festive by music, snacks and refreshments wherever you go.

One of the galleries I visited, served as my wake-up call. No matter how beautiful a city is at first glance and no matter how shiny the surface, there are always many dull cracks and crevices and an abundance of duct tape serving to hold it all together. 

I’ve experienced the enormous valley between rich and poor in many countries around the world, so I’m no longer naive. I understand that whilst wealthy business people enjoy the fruits of their hard labour, many less fortunate hard working people live a very different life.  

The Society for Community Organization drove the hard facts home by exhibiting photographs and film of marginalised groups, living in cage homes, cubicle apartments and roof-top flats. In Hong Kong 20% of the population lives below the poverty line. Whilst, I understand the challenges that the government is facing with respect to illegal immigrants, one can’t help but wonder how many of these people are actually of Hong Kong descent. 

I’m happy that something is being done to raise awareness; fighting for the rights of the elderly, health rights, the working poor, civil rights and education. I’m also happy to say that everyone who attended the Art Walk, supported the Society for Community Organization (even if they had no idea). I can only hope that the government may also take an example from more social states around the world. For more information visit the SoCo website, where you can also make a financial donation to this worthy cause.

Educating the world through mobile learning

Published on by Helen MartinLeave a comment

This weekend, I came across an article published by the World Economic Forum about mobile learning, Accelerating the adoption of mlearning – A call for collective and collaborative action. While only 25% of homes in developing countries have a computer, just about every individual owns a mobile device. In Somalia, the same holds true. This is a country in which unemployment rates often hover around 60%. A non-profit, USAID, and a local Somalian Telco partnered in order to offer this group of young job seekers help in employment related work skills via interactive audio instruction. In nearly 3 years, 900 people have used the programme and 80% of these people have found jobs or internships. 

The same white paper refers to the numbers of young people around the world learning life skills via mobile devices from inspirational educators at the very top of their expertise areas. I may speak for many of you when I recall, sitting as a child in schoolbenches, listening to uninspiring teachers, who were trying to teach me subjects which have little or no value in today’s economy.

If we can educate as few as 10% more young people through to graduation, just think what the effect could be on the global economy in the next 10 to 20 years. Although, I guess it’s still easier said than done. We first need to get governments and cable companies on board and improve broadband connections around the world. According to the World Bank, a 10% increase in broadband penetration can lead to an increase of 1,38% of the GDP of low to medium income countries. 

So what’s stopping us? Whether we personally coach and mentor young people to stay in school longer, or we stream intuitively simple-to-learn information to these children, who cares! As long as these youngsters are learning life skills which will help them grow and become self sufficient in the future. In the words of Albert Einstein, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” 

Hopefully food for thought! What are you doing to help?

I launched Fair Chance Foundation for Deloitte Netherlands in July 2010. We focus on coaching and mentoring children from less privileged neighbourhoods and improving financial education in these schools. About 600 Deloitte Netherlands employees per year volunteer through Fair Chance Foundation.