Photo: Sofia Stafford at CGI.
By guest blogger: Sofia Stafford, teen reporter for CGI
This past week I attended the Clinton Global Initiative as a teen reporter for Girl Up, a campaign of the United Nations Foundation. As the only teen there, I was able to hear firsthand about the pressing issues facing our world and what the governments, NGOs and individuals are doing to help find solutions. CGI was founded in 2005 by Bill Clinton, and it’s unique because it brings together members from the private sector, public sector, and civil society as opposed to conferences for only government officials or business people. Therefore, we have a large group of people not just discussing the problems at hand, but actually doing something about it.
Through the course of the conference, I met so many people and heard many intriguing conversations of how leaders are working to solve some of the world’s most pressing issues such as climate change, the job market, and girls and women’s rights. Below are FIVE important topics and ideas I learned at CGI and how it affects us as teens, and most importantly, as the future generation. As Bill Clinton said at the conference, “The future is struggling to be born...we have to make room for it.”
+ Get the Facts. Did you know that half of the world’s 143 million out-of-school youth are girls? Or that one in seven girls in the developing world marries before the age of 15? Most of these statistics shock teens when they find out, which should not be the case. From all the panel discussions and people I interviewed, it seems that the first step and best way to get involved is to know the facts, recognize that there is a problem, and spread the information.
+ Girls NOT Brides. Child marriage is the underlying barrier that prevents girls from reaching their dreams and potential, and that I have to use my voice simply because I have one. Girls’ opportunities for a successful life screech to a halt when she is married off as an adolescent, yet 10 million girls are forcibly married every year. Do you see the problem? The pattern looks a little something like this:
A girl gets pulled out of school as early as 10 years old--> She cannot go to school and receive an education--> She does not have the opportunity to get a job--> She gets pregnant by the age of 19 and is 3x more likely to contract HIV/AIDS than boys--> She dies early and the cycle continues
+ Cellphones = the World’s Lifelines. Did you know that teens on average send more than 100 text messages a day? Cell phones are no longer a gadget for the privileged, but are prevalent across the world. One of the panelists at CGI recalled seeing more cell phones in India than toilets. Cell phones are transforming the lives of so many in under developed countries, especially women and children. In some cases, women are able to call doctors when they give birth or can use it to find resources, yet as the technological era moves forward, the basic necessities of people in underdeveloped countries are decreasing. Technology and social media help level the playing field, not just connect, spread, and obtain information, and is also one of the most valued items of underprivileged people.
+ Power of Collaboration. At CGI, South African activist Desmond Tutu said, “When you stand out in a crowd, it is because you are standing on the shoulders of others.” I learned something that affects all teens no matter where you’re from or what your hopes and dreams are for the future and that is the power of a group --- and collaboration. We cannot begin to accomplish our goals or create change in the world without first understanding the qualities of leadership and the power of teamwork. Throughout the conference I heard so many distinguished politicians and CEOs of companies emphasize the importance of working collectively towards change. It is okay for all of us to have different passions and different ways of approaching a problem, but the key is to figure out how to combine these ideas and work together, not against each other. We as teens experience this same type of thing on a daily basis, but this basic concept can help solve the world’s problems.
+ Make Some Noise. I urge you to use your voice whenever you can and to stand up for what you believe in. You have the opportunity to represent teenagers around the world, simply because you have a voice. So as a fellow teenager and as an advocate of change, I ask you to take a pledge with me and don’t ever let someone tell you that your voice does not count. If we are going to stand up for our rights, we must stick together and use everybody’s voices. I know there are times where we think, “Oh someone else will share those statistics” or “Can I really make a difference?” But the truth is every one of us has a counterpart in a developing country and if we pass on that responsibility and don’t take it upon ourselves to spread the word, who is and how will we ever find solutions to our problems?
actTAKE ACTION!
Follow CGI on Twitter
Don't just talk the talk, walk the walk! Clinton Global Initiative was created to turn ideas into action to make a change in the world.
