despite our continued efforts in improving living conditions in
improving living conditions in
improving living conditions in third-world countries
third-world countries
third-world countries poverty continues to be a
poverty continues to be a
poverty continues to be a xiety today according to UNICEF about
xiety today according to UNICEF about
xiety today according to UNICEF about 22,000 children die around the world
22,000 children die around the world
22,000 children die around the world each day because of poverty many people
each day because of poverty many people
each day because of poverty many people have been working tirelessly to
have been working tirelessly to
have been working tirelessly to organizations such as UNICEF and the Red
organizations such as UNICEF and the Red
organizations such as UNICEF and the Red Cross to provide aid for these
Cross to provide aid for these
Cross to provide aid for these struggling people but clearly more needs
struggling people but clearly more needs
struggling people but clearly more needs to be done that truly rid the world of
to be done that truly rid the world of
to be done that truly rid the world of poverty and its associated problems
poverty and its associated problems
poverty and its associated problems clearly that intended footprints that we
clearly that intended footprints that we
clearly that intended footprints that we are leaving behind are being washed away
are leaving behind are being washed away
are leaving behind are being washed away so how can we leave our footprints
so how can we leave our footprints
so how can we leave our footprints behind in such a way so that they remain
behind in such a way so that they remain
behind in such a way so that they remain permanent and are not washed away in the
permanent and are not washed away in the
permanent and are not washed away in the blink of an eye today I’ll discuss how I
blink of an eye today I’ll discuss how I
blink of an eye today I’ll discuss how I was personally able to experience
was personally able to experience
was personally able to experience alternative approaches to
alternative approaches to
alternative approaches to humanitarianism which sowed the seeds
humanitarianism which sowed the seeds
humanitarianism which sowed the seeds for footprints that will last for an
for footprints that will last for an
for footprints that will last for an eternity as a sophomore in high school
eternity as a sophomore in high school
eternity as a sophomore in high school last year I joined the chinmaya
last year I joined the chinmaya
last year I joined the chinmaya Organization for Rural Development which
Organization for Rural Development which
Organization for Rural Development which is also known as cord this service
is also known as cord this service
is also known as cord this service organization works to empower woman
organization works to empower woman
organization works to empower woman educate children and improve working and
educate children and improve working and
educate children and improve working and living conditions for the most poorest
living conditions for the most poorest
living conditions for the most poorest and isolated farmers in India to
and isolated farmers in India to
and isolated farmers in India to maximize its efforts every year cord
maximize its efforts every year cord
maximize its efforts every year cord hosts to service visits for high school
hosts to service visits for high school
hosts to service visits for high school students to travel to and work in these
students to travel to and work in these
students to travel to and work in these targeted villages fortunately last year
targeted villages fortunately last year
targeted villages fortunately last year I was selected to take part in one of
I was selected to take part in one of
I was selected to take part in one of these service visits I was assigned to a
these service visits I was assigned to a
these service visits I was assigned to a small village called DoDEA which is in
small village called DoDEA which is in
small village called DoDEA which is in the northeast region of India this
the northeast region of India this
the northeast region of India this village had been identified and selected
village had been identified and selected
village had been identified and selected by cord because it had experienced many
by cord because it had experienced many
by cord because it had experienced many droughts and was at the bottom of the
droughts and was at the bottom of the
droughts and was at the bottom of the most impoverished areas in India in this
most impoverished areas in India in this
most impoverished areas in India in this village little kids ran around and
village little kids ran around and
village little kids ran around and played in the fields without any clothes
played in the fields without any clothes
played in the fields without any clothes on the huts that they called home were
on the huts that they called home were
on the huts that they called home were made out of mud and cow dung and were
made out of mud and cow dung and were
made out of mud and cow dung and were about shorter than me in height the
about shorter than me in height the
about shorter than me in height the fuels did not have very many crops and
fuels did not have very many crops and
fuels did not have very many crops and the people were thin and fragile from
the people were thin and fragile from
the people were thin and fragile from battling hunger in a country that has
battling hunger in a country that has
battling hunger in a country that has continuously been identified as being in
continuously been identified as being in
continuously been identified as being in shambles by the international community
shambles by the international community
shambles by the international community I began to embrace the transformative
I began to embrace the transformative
I began to embrace the transformative changes that I was going to undertake
changes that I was going to undertake
changes that I was going to undertake through cord granted cord is not a
through cord granted cord is not a
through cord granted cord is not a panacea for global atrocities but is a
panacea for global atrocities but is a
panacea for global atrocities but is a microcosm of goals that differentiates
microcosm of goals that differentiates
microcosm of goals that differentiates itself from the others that seek to
itself from the others that seek to
itself from the others that seek to mitigate crises the first footprint that
mitigate crises the first footprint that
mitigate crises the first footprint that we established the cord was independence
we established the cord was independence
we established the cord was independence for growth this was done through
for growth this was done through
for growth this was done through projects that were direct
projects that were direct
projects that were direct empowering farmers to fend for
empowering farmers to fend for
empowering farmers to fend for themselves during a drought previously
themselves during a drought previously
themselves during a drought previously we learned that another humanitarian
we learned that another humanitarian
we learned that another humanitarian organization had helped the farmers
organization had helped the farmers
organization had helped the farmers acquire fertilizers and other chemicals
acquire fertilizers and other chemicals
acquire fertilizers and other chemicals to improve their crop production however
to improve their crop production however
to improve their crop production however the farmers were not given enough
the farmers were not given enough
the farmers were not given enough information on how to actually use the
information on how to actually use the
information on how to actually use the products they’re inefficient methods had
products they’re inefficient methods had
products they’re inefficient methods had ruined the solar quality after they ran
ruined the solar quality after they ran
ruined the solar quality after they ran out of materials the farmers went back
out of materials the farmers went back
out of materials the farmers went back to the same organization and bought more
to the same organization and bought more
to the same organization and bought more materials this created a never-ending
materials this created a never-ending
materials this created a never-ending cycle in which the farmers bought more
cycle in which the farmers bought more
cycle in which the farmers bought more and more fertilizers without the crop
and more fertilizers without the crop
and more fertilizers without the crop production actually improving so to fix
production actually improving so to fix
production actually improving so to fix this problem we showed the farmers how
this problem we showed the farmers how
this problem we showed the farmers how to create a natural fertilizer from cow
to create a natural fertilizer from cow
to create a natural fertilizer from cow dung which also improved the soil
dung which also improved the soil
dung which also improved the soil quality and after showing them how to
quality and after showing them how to
quality and after showing them how to make it we guided them through the steps
make it we guided them through the steps
make it we guided them through the steps as they made their own fertilizer and
as they made their own fertilizer and
as they made their own fertilizer and finally we took them out in the village
finally we took them out in the village
finally we took them out in the village we took them out in the fields and
we took them out in the fields and
we took them out in the fields and actually showed them how to use the cops
actually showed them how to use the cops
actually showed them how to use the cops with their how to use the fertilizer
with their how to use the fertilizer
with their how to use the fertilizer with their crops now the main difference
with their crops now the main difference
with their crops now the main difference between the first organization and
between the first organization and
between the first organization and –cord is that the first organization
–cord is that the first organization
–cord is that the first organization did not allow the farmers to be
did not allow the farmers to be
did not allow the farmers to be independent they came and gave the
independent they came and gave the
independent they came and gave the farmers a hand out in the form of
farmers a hand out in the form of
farmers a hand out in the form of farming materials with cord we made sure
farming materials with cord we made sure
farming materials with cord we made sure that we gave them a hand up instead of a
that we gave them a hand up instead of a
that we gave them a hand up instead of a hand out and there’s a saying that
hand out and there’s a saying that
hand out and there’s a saying that perfectly perfectly captures the way
perfectly perfectly captures the way
perfectly perfectly captures the way that cord works the saying goes like
that cord works the saying goes like
that cord works the saying goes like this you give a man a fish you feed him
this you give a man a fish you feed him
this you give a man a fish you feed him for a day you teach a man how to fish
for a day you teach a man how to fish
for a day you teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime
and you feed him for a lifetime
and you feed him for a lifetime this saying truly resonated with me
this saying truly resonated with me
this saying truly resonated with me during this project when we allow these
during this project when we allow these
during this project when we allow these farmers to be independent that is when
farmers to be independent that is when
farmers to be independent that is when we are truly able to leave our
we are truly able to leave our
we are truly able to leave our footprints behind in their communities
footprints behind in their communities
footprints behind in their communities today these farmers live on perfectly
today these farmers live on perfectly
today these farmers live on perfectly capable of fending for themselves
capable of fending for themselves
capable of fending for themselves however this has not always been the
however this has not always been the
however this has not always been the case in history on a broader level and
case in history on a broader level and
case in history on a broader level and now Titus’s failure in establishing his
now Titus’s failure in establishing his
now Titus’s failure in establishing his or her footprint in somebody else’s
or her footprint in somebody else’s
or her footprint in somebody else’s territory has led to catastrophic
territory has led to catastrophic
territory has led to catastrophic results for example in the 19th century
results for example in the 19th century
results for example in the 19th century the Western powers scrambled to leave
the Western powers scrambled to leave
the Western powers scrambled to leave their footprints behind in various parts
their footprints behind in various parts
their footprints behind in various parts of the world the European leaders saw
of the world the European leaders saw
of the world the European leaders saw Africa and Asia as the homes of
Africa and Asia as the homes of
Africa and Asia as the homes of uneducated uncivilized and inferior
uneducated uncivilized and inferior
uneducated uncivilized and inferior races
races
races they felt that that to take up the white
they felt that that to take up the white
they felt that that to take up the white man’s burden and had to bring European
man’s burden and had to bring European
man’s burden and had to bring European civilization to other parts of the world
civilization to other parts of the world
civilization to other parts of the world so their footprints came in the form of
so their footprints came in the form of
so their footprints came in the form of neo imperialism and colonialism the
neo imperialism and colonialism the
neo imperialism and colonialism the European powers used their superior
European powers used their superior
European powers used their superior technology that swiftly bring the these
technology that swiftly bring the these
technology that swiftly bring the these regions under their control that created
regions under their control that created
regions under their control that created their own colonial governments and
their own colonial governments and
their own colonial governments and impose their own rules and ideology upon
impose their own rules and ideology upon
impose their own rules and ideology upon the people
the people
the people this subjugation and coercing of the
this subjugation and coercing of the
this subjugation and coercing of the native people into accepting the
native people into accepting the
native people into accepting the European culture is where the Europeans
European culture is where the Europeans
European culture is where the Europeans failed and actually establishing their
failed and actually establishing their
failed and actually establishing their footprint the Europeans did improve some
footprint the Europeans did improve some
footprint the Europeans did improve some parts of society by providing the native
parts of society by providing the native
parts of society by providing the native people with the railroads to improve
people with the railroads to improve
people with the railroads to improve transportation and starting the
transportation and starting the
transportation and starting the industrialization process needed for
industrialization process needed for
industrialization process needed for modernization however their social their
modernization however their social their
modernization however their social their social work was not genuine they were
social work was not genuine they were
social work was not genuine they were guided by their sense of superiority and
guided by their sense of superiority and
guided by their sense of superiority and arrogance they intentionally wanted the
arrogance they intentionally wanted the
arrogance they intentionally wanted the Africans and agents to be dependent on
Africans and agents to be dependent on
Africans and agents to be dependent on them and when they left the native
them and when they left the native
them and when they left the native people were not capable of governing
people were not capable of governing
people were not capable of governing themselves because that spent over 50
themselves because that spent over 50
themselves because that spent over 50 years in subjugation the like this lack
years in subjugation the like this lack
years in subjugation the like this lack of political political and social
of political political and social
of political political and social stability is the reason behind the
stability is the reason behind the
stability is the reason behind the social and political tensions that we
social and political tensions that we
social and political tensions that we see in various parts of the world today
see in various parts of the world today
see in various parts of the world today the corruption homicides and many other
the corruption homicides and many other
the corruption homicides and many other negative events can be directly linked
negative events can be directly linked
negative events can be directly linked to the fail to the Europeans failure in
to the fail to the Europeans failure in
to the fail to the Europeans failure in establishing their footprint we must
establishing their footprint we must
establishing their footprint we must remember that to truly help somebody
remember that to truly help somebody
remember that to truly help somebody grow we have to make sure that they are
grow we have to make sure that they are
grow we have to make sure that they are independent of any outside support
independent of any outside support
independent of any outside support Cologne colonialism still permeates
Cologne colonialism still permeates
Cologne colonialism still permeates political spheres today as countries
political spheres today as countries
political spheres today as countries utilize the perceived weaknesses of
utilize the perceived weaknesses of
utilize the perceived weaknesses of other countries to validate their
other countries to validate their
other countries to validate their agendas the very forces that fail to
agendas the very forces that fail to
agendas the very forces that fail to alleviate the structural problems that I
alleviate the structural problems that I
alleviate the structural problems that I saw in India are the same sets of
saw in India are the same sets of
saw in India are the same sets of agendas that are being used in peace
agendas that are being used in peace
agendas that are being used in peace negotiations today from the Oslo the
negotiations today from the Oslo the
negotiations today from the Oslo the failures in the israel-palestine
failures in the israel-palestine
failures in the israel-palestine conflict is one key example of how
conflict is one key example of how
conflict is one key example of how unauthentic footprints can make a
unauthentic footprints can make a
unauthentic footprints can make a situation go from bad to worse from the
situation go from bad to worse from the
situation go from bad to worse from the Oslo Accords to the current peace
Oslo Accords to the current peace
Oslo Accords to the current peace processes the voices of the native
processes the voices of the native
processes the voices of the native people have continuously been
people have continuously been
people have continuously been marginalized for the sake of the
marginalized for the sake of the
marginalized for the sake of the political as a result tensions in the
political as a result tensions in the
political as a result tensions in the Middle East have been severely fractured
Middle East have been severely fractured
Middle East have been severely fractured today
Kord may not be able to deal with
Kord may not be able to deal with geopolitical problems but it definitely
geopolitical problems but it definitely
geopolitical problems but it definitely definitely creates Liberatore changes
definitely creates Liberatore changes
definitely creates Liberatore changes through its second footprint which is
through its second footprint which is
through its second footprint which is independence for growth I’ll explain
independence for growth I’ll explain
independence for growth I’ll explain this to the toilet project that we
this to the toilet project that we
this to the toilet project that we completed in the in bill via the
completed in the in bill via the
completed in the in bill via the villagers did not have a proper method
villagers did not have a proper method
villagers did not have a proper method of getting rid of their waste the
of getting rid of their waste the
of getting rid of their waste the exposure to so much waste had created
exposure to so much waste had created
exposure to so much waste had created significant diseases so to fix this
significant diseases so to fix this
significant diseases so to fix this problem we spend about two and a half
problem we spend about two and a half
problem we spend about two and a half days building and in the old-fashioned
days building and in the old-fashioned
days building and in the old-fashioned Indian toilet and a decomposition pit to
Indian toilet and a decomposition pit to
Indian toilet and a decomposition pit to improve the sanitation in the village
improve the sanitation in the village
improve the sanitation in the village now the unique part about this project
now the unique part about this project
now the unique part about this project was that we the volunteers did not
was that we the volunteers did not
was that we the volunteers did not complete the project on our own we
complete the project on our own we
complete the project on our own we worked side by side with the farmers to
worked side by side with the farmers to
worked side by side with the farmers to create this project because the farmers
create this project because the farmers
create this project because the farmers played an important role in completing
played an important role in completing
played an important role in completing the project we knew that the project
the project we knew that the project
the project we knew that the project actually meant something to them and
actually meant something to them and
actually meant something to them and they valued it and because of this we
they valued it and because of this we
they valued it and because of this we knew that even after we left the farmers
knew that even after we left the farmers
knew that even after we left the farmers would continue to use and take advantage
would continue to use and take advantage
would continue to use and take advantage of the project products if we had
of the project products if we had
of the project products if we had completed the project on our own instead
completed the project on our own instead
completed the project on our own instead of working with the farmers after we
of working with the farmers after we
of working with the farmers after we left this project would have meant
left this project would have meant
left this project would have meant absolutely nothing to them and it would
absolutely nothing to them and it would
absolutely nothing to them and it would have been just another symbol of a group
have been just another symbol of a group
have been just another symbol of a group of foreigners who came and visited for
of foreigners who came and visited for
of foreigners who came and visited for two weeks when will you see a footprint
two weeks when will you see a footprint
two weeks when will you see a footprint we don’t see a single uniform shape
we don’t see a single uniform shape
we don’t see a single uniform shape there the there’s the main body of the
there the there’s the main body of the
there the there’s the main body of the footprint and then there the five toes
footprint and then there the five toes
footprint and then there the five toes that are attached to these come these
that are attached to these come these
that are attached to these come these parts come together to create a common
parts come together to create a common
parts come together to create a common function and taking out even a single
function and taking out even a single
function and taking out even a single part will distort the shape the same can
part will distort the shape the same can
part will distort the shape the same can be said about humanitarian organizations
be said about humanitarian organizations
be said about humanitarian organizations working in impoverished countries the
working in impoverished countries the
working in impoverished countries the villagers don’t trust us at first and
villagers don’t trust us at first and
villagers don’t trust us at first and they don’t find any significant value in
they don’t find any significant value in
they don’t find any significant value in the work we are doing for them however
the work we are doing for them however
the work we are doing for them however they are willing to change but it is up
they are willing to change but it is up
they are willing to change but it is up to us to bring out that change in them
to us to bring out that change in them
to us to bring out that change in them just that’s the parts of the just as the
just that’s the parts of the just as the
just that’s the parts of the just as the various parts of the footprint come
various parts of the footprint come
various parts of the footprint come together to create the footprint we need
together to create the footprint we need
together to create the footprint we need to work with the farmers to gain their
to work with the farmers to gain their
to work with the farmers to gain their trust and their support to make sure
trust and their support to make sure
trust and their support to make sure that we are truly leaving a footprint
that we are truly leaving a footprint
that we are truly leaving a footprint behind on their community otherwise we
behind on their community otherwise we
behind on their community otherwise we will just be another group of foreigners
will just be another group of foreigners
will just be another group of foreigners who come and go claiming to change the
who come and go claiming to change the
who come and go claiming to change the impoverished community thank you
impoverished community thank you
impoverished community thank you [Applause]
”
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