good afternoon everybody my name is Henry I’m here to talk about effective
Henry I’m here to talk about effective
Henry I’m here to talk about effective effecting change through listening many
effecting change through listening many
effecting change through listening many of us be sitting here are changemakers
of us be sitting here are changemakers
of us be sitting here are changemakers and when we want to make change we have
and when we want to make change we have
and when we want to make change we have a lot of passion I’ll say that a
a lot of passion I’ll say that a
a lot of passion I’ll say that a defining characteristics of a change
defining characteristics of a change
defining characteristics of a change maker is somebody who have a very strong
maker is somebody who have a very strong
maker is somebody who have a very strong view on what they want to see in the
view on what they want to see in the
view on what they want to see in the world and they go in to try to make that
world and they go in to try to make that
world and they go in to try to make that change a bit more mark myself I started
change a bit more mark myself I started
change a bit more mark myself I started as a volunteer since I was a student in
as a volunteer since I was a student in
as a volunteer since I was a student in 2015 I was elected member of parliament
2015 I was elected member of parliament
2015 I was elected member of parliament and a neighbor called urban borough
and a neighbor called urban borough
and a neighbor called urban borough Herman Barrow is a constituency of
Herman Barrow is a constituency of
Herman Barrow is a constituency of 40,000 residents and like many other
40,000 residents and like many other
40,000 residents and like many other places we have the needy among our myths
places we have the needy among our myths
places we have the needy among our myths and what I do is that together with
and what I do is that together with
and what I do is that together with hundreds of volunteers and professional
hundreds of volunteers and professional
hundreds of volunteers and professional social workers we try to help the needy
social workers we try to help the needy
social workers we try to help the needy so today I’m here to talk to you not in
so today I’m here to talk to you not in
so today I’m here to talk to you not in my capacity as a member of parliament
my capacity as a member of parliament
my capacity as a member of parliament but in my capacity like you being a
but in my capacity like you being a
but in my capacity like you being a change maker now the traditional concept
change maker now the traditional concept
change maker now the traditional concept of change making is to come in guns
of change making is to come in guns
of change making is to come in guns blazing and in fact change but even at
blazing and in fact change but even at
blazing and in fact change but even at best this approach have limitations
best this approach have limitations
best this approach have limitations why because even if we succeed we are at
why because even if we succeed we are at
why because even if we succeed we are at best
best
best artificial touches that the community
artificial touches that the community
artificial touches that the community would rely on which means that if we
would rely on which means that if we
would rely on which means that if we exit from the scene the change might not
exit from the scene the change might not
exit from the scene the change might not be sustained rather I see a better way
be sustained rather I see a better way
be sustained rather I see a better way of effecting change is for us as Street
of effecting change is for us as Street
of effecting change is for us as Street makers to come in
makers to come in
makers to come in unleash the energy within a community
unleash the energy within a community
unleash the energy within a community unleash it because within the community
unleash it because within the community
unleash it because within the community is not just just the needy but the
is not just just the needy but the
is not just just the needy but the capacity for change and the wisdom to do
capacity for change and the wisdom to do
capacity for change and the wisdom to do that and the way to unleash this is by
that and the way to unleash this is by
that and the way to unleash this is by listening by listening to our
listening by listening to our
listening by listening to our beneficiaries by listening to the
beneficiaries by listening to the
beneficiaries by listening to the community and by listening to the
community and by listening to the
community and by listening to the changemakers with it let me share with
changemakers with it let me share with
changemakers with it let me share with you a particular experience that I’m
you a particular experience that I’m
you a particular experience that I’m sure it resonates with many of you one
sure it resonates with many of you one
sure it resonates with many of you one day
day
day after a very long extensive effort to
after a very long extensive effort to
after a very long extensive effort to distribute groceries to many of our
distribute groceries to many of our
distribute groceries to many of our needy a few of our volunteers and myself
needy a few of our volunteers and myself
needy a few of our volunteers and myself sat down at a coffee shop
sat down at a coffee shop
sat down at a coffee shop suddenly one of our volunteers Marilyn
suddenly one of our volunteers Marilyn
suddenly one of our volunteers Marilyn she said this looked at this out
she said this looked at this out
she said this looked at this out unconsciously Henry how many cigarettes
unconsciously Henry how many cigarettes
unconsciously Henry how many cigarettes do we end up paying for today are we
do we end up paying for today are we
do we end up paying for today are we helping them are we killing them what
helping them are we killing them what
helping them are we killing them what does she mean by that well some of you
does she mean by that well some of you
does she mean by that well some of you may be aware that we give out groceries
may be aware that we give out groceries
may be aware that we give out groceries we could give out grocery belches to the
we could give out grocery belches to the
we could give out grocery belches to the needy in Singapore but what sometimes
needy in Singapore but what sometimes
needy in Singapore but what sometimes happened in some cases is that some of
happened in some cases is that some of
happened in some cases is that some of the beneficiaries they take that
the beneficiaries they take that
the beneficiaries they take that vouchers that grocery voucher and then
vouchers that grocery voucher and then
vouchers that grocery voucher and then they buy cigarettes and in the berry
they buy cigarettes and in the berry
they buy cigarettes and in the berry beer and they drink away and smoke away
beer and they drink away and smoke away
beer and they drink away and smoke away so that kind of behavior made our
so that kind of behavior made our
so that kind of behavior made our volunteers disillusioned they wonder
volunteers disillusioned they wonder
volunteers disillusioned they wonder whether or not they are helping the
whether or not they are helping the
whether or not they are helping the right people they wonder whether they
right people they wonder whether they
right people they wonder whether they are helping people in the right way so
at that point I tried to reassure them
at that point I tried to reassure them that we’re doing things the right way
that we’re doing things the right way
that we’re doing things the right way but in my heart of hearts I do know that
but in my heart of hearts I do know that
but in my heart of hearts I do know that I had no answer
so then I spent months working by
so then I spent months working by volunteers to experiment different ways
volunteers to experiment different ways
volunteers to experiment different ways Charles and errors and we realized that
Charles and errors and we realized that
Charles and errors and we realized that the power is really true the power of
the power is really true the power of
the power is really true the power of listening three ways listen to the
listening three ways listen to the
listening three ways listen to the community since 2015 I’ve gone through
community since 2015 I’ve gone through
community since 2015 I’ve gone through every household of kaboom borrow my
every household of kaboom borrow my
every household of kaboom borrow my constituency at least three times when I
constituency at least three times when I
constituency at least three times when I go there and visit with my volunteers
go there and visit with my volunteers
go there and visit with my volunteers what we do is rather than just say hi
what we do is rather than just say hi
what we do is rather than just say hi and bye we try to understand our
and bye we try to understand our
and bye we try to understand our neighbors our residents who lives there
neighbors our residents who lives there
neighbors our residents who lives there what did they do what a needy among this
what did they do what a needy among this
what did they do what a needy among this block where are the socially isolated
block where are the socially isolated
block where are the socially isolated elderly state where are the
elderly state where are the
elderly state where are the special-needs children staying where are
special-needs children staying where are
special-needs children staying where are the people of financial difficulties
the people of financial difficulties
the people of financial difficulties trained and what we do is also to stop
trained and what we do is also to stop
trained and what we do is also to stop take the community resources for example
take the community resources for example
take the community resources for example where the teachers stay who’s the former
where the teachers stay who’s the former
where the teachers stay who’s the former policeman who’s the taxi driver who are
policeman who’s the taxi driver who are
policeman who’s the taxi driver who are the nurses who wants to step forward and
the nurses who wants to step forward and
the nurses who wants to step forward and help our community and when we have to
help our community and when we have to
help our community and when we have to understand the needs of our community we
understand the needs of our community we
understand the needs of our community we then can come up with very specific
then can come up with very specific
then can come up with very specific programs in the last one year let me
programs in the last one year let me
programs in the last one year let me give you some examples we can offer free
give you some examples we can offer free
give you some examples we can offer free legal clinic for residents we came up
legal clinic for residents we came up
legal clinic for residents we came up with home delivery service of cooked
with home delivery service of cooked
with home delivery service of cooked food to the frail elderly we came up
food to the frail elderly we came up
food to the frail elderly we came up with uplifting programs for the young
with uplifting programs for the young
with uplifting programs for the young poor so and many other more but what is
poor so and many other more but what is
poor so and many other more but what is more precious than this program is it
more precious than this program is it
more precious than this program is it stems the flood of disillusionment among
stems the flood of disillusionment among
stems the flood of disillusionment among the volunteers and we actually were
the volunteers and we actually were
the volunteers and we actually were dealing with a flood of volunteers
dealing with a flood of volunteers
dealing with a flood of volunteers coming in and it also aligns everybody’s
coming in and it also aligns everybody’s
coming in and it also aligns everybody’s vision because we as a group were out
vision because we as a group were out
vision because we as a group were out there listening to our community and
there listening to our community and
there listening to our community and so the community through the same lenses
so the community through the same lenses
so the community through the same lenses so that was the first point about
so that was the first point about
so that was the first point about listening to the community the second
listening to the community the second
listening to the community the second point I’d like to make is listening to
point I’d like to make is listening to
point I’d like to make is listening to the beneficiaries this is a picture of
the beneficiaries this is a picture of
the beneficiaries this is a picture of madame ism she’s the lady in the middle
madame ism she’s the lady in the middle
madame ism she’s the lady in the middle she has three she’s a single mother she
she has three she’s a single mother she
she has three she’s a single mother she has three young kids and she has an
has three young kids and she has an
has three young kids and she has an ailing mother on the other side we
ailing mother on the other side we
ailing mother on the other side we started a program to help out young poor
started a program to help out young poor
started a program to help out young poor break off the poverty cycle so what we
break off the poverty cycle so what we
break off the poverty cycle so what we do we do we try to make sure that they
do we do we try to make sure that they
do we do we try to make sure that they learn effective parenting skills they
learn effective parenting skills they
learn effective parenting skills they try to get good jobs and we try to make
try to get good jobs and we try to make
try to get good jobs and we try to make sure that the kids go to good
sure that the kids go to good
sure that the kids go to good kindergarten and sure that they go to
kindergarten and sure that they go to
kindergarten and sure that they go to after-school care make sure they have
after-school care make sure they have
after-school care make sure they have tuition it sounds like a great idea
tuition it sounds like a great idea
tuition it sounds like a great idea right except it really wasn’t why do I
right except it really wasn’t why do I
right except it really wasn’t why do I say that because when we try to reach
say that because when we try to reach
say that because when we try to reach out to families like madam isms family
out to families like madam isms family
out to families like madam isms family many of them didn’t want to come down we
many of them didn’t want to come down we
many of them didn’t want to come down we caught them we visit them we back them
caught them we visit them we back them
caught them we visit them we back them they just didn’t come down then we went
they just didn’t come down then we went
they just didn’t come down then we went to madame ism and listened to her and
to madame ism and listened to her and
to madame ism and listened to her and she shared about her particular
she shared about her particular
she shared about her particular viewpoint
viewpoint
viewpoint she is the sole caregiver of so many
she is the sole caregiver of so many
she is the sole caregiver of so many people in her family and the reason why
people in her family and the reason why
people in her family and the reason why she’s not ballast because the kids do
she’s not ballast because the kids do
she’s not ballast because the kids do not want to come down therefore what we
not want to come down therefore what we
not want to come down therefore what we did was in response design a Kids
did was in response design a Kids
did was in response design a Kids program so that the parents are coming
program so that the parents are coming
program so that the parents are coming down and then there’s somebody taking
down and then there’s somebody taking
down and then there’s somebody taking care of the kids but then the kids were
care of the kids but then the kids were
care of the kids but then the kids were not happy because they were really
not happy because they were really
not happy because they were really bought so what we did is we experimented
bought so what we did is we experimented
bought so what we did is we experimented a lot to make sure that the kids are
a lot to make sure that the kids are
a lot to make sure that the kids are something interesting you do any
something interesting you do any
something interesting you do any eventually we found something that they
eventually we found something that they
eventually we found something that they like which is doing arts and then
like which is doing arts and then
like which is doing arts and then something beautiful happened first the
something beautiful happened first the
something beautiful happened first the kids enjoyed themselves then
kids enjoyed themselves then
kids enjoyed themselves then kids bring and drag their parents down
kids bring and drag their parents down
kids bring and drag their parents down then the parents became good friends
then the parents became good friends
then the parents became good friends very soon we found that we had a very
very soon we found that we had a very
very soon we found that we had a very strong support network of single mothers
strong support network of single mothers
strong support network of single mothers who supported each other they even
who supported each other they even
who supported each other they even exercised every week together and
exercised every week together and
exercised every week together and together they want to be more than just
together they want to be more than just
together they want to be more than just beneficiaries but also be change makers
beneficiaries but also be change makers
beneficiaries but also be change makers this is a picture of Marilyn ISM after
this is a picture of Marilyn ISM after
this is a picture of Marilyn ISM after the program instead of being a batch the
the program instead of being a batch the
the program instead of being a batch the beneficiary she said that she wants to
beneficiary she said that she wants to
beneficiary she said that she wants to help and this is her trying to manastar
help and this is her trying to manastar
help and this is her trying to manastar cell passing free clothes to her
cell passing free clothes to her
cell passing free clothes to her neighbors who are needy and this would
neighbors who are needy and this would
neighbors who are needy and this would not be happening if we didn’t listen to
not be happening if we didn’t listen to
not be happening if we didn’t listen to the beneficiaries the third point I’m
the beneficiaries the third point I’m
the beneficiaries the third point I’m trying to make is that we must listen to
trying to make is that we must listen to
trying to make is that we must listen to the change maker within and so saying
the change maker within and so saying
the change maker within and so saying earlier this is essential to unleash the
earlier this is essential to unleash the
earlier this is essential to unleash the power of the community so within
power of the community so within
power of the community so within kabamaru Institute a new system where
kabamaru Institute a new system where
kabamaru Institute a new system where every new person volunteer coming in we
every new person volunteer coming in we
every new person volunteer coming in we have in-depth conversation with them to
have in-depth conversation with them to
have in-depth conversation with them to understand what changed to you today we
understand what changed to you today we
understand what changed to you today we want to see in the world and how can we
want to see in the world and how can we
want to see in the world and how can we work with them to achieve that change
work with them to achieve that change
work with them to achieve that change not just that we used to talk to her is
not just that we used to talk to her is
not just that we used to talk to her is this thing changemakers and tap on their
this thing changemakers and tap on their
this thing changemakers and tap on their ideas to follow on the story about the
ideas to follow on the story about the
ideas to follow on the story about the program I did mention that we have a
program I did mention that we have a
program I did mention that we have a fringe program for kids right after the
fringe program for kids right after the
fringe program for kids right after the program ended the changemakers came in
program ended the changemakers came in
program ended the changemakers came in through a post-mortem and to us that
through a post-mortem and to us that
through a post-mortem and to us that they want to do more how the origin idea
they want to do more how the origin idea
they want to do more how the origin idea was that making sure that the kids from
was that making sure that the kids from
was that making sure that the kids from needy families have enough can keep up
needy families have enough can keep up
needy families have enough can keep up through tuition true true
through tuition true true
through tuition true true let’s say after-school care true
let’s say after-school care true
let’s say after-school care true kindergarten actually that was not good
kindergarten actually that was not good
kindergarten actually that was not good enough because if you start life too far
enough because if you start life too far
enough because if you start life too far away from the starting point from the
away from the starting point from the
away from the starting point from the rest just trying to keep up is not good
rest just trying to keep up is not good
rest just trying to keep up is not good enough
enough
enough what my changemakers to me was this if
what my changemakers to me was this if
what my changemakers to me was this if you want them to truly fight the way
you want them to truly fight the way
you want them to truly fight the way pass the poverty cycle pass the glass
pass the poverty cycle pass the glass
pass the poverty cycle pass the glass ceiling
ceiling
ceiling we must inspire them to passion and
we must inspire them to passion and
we must inspire them to passion and therefore it is important to have a
therefore it is important to have a
therefore it is important to have a talent discovery and telling a passion
talent discovery and telling a passion
talent discovery and telling a passion program so that they can we can assemble
program so that they can we can assemble
program so that they can we can assemble a group of people talented in different
a group of people talented in different
a group of people talented in different views organize the kids find the talent
views organize the kids find the talent
views organize the kids find the talent in the kids so that death Helen and that
in the kids so that death Helen and that
in the kids so that death Helen and that passion will propel them to fight
passion will propel them to fight
passion will propel them to fight through incredible arts in life and so
through incredible arts in life and so
through incredible arts in life and so today we are working on a program to do
today we are working on a program to do
today we are working on a program to do exactly just that cumulating in a kid’s
exactly just that cumulating in a kid’s
exactly just that cumulating in a kid’s camp and the kids performance with the
camp and the kids performance with the
camp and the kids performance with the objective of not just letting the
objective of not just letting the
objective of not just letting the students the kids exhibit the talent but
students the kids exhibit the talent but
students the kids exhibit the talent but more importantly to allow the parents to
more importantly to allow the parents to
more importantly to allow the parents to see the passion and to be encouraged by
see the passion and to be encouraged by
see the passion and to be encouraged by that this is a mock-up website of a new
that this is a mock-up website of a new
that this is a mock-up website of a new effort that we’re doing it is called hop
effort that we’re doing it is called hop
effort that we’re doing it is called hop collective by lunch we have by now 15
collective by lunch we have by now 15
collective by lunch we have by now 15 grown-up initiatives focusing on social
grown-up initiatives focusing on social
grown-up initiatives focusing on social work in Cuban borough we feel that not
work in Cuban borough we feel that not
work in Cuban borough we feel that not just by listening we have to empower our
just by listening we have to empower our
just by listening we have to empower our changemakers so we created this platform
changemakers so we created this platform
changemakers so we created this platform for residents to come in to think about
for residents to come in to think about
for residents to come in to think about all the causes that can volunteer also
all the causes that can volunteer also
all the causes that can volunteer also for fellow changemakers to come in to
for fellow changemakers to come in to
for fellow changemakers to come in to understand what resources are available
understand what resources are available
understand what resources are available to change make and we are also making
to change make and we are also making
to change make and we are also making sure that even for people who don’t see
sure that even for people who don’t see
sure that even for people who don’t see a cost that currently associate that
a cost that currently associate that
a cost that currently associate that with they have the toolkits to come in
with they have the toolkits to come in
with they have the toolkits to come in and empower them after the toolkits to
and empower them after the toolkits to
and empower them after the toolkits to change the community so some of this
change the community so some of this
change the community so some of this ideas that come out ah
ideas that come out ah
ideas that come out ah for example they want to form a group
for example they want to form a group
for example they want to form a group called tech for good to use technology
called tech for good to use technology
called tech for good to use technology to help community Saudi programs they
to help community Saudi programs they
to help community Saudi programs they are coming up is also an incubation
are coming up is also an incubation
are coming up is also an incubation service
service
service for other change making efforts from the
for other change making efforts from the
for other change making efforts from the ground up and we are just getting
ground up and we are just getting
ground up and we are just getting started so I’d like to conclude this
started so I’d like to conclude this
started so I’d like to conclude this story about listening by a sharing of it
story about listening by a sharing of it
story about listening by a sharing of it an interesting and adult that I but from
an interesting and adult that I but from
an interesting and adult that I but from another TED talk there’s a TED talk by
another TED talk there’s a TED talk by
another TED talk there’s a TED talk by Italian change maker he was into
Italian change maker he was into
Italian change maker he was into development they ate in Africa and he
development they ate in Africa and he
development they ate in Africa and he was part of this group where they would
was part of this group where they would
was part of this group where they would transfer the best know-how from Italy to
transfer the best know-how from Italy to
transfer the best know-how from Italy to Zambia
Zambia
Zambia so the Italians were extremely
so the Italians were extremely
so the Italians were extremely passionate about a practical cost
passionate about a practical cost
passionate about a practical cost growing excellent beautiful big Tomatoes
growing excellent beautiful big Tomatoes
growing excellent beautiful big Tomatoes so do they brought this a wonderful idea
so do they brought this a wonderful idea
so do they brought this a wonderful idea over to the Zambians and for some
over to the Zambians and for some
over to the Zambians and for some reasons the Zambians didn’t bite on this
reasons the Zambians didn’t bite on this
reasons the Zambians didn’t bite on this idea but never mind the changemakers
idea but never mind the changemakers
idea but never mind the changemakers persisted and in the end they succeeded
persisted and in the end they succeeded
persisted and in the end they succeeded in growing big fat beautiful tomatoes
in growing big fat beautiful tomatoes
in growing big fat beautiful tomatoes until the hippos came in at all of them
until the hippos came in at all of them
until the hippos came in at all of them of course the italians were really upset
of course the italians were really upset
of course the italians were really upset with the hippos and they asked his
with the hippos and they asked his
with the hippos and they asked his ambience why didn’t you tell us that in
ambience why didn’t you tell us that in
ambience why didn’t you tell us that in zambia he posts eat tomatoes then the
zambia he posts eat tomatoes then the
zambia he posts eat tomatoes then the Zambians responded but you didn’t ask
Zambians responded but you didn’t ask
Zambians responded but you didn’t ask you didn’t ask
you didn’t ask
you didn’t ask it’s the same as saying you’re not
it’s the same as saying you’re not
it’s the same as saying you’re not listening so all around the world change
listening so all around the world change
listening so all around the world change makers are beginning to understand and
makers are beginning to understand and
makers are beginning to understand and tap on the power of listening so I hope
tap on the power of listening so I hope
tap on the power of listening so I hope that when we go back after the talk
that when we go back after the talk
that when we go back after the talk today whether or not we are trying to
today whether or not we are trying to
today whether or not we are trying to affect change in the community on the
affect change in the community on the
affect change in the community on the business or in in the personal space
business or in in the personal space
business or in in the personal space when we want to do so let’s not charge
when we want to do so let’s not charge
when we want to do so let’s not charge in with a preconceived notion but focus
in with a preconceived notion but focus
in with a preconceived notion but focus on listening because it matters and your
on listening because it matters and your
on listening because it matters and your shape the way in which we want to change
shape the way in which we want to change
shape the way in which we want to change the world and thank you so much for
the world and thank you so much for
the world and thank you so much for listening
listening
listening [Applause]
”
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