I belong to the Generation Y I can see where a lot of Generation Y people in
where a lot of Generation Y people in
where a lot of Generation Y people in this room sociologists believe that our
this room sociologists believe that our
this room sociologists believe that our generation is afraid to commit or that
generation is afraid to commit or that
generation is afraid to commit or that we get involved in the shorter term our
we get involved in the shorter term our
we get involved in the shorter term our generation needs immediacy our
generation needs immediacy our
generation needs immediacy our generation needs things right away but
generation needs things right away but
generation needs things right away but speaking of involvement will this short
speaking of involvement will this short
speaking of involvement will this short term be enough to change things when I
term be enough to change things when I
term be enough to change things when I first got involved I only thought about
first got involved I only thought about
first got involved I only thought about the short-term effects and Here I am
the short-term effects and Here I am
the short-term effects and Here I am today it could leave me even further
today it could leave me even further
today it could leave me even further tomorrow
tomorrow
tomorrow who knows it all started when I was 15
who knows it all started when I was 15
who knows it all started when I was 15 years old my grandfather who had taken
years old my grandfather who had taken
years old my grandfather who had taken care of me had grown old
care of me had grown old
care of me had grown old he had mobility problems he could no
he had mobility problems he could no
he had mobility problems he could no longer move alone and yet he still
longer move alone and yet he still
longer move alone and yet he still wanted to travel so I went on a trip to
wanted to travel so I went on a trip to
wanted to travel so I went on a trip to France with him following our stay and
France with him following our stay and
France with him following our stay and her a nurse who accompanied the group
her a nurse who accompanied the group
her a nurse who accompanied the group wrote an article in the associations
wrote an article in the associations
wrote an article in the associations journal about the intergenerational
journal about the intergenerational
journal about the intergenerational health between the grandfather and his
health between the grandfather and his
health between the grandfather and his granddaughter me she put four words in
granddaughter me she put four words in
granddaughter me she put four words in the article the commitment that had been
the article the commitment that had been
the article the commitment that had been mine while taking part into the trip I
mine while taking part into the trip I
mine while taking part into the trip I didn’t think about that commitment I
didn’t think about that commitment I
didn’t think about that commitment I didn’t think I was getting involved it
didn’t think I was getting involved it
didn’t think I was getting involved it was only after by reading the article
was only after by reading the article
was only after by reading the article that I thought about about that concept
that I thought about about that concept
that I thought about about that concept looking back I think this was the first
looking back I think this was the first
looking back I think this was the first this is where it all started it all
this is where it all started it all
this is where it all started it all started because I was moved I got
started because I was moved I got
started because I was moved I got involved and
involved and
involved and was recognized as actively involved this
was recognized as actively involved this
was recognized as actively involved this was the starting point but I wanted to
was the starting point but I wanted to
was the starting point but I wanted to go further I wanted to go beyond my
go further I wanted to go beyond my
go further I wanted to go beyond my family reach so I looked for
family reach so I looked for
family reach so I looked for opportunities and by chance I found a
opportunities and by chance I found a
opportunities and by chance I found a poster in a school corridor about the
poster in a school corridor about the
poster in a school corridor about the NGO plan Belgium recruiting youngsters
NGO plan Belgium recruiting youngsters
NGO plan Belgium recruiting youngsters for their youth board so I became active
for their youth board so I became active
for their youth board so I became active an active member of the youth board of
an active member of the youth board of
an active member of the youth board of plan Belgium we organized raising
plan Belgium we organized raising
plan Belgium we organized raising awareness discussions and activities I
then looked for other opportunities and
then looked for other opportunities and I found new involvements I got involved
I found new involvements I got involved
I found new involvements I got involved in the Red Cross in the scouts and in
in the Red Cross in the scouts and in
in the Red Cross in the scouts and in association who are aiming to
association who are aiming to
association who are aiming to deconstruct hate speeches and unfounded
deconstruct hate speeches and unfounded
deconstruct hate speeches and unfounded prejudices and within all these actions
prejudices and within all these actions
prejudices and within all these actions I met people who gave me hope coming to
I met people who gave me hope coming to
I met people who gave me hope coming to Laveranues I also discovered a new way
Laveranues I also discovered a new way
Laveranues I also discovered a new way to get involved with the theme-based
to get involved with the theme-based
to get involved with the theme-based student housing’s this unique concept
student housing’s this unique concept
student housing’s this unique concept was created by our University and
was created by our University and
was created by our University and consists in sharing an accommodation
consists in sharing an accommodation
consists in sharing an accommodation with a group of students to work on a
with a group of students to work on a
with a group of students to work on a specific project together the project
specific project together the project
specific project together the project lasts for one year and can include
lasts for one year and can include
lasts for one year and can include social cultural and humanitarian
social cultural and humanitarian
social cultural and humanitarian activities for myself I chose a
activities for myself I chose a
activities for myself I chose a Louisville dealing with the cause of
Louisville dealing with the cause of
Louisville dealing with the cause of people with disabilities I got involved
people with disabilities I got involved
people with disabilities I got involved because I was already touched and
because I was already touched and
because I was already touched and involved for that cause of people decide
involved for that cause of people decide
involved for that cause of people decide with disabilities I’m part of the
with disabilities I’m part of the
with disabilities I’m part of the structured dialogue we’re a young group
structured dialogue we’re a young group
structured dialogue we’re a young group who wishes to gather the opinions of
who wishes to gather the opinions of
who wishes to gather the opinions of young people in Belgium on specific
young people in Belgium on specific
young people in Belgium on specific topics a priority during our
topics a priority during our
topics a priority during our consultation is to include people with
consultation is to include people with
consultation is to include people with disabilities after
disabilities after
disabilities after the opinions are gathered at European
the opinions are gathered at European
the opinions are gathered at European conferences in order to include the
conferences in order to include the
conferences in order to include the opinions of young people in European
opinions of young people in European
opinions of young people in European political decisions following my
political decisions following my
political decisions following my involvement I got other opportunities
involvement I got other opportunities
involvement I got other opportunities from friends who knew I was sensitive to
from friends who knew I was sensitive to
from friends who knew I was sensitive to society subjects and this is how I
society subjects and this is how I
society subjects and this is how I discovered academics for development I
discovered academics for development I
discovered academics for development I took over the presidency of academics
took over the presidency of academics
took over the presidency of academics for development in September 2016 with a
for development in September 2016 with a
for development in September 2016 with a team of 60 new members this this student
team of 60 new members this this student
team of 60 new members this this student organization was officially implemented
organization was officially implemented
organization was officially implemented in louvain-la-neuve two years ago and
in louvain-la-neuve two years ago and
in louvain-la-neuve two years ago and promotes sustainable development and the
promotes sustainable development and the
promotes sustainable development and the sharing of knowledge between students of
sharing of knowledge between students of
sharing of knowledge between students of various disciplines experts professors
various disciplines experts professors
various disciplines experts professors and actors in the field in order to
and actors in the field in order to
and actors in the field in order to allow students to have a positive social
allow students to have a positive social
allow students to have a positive social and lasting impact in this world
academics for development has taken a
academics for development has taken a majority of my time this year even more
majority of my time this year even more
majority of my time this year even more than my additional year of studies to
than my additional year of studies to
than my additional year of studies to become a teacher but yeah but I can
become a teacher but yeah but I can
become a teacher but yeah but I can assure you that this time has been put
assure you that this time has been put
assure you that this time has been put to good use because when you fill the
to good use because when you fill the
to good use because when you fill the largest lecture hall of your University
largest lecture hall of your University
largest lecture hall of your University campus for a conference on the subject
campus for a conference on the subject
campus for a conference on the subject that matters to you you do not waste
that matters to you you do not waste
that matters to you you do not waste your time it’s the opposite you have a
your time it’s the opposite you have a
your time it’s the opposite you have a feeling of a job well done I got
feeling of a job well done I got
feeling of a job well done I got involved in academics for development
involved in academics for development
involved in academics for development because I was moved and because I was
because I was moved and because I was
because I was moved and because I was outraged by what was happening today in
outraged by what was happening today in
outraged by what was happening today in our world I’m using outrage because I
our world I’m using outrage because I
our world I’m using outrage because I read the book time for outrage by Steve
read the book time for outrage by Steve
read the book time for outrage by Steve Emerson and this book gave me a real
Emerson and this book gave me a real
Emerson and this book gave me a real push forward to take a step further into
push forward to take a step further into
push forward to take a step further into involvement I could also say that I
involvement I could also say that I
involvement I could also say that I believe I believe in the change that my
believe I believe in the change that my
believe I believe in the change that my commitments can make thanks to my
commitments can make thanks to my
commitments can make thanks to my previous involvement
previous involvement
previous involvement and I believe that in the change the
and I believe that in the change the
and I believe that in the change the time I spent can make thanks to the
time I spent can make thanks to the
time I spent can make thanks to the inspiring people I met an experiment was
inspiring people I met an experiment was
inspiring people I met an experiment was done at the University of Cambridge
done at the University of Cambridge
done at the University of Cambridge where participants were exposed to a
where participants were exposed to a
where participants were exposed to a short video either they viewed a
short video either they viewed a
short video either they viewed a documentary on nature a comedy or the
documentary on nature a comedy or the
documentary on nature a comedy or the biography of Mother Teresa
biography of Mother Teresa
biography of Mother Teresa after the participants were asked for
after the participants were asked for
after the participants were asked for help well it’s well the research shows
help well it’s well the research shows
help well it’s well the research shows that the participants who viewed the
that the participants who viewed the
that the participants who viewed the biography of Mother Teresa
biography of Mother Teresa
biography of Mother Teresa spent twice as much time helping so
spent twice as much time helping so
spent twice as much time helping so hearing a witnessing pro-social acts
hearing a witnessing pro-social acts
hearing a witnessing pro-social acts activates the desire to become better or
activates the desire to become better or
activates the desire to become better or even to carry out pro-social acts
even to carry out pro-social acts
even to carry out pro-social acts ourselves today I would like to be the
ourselves today I would like to be the
ourselves today I would like to be the person person that encourages you to
person person that encourages you to
person person that encourages you to take that further step after being
take that further step after being
take that further step after being outreach outraged and after believing
outreach outraged and after believing
outreach outraged and after believing like the people I met gave me the
like the people I met gave me the
like the people I met gave me the motivation I needed at that time today
motivation I needed at that time today
motivation I needed at that time today in our society were constantly waiting
in our society were constantly waiting
in our society were constantly waiting for someone to bring change without ever
for someone to bring change without ever
for someone to bring change without ever thinking of changing the world ourselves
thinking of changing the world ourselves
thinking of changing the world ourselves who gives blood here well it shows that
who gives blood here well it shows that
who gives blood here well it shows that 7 out of 10 people need a blood
7 out of 10 people need a blood
7 out of 10 people need a blood transfusion throughout their life well
transfusion throughout their life well
transfusion throughout their life well only 1 out of 10 gives blood so I know
only 1 out of 10 gives blood so I know
only 1 out of 10 gives blood so I know it seems like a small gesture but it’s
it seems like a small gesture but it’s
it seems like a small gesture but it’s already a first step towards getting
already a first step towards getting
already a first step towards getting involved 93% of our young generation in
involved 93% of our young generation in
involved 93% of our young generation in Belgium believes that there are in
Belgium believes that there are in
Belgium believes that there are in Justices in our country and
Justices in our country and
Justices in our country and unfortunately we’re not 93 people % of
unfortunately we’re not 93 people % of
unfortunately we’re not 93 people % of the young people to get involved
our history will tell it to us but we
our history will tell it to us but we often forget that it always has been
often forget that it always has been
often forget that it always has been a group of engaged citizens that brought
a group of engaged citizens that brought
a group of engaged citizens that brought all the positive changes that surround
all the positive changes that surround
all the positive changes that surround us
us
us a very concrete example is happening
a very concrete example is happening
a very concrete example is happening near you did you know that it’s thanks
near you did you know that it’s thanks
near you did you know that it’s thanks to an active group of customers that the
to an active group of customers that the
to an active group of customers that the free disposable plastic bags are now
free disposable plastic bags are now
free disposable plastic bags are now forbidden in our stores
forbidden in our stores
forbidden in our stores a petition started the movement and it
a petition started the movement and it
a petition started the movement and it all started from there and in a few
all started from there and in a few
all started from there and in a few years this change will seem as obvious
years this change will seem as obvious
years this change will seem as obvious and ultimately we will consider as it
and ultimately we will consider as it
and ultimately we will consider as it never could have been otherwise by
never could have been otherwise by
never could have been otherwise by getting involved I wanted to be part of
getting involved I wanted to be part of
getting involved I wanted to be part of those citizens groups that brought
those citizens groups that brought
those citizens groups that brought positive changes and I believe that
positive changes and I believe that
positive changes and I believe that through my academics for development
through my academics for development
through my academics for development actions we will one day be the trigger
actions we will one day be the trigger
actions we will one day be the trigger of impactful changes
AFD has brought me a lot and of course I
AFD has brought me a lot and of course I spent a lot of time for that association
spent a lot of time for that association
spent a lot of time for that association of course I met people throughout the
of course I met people throughout the
of course I met people throughout the way that didn’t believe in the power of
way that didn’t believe in the power of
way that didn’t believe in the power of change we could have and of course
change we could have and of course
change we could have and of course sometimes I asked about my abilities to
sometimes I asked about my abilities to
sometimes I asked about my abilities to be part of such an ambitious group but I
be part of such an ambitious group but I
be part of such an ambitious group but I quickly realized that the positive
quickly realized that the positive
quickly realized that the positive aspects of getting involved outwitted by
aspects of getting involved outwitted by
aspects of getting involved outwitted by far the negatives once I was motivated
far the negatives once I was motivated
far the negatives once I was motivated because I learned more and more I
because I learned more and more I
because I learned more and more I acquired some new skills and new
acquired some new skills and new
acquired some new skills and new responsibilities and I felt useful one
responsibilities and I felt useful one
responsibilities and I felt useful one of the benefits of getting involved is
of the benefits of getting involved is
of the benefits of getting involved is that you get to meet a lot of new people
that you get to meet a lot of new people
that you get to meet a lot of new people and during my moments of discouragement
and during my moments of discouragement
and during my moments of discouragement I always crossed the path of someone who
I always crossed the path of someone who
I always crossed the path of someone who believes strongly in the possibility of
believes strongly in the possibility of
believes strongly in the possibility of change I was part of an optimistic group
change I was part of an optimistic group
change I was part of an optimistic group and today I stand proud to be involved
and today I stand proud to be involved
and today I stand proud to be involved I’m also here optimistic because in the
I’m also here optimistic because in the
I’m also here optimistic because in the field of in
field of in
field of in movement our society is evolving in the
movement our society is evolving in the
movement our society is evolving in the right way today politicians increasingly
right way today politicians increasingly
right way today politicians increasingly recognize the power of citizen
recognize the power of citizen
recognize the power of citizen commitments in France they have office
commitments in France they have office
commitments in France they have office they have established a system to
they have established a system to
they have established a system to officially recognize it it’s the idea of
officially recognize it it’s the idea of
officially recognize it it’s the idea of citizen path it’s like your vaccination
citizen path it’s like your vaccination
citizen path it’s like your vaccination tracking book it’s the same but for
tracking book it’s the same but for
tracking book it’s the same but for involvement by getting involved I got to
involvement by getting involved I got to
involvement by getting involved I got to meet people I got to discover a real
meet people I got to discover a real
meet people I got to discover a real movement to go forward I took a step
movement to go forward I took a step
movement to go forward I took a step further and I had some small achievement
further and I had some small achievement
further and I had some small achievement thanks to big efforts even if there were
thanks to big efforts even if there were
thanks to big efforts even if there were some failures and some never answered
some failures and some never answered
some failures and some never answered applications I was I got more and more
applications I was I got more and more
applications I was I got more and more responsibilities and all of this brought
responsibilities and all of this brought
responsibilities and all of this brought me an incredible motivation that got me
me an incredible motivation that got me
me an incredible motivation that got me to commit on the long term so more
to commit on the long term so more
to commit on the long term so more importantly one of the benefits of
importantly one of the benefits of
importantly one of the benefits of getting involved is that is that you get
getting involved is that is that you get
getting involved is that is that you get to think to think in the long term long
to think to think in the long term long
to think to think in the long term long term because the world we’re living in
term because the world we’re living in
term because the world we’re living in will not be perfect tomorrow and I will
will not be perfect tomorrow and I will
will not be perfect tomorrow and I will maybe never see the world I’m seeking
maybe never see the world I’m seeking
maybe never see the world I’m seeking but I’m getting involved because I
but I’m getting involved because I
but I’m getting involved because I believe I believe that change is
believe I believe that change is
believe I believe that change is possible and I know that everything
possible and I know that everything
possible and I know that everything takes time there’s so the small changes
takes time there’s so the small changes
takes time there’s so the small changes I make in the world today will maybe be
I make in the world today will maybe be
I make in the world today will maybe be the normality in the world of tomorrow
the normality in the world of tomorrow
the normality in the world of tomorrow and I may or may not see them but I
and I may or may not see them but I
and I may or may not see them but I trust that it’s going to happen and this
trust that it’s going to happen and this
trust that it’s going to happen and this is the big adventure of getting involved
is the big adventure of getting involved
is the big adventure of getting involved thank you
”
Be First to Comment