I know that all of you are making a difference every day every day in your
difference every day every day in your
difference every day every day in your life at home at work in your community
life at home at work in your community
life at home at work in your community but me for myself
but me for myself
but me for myself sometimes I feel I could do better I
sometimes I feel I could do better I
sometimes I feel I could do better I could do more and so therefore I want to
could do more and so therefore I want to
could do more and so therefore I want to share with you guys a very personal
share with you guys a very personal
share with you guys a very personal story today how I went from feeling
story today how I went from feeling
story today how I went from feeling completely powerless to being back in
completely powerless to being back in
completely powerless to being back in the driver’s seat let me go back a
the driver’s seat let me go back a
the driver’s seat let me go back a little bit to 2012 we were a successful
little bit to 2012 we were a successful
little bit to 2012 we were a successful startup we were working with the coolest
startup we were working with the coolest
startup we were working with the coolest brands and so this took me to Paris I
brands and so this took me to Paris I
brands and so this took me to Paris I was doing an innovation workshop for a
was doing an innovation workshop for a
was doing an innovation workshop for a famous brand and the workshops just
famous brand and the workshops just
famous brand and the workshops just ended it was a warm summer day and I
ended it was a warm summer day and I
ended it was a warm summer day and I stepped outside to find my way back to
stepped outside to find my way back to
stepped outside to find my way back to the train station I arrived at the train
the train station I arrived at the train
the train station I arrived at the train station and my train was already there
station and my train was already there
station and my train was already there so I boarded went through the hallway
so I boarded went through the hallway
so I boarded went through the hallway and found my seat on the table there was
and found my seat on the table there was
and found my seat on the table there was a news magazine probably someone left it
a news magazine probably someone left it
a news magazine probably someone left it I picked it up opened it and boom it
I picked it up opened it and boom it
I picked it up opened it and boom it struck me there was a picture of a girl
struck me there was a picture of a girl
struck me there was a picture of a girl probably four years old she was sitting
probably four years old she was sitting
probably four years old she was sitting at the beach probably somewhere in
at the beach probably somewhere in
at the beach probably somewhere in Greece she was wrapped in blankets
Greece she was wrapped in blankets
Greece she was wrapped in blankets probably some her picked her out of the
probably some her picked her out of the
probably some her picked her out of the water maybe I have to elaborate a little
water maybe I have to elaborate a little
water maybe I have to elaborate a little bit why it struck me and why I felt this
bit why it struck me and why I felt this
bit why it struck me and why I felt this strong pain I believe it is complete
strong pain I believe it is complete
strong pain I believe it is complete random that I was born in Switzerland
random that I was born in Switzerland
random that I was born in Switzerland and this girl in Syria so it could have
and this girl in Syria so it could have
and this girl in Syria so it could have been completely the other way around I
been completely the other way around I
been completely the other way around I could be sitting at that beach and the
could be sitting at that beach and the
could be sitting at that beach and the girl could be in that train and for me
girl could be in that train and for me
girl could be in that train and for me to realizing that in that moment when I
to realizing that in that moment when I
to realizing that in that moment when I was from riding this startup brawler
was from riding this startup brawler
was from riding this startup brawler toaster being super successful and
toaster being super successful and
toaster being super successful and cheered up to that point where life is
cheered up to that point where life is
cheered up to that point where life is just hitting you with the hammer that
just hitting you with the hammer that
just hitting you with the hammer that was an experience I’ve never felt before
was an experience I’ve never felt before
was an experience I’ve never felt before and when I look back to that moment it
and when I look back to that moment it
and when I look back to that moment it made me come back home and I started in
made me come back home and I started in
made me come back home and I started in Switzerland to talk to friends of mine
Switzerland to talk to friends of mine
Switzerland to talk to friends of mine about the refugee crisis and asked them
about the refugee crisis and asked them
about the refugee crisis and asked them what are you guys doing and what I could
what are you guys doing and what I could
what are you guys doing and what I could do and and I just realized we all came
do and and I just realized we all came
do and and I just realized we all came up with excuses like we had families
up with excuses like we had families
up with excuses like we had families kids employees investors in my case
kids employees investors in my case
kids employees investors in my case there were so many good excuses to not
there were so many good excuses to not
there were so many good excuses to not act at that moment and I was surprised
act at that moment and I was surprised
act at that moment and I was surprised how fast this hammer that hit me was
how fast this hammer that hit me was
how fast this hammer that hit me was fading so to be honest I didn’t do much
fading so to be honest I didn’t do much
fading so to be honest I didn’t do much sometimes I regret it a little bit that
sometimes I regret it a little bit that
sometimes I regret it a little bit that I was not acting but I didn’t do much at
I was not acting but I didn’t do much at
I was not acting but I didn’t do much at that moment and probably it is okay
that moment and probably it is okay
that moment and probably it is okay because I was not in that moment and it
because I was not in that moment and it
because I was not in that moment and it was not in my power to act there but let
was not in my power to act there but let
was not in my power to act there but let me fast forward to 2016 so 2016 we sold
me fast forward to 2016 so 2016 we sold
me fast forward to 2016 so 2016 we sold our company I was invited by the
our company I was invited by the
our company I was invited by the American government with young
American government with young
American government with young entrepreneurs to join a team in in
entrepreneurs to join a team in in
entrepreneurs to join a team in in Washington we went to Google and we had
Washington we went to Google and we had
Washington we went to Google and we had a panel and two of these European
a panel and two of these European
a panel and two of these European entrepreneurs they were on stage
entrepreneurs they were on stage
entrepreneurs they were on stage speaking on stage one of them was data
speaking on stage one of them was data
speaking on stage one of them was data and data has a coding Academy for four
and data has a coding Academy for four
and data has a coding Academy for four women in in the Czech Republic and the
women in in the Czech Republic and the
women in in the Czech Republic and the other one was Cornelia and Cornelia has
other one was Cornelia and Cornelia has
other one was Cornelia and Cornelia has a catering company where she cooks with
a catering company where she cooks with
a catering company where she cooks with refugees in Austria and those two ladies
refugees in Austria and those two ladies
refugees in Austria and those two ladies were very fascinating to me and I I said
were very fascinating to me and I I said
were very fascinating to me and I I said I I should bring one of their ideas to
I I should bring one of their ideas to
I I should bring one of their ideas to Switzerland so in the evening when we
Switzerland so in the evening when we
Switzerland so in the evening when we were all gathered in the bar I started
were all gathered in the bar I started
were all gathered in the bar I started to talk to them and I said hey Cornelia
to talk to them and I said hey Cornelia
to talk to them and I said hey Cornelia can I bring your catering idea to
can I bring your catering idea to
can I bring your catering idea to Switzerland I’m connected to the
Switzerland I’m connected to the
Switzerland I’m connected to the restaurant industry and Cornelia said
restaurant industry and Cornelia said
restaurant industry and Cornelia said maybe that’s not such a good idea
maybe that’s not such a good idea
maybe that’s not such a good idea because it’s so hard to build a catering
because it’s so hard to build a catering
because it’s so hard to build a catering business and then DITA jumped in and
business and then DITA jumped in and
business and then DITA jumped in and said hey but you could actually be a
said hey but you could actually be a
said hey but you could actually be a coding Academy for Refugees and so this
coding Academy for Refugees and so this
coding Academy for Refugees and so this picture of this girl came up again and I
picture of this girl came up again and I
picture of this girl came up again and I said okay that might be a way how I can
said okay that might be a way how I can
said okay that might be a way how I can help
help
help and I have a big network due to my
and I have a big network due to my
and I have a big network due to my entrepreneurial life in Switzerland and
entrepreneurial life in Switzerland and
entrepreneurial life in Switzerland and I suggested that night to these two
I suggested that night to these two
I suggested that night to these two women that I want to try to start a
women that I want to try to start a
women that I want to try to start a pilot in my hometown burn and that’s
pilot in my hometown burn and that’s
pilot in my hometown burn and that’s what I did so I came back and the first
what I did so I came back and the first
what I did so I came back and the first thing I did I went to a refugee camp
thing I did I went to a refugee camp
thing I did I went to a refugee camp I’ve never been to a refugee camp before
I’ve never been to a refugee camp before
I’ve never been to a refugee camp before though I went to this refugee camp and I
though I went to this refugee camp and I
though I went to this refugee camp and I started to speak with the refugees and
started to speak with the refugees and
started to speak with the refugees and asked them what do you think about the
asked them what do you think about the
asked them what do you think about the idea would you support something would
idea would you support something would
idea would you support something would you join us and I realized how highly
you join us and I realized how highly
you join us and I realized how highly they were qualified and they were not
they were qualified and they were not
they were qualified and they were not the people I thought they were and
the people I thought they were and
the people I thought they were and that’s actually my label I put to these
that’s actually my label I put to these
that’s actually my label I put to these people
people
people as I realized how much value it could be
as I realized how much value it could be
as I realized how much value it could be to these people I went out to search for
to these people I went out to search for
to these people I went out to search for funds we put together a team and already
funds we put together a team and already
funds we put together a team and already by November so one year ago we were able
by November so one year ago we were able
by November so one year ago we were able to announce our coding Academy for
to announce our coding Academy for
to announce our coding Academy for Refugees in Burnie and the feedback we
Refugees in Burnie and the feedback we
Refugees in Burnie and the feedback we got was overwhelming we got about 150
got was overwhelming we got about 150
got was overwhelming we got about 150 applicants and refugees who wanted to
applicants and refugees who wanted to
applicants and refugees who wanted to join our program we got over 100
join our program we got over 100
join our program we got over 100 volunteers people who wanted to coach
volunteers people who wanted to coach
volunteers people who wanted to coach teach coding and people who wanted to
teach coding and people who wanted to
teach coding and people who wanted to mentor these people so we were able to
mentor these people so we were able to
mentor these people so we were able to start our school in January this year a
start our school in January this year a
start our school in January this year a class of 15 people two of them are here
class of 15 people two of them are here
class of 15 people two of them are here today it was incredible how this bunch
today it was incredible how this bunch
today it was incredible how this bunch of young people were developing just
of young people were developing just
of young people were developing just seeing them like I was I was not
seeing them like I was I was not
seeing them like I was I was not teaching much but I was always sitting
teaching much but I was always sitting
teaching much but I was always sitting in front of the door and and waiting for
in front of the door and and waiting for
in front of the door and and waiting for them to take a break and and exchanging
them to take a break and and exchanging
them to take a break and and exchanging with them and see how they are doing and
with them and see how they are doing and
with them and see how they are doing and so it was it was incredible and and and
so it was it was incredible and and and
so it was it was incredible and and and the weeks passed so fast and already in
the weeks passed so fast and already in
the weeks passed so fast and already in April like our school was there lasting
April like our school was there lasting
April like our school was there lasting for 12 weeks already in April we had our
for 12 weeks already in April we had our
for 12 weeks already in April we had our graduation ceremony and you have to
graduation ceremony and you have to
graduation ceremony and you have to understand that graduation for these
understand that graduation for these
understand that graduation for these people is something more important than
people is something more important than
people is something more important than it might be for us because if you have
it might be for us because if you have
it might be for us because if you have been losing everything and you get a
been losing everything and you get a
been losing everything and you get a diploma again that’s a very very
diploma again that’s a very very
diploma again that’s a very very important moment in your life but also
important moment in your life but also
important moment in your life but also for me I didn’t expect that but also for
for me I didn’t expect that but also for
for me I didn’t expect that but also for me it was great they took me onstage the
me it was great they took me onstage the
me it was great they took me onstage the whole team of us and then lhamo debating
whole team of us and then lhamo debating
whole team of us and then lhamo debating girl in our class she came with a white
girl in our class she came with a white
girl in our class she came with a white scarf and some of you might know what a
scarf and some of you might know what a
scarf and some of you might know what a white scarf is sure
white scarf is sure
white scarf is sure so she was honoring our work and said
so she was honoring our work and said
so she was honoring our work and said thank you in her very personal cultural
thank you in her very personal cultural
thank you in her very personal cultural way to us and for me it was probably the
way to us and for me it was probably the
way to us and for me it was probably the one of the best things that
one of the best things that
one of the best things that happened to me in life like it was it
happened to me in life like it was it
happened to me in life like it was it was really really touching and and it
was really really touching and and it
was really really touching and and it felt so strong and so right so for us
felt so strong and so right so for us
felt so strong and so right so for us that meant that we had to let our
that meant that we had to let our
that meant that we had to let our students go they all found an internship
students go they all found an internship
students go they all found an internship so they went off probably I felt a
so they went off probably I felt a
so they went off probably I felt a little bit like that leaving the son go
little bit like that leaving the son go
little bit like that leaving the son go to college it was great to see them go
to college it was great to see them go
to college it was great to see them go to internship but it was also sad
to internship but it was also sad
to internship but it was also sad because I couldn’t see them every day
because I couldn’t see them every day
because I couldn’t see them every day but we kept close to each other and I
but we kept close to each other and I
but we kept close to each other and I read from them on slack and and and so
read from them on slack and and and so
read from them on slack and and and so how they are doing and I saw that they
how they are doing and I saw that they
how they are doing and I saw that they are struggling sometimes but all of them
are struggling sometimes but all of them
are struggling sometimes but all of them put a lot of effort a lot of energy and
put a lot of effort a lot of energy and
put a lot of effort a lot of energy and they really fought to be a part of our
they really fought to be a part of our
they really fought to be a part of our culture so that also made us to start
culture so that also made us to start
culture so that also made us to start powder coater Zurich so we are now six
powder coater Zurich so we are now six
powder coater Zurich so we are now six weeks into the program we are doing very
weeks into the program we are doing very
weeks into the program we are doing very well in Zurich the class even grew a bit
well in Zurich the class even grew a bit
well in Zurich the class even grew a bit so we’re 18 students here in Zurich
so we’re 18 students here in Zurich
so we’re 18 students here in Zurich we had our first interviews job
we had our first interviews job
we had our first interviews job interviews and I’m so so positive that
interviews and I’m so so positive that
interviews and I’m so so positive that they will also find all an internship
they will also find all an internship
they will also find all an internship because they are again a great brunch of
because they are again a great brunch of
because they are again a great brunch of people and the companies who are so
people and the companies who are so
people and the companies who are so eager to meet with them to integrate
eager to meet with them to integrate
eager to meet with them to integrate with them I believe integration is not
with them I believe integration is not
with them I believe integration is not just teaching to code integration is
just teaching to code integration is
just teaching to code integration is actually giving them a job and making
actually giving them a job and making
actually giving them a job and making sure that they can earn money because I
sure that they can earn money because I
sure that they can earn money because I realized when Fareed he’s also a student
realized when Fareed he’s also a student
realized when Fareed he’s also a student from the Bern class he was the first one
from the Bern class he was the first one
from the Bern class he was the first one who got offered a job when he got his
who got offered a job when he got his
who got offered a job when he got his job offered I realized that because like
job offered I realized that because like
job offered I realized that because like for him it was not just I got a job for
for him it was not just I got a job for
for him it was not just I got a job for him it was I got a job and I’m off of
him it was I got a job and I’m off of
him it was I got a job and I’m off of social welfare so I think we should not
social welfare so I think we should not
social welfare so I think we should not underestimate what that means for people
underestimate what that means for people
underestimate what that means for people to be independent again I have a very
to be independent again I have a very
to be independent again I have a very personal and a very important
personal and a very important
personal and a very important announcement to make for powerchords I
announcement to make for powerchords I
announcement to make for powerchords I have not done that in public yet because
have not done that in public yet because
have not done that in public yet because we received the letter last Wednesday we
we received the letter last Wednesday we
we received the letter last Wednesday we applied at the Swiss government to be a
applied at the Swiss government to be a
applied at the Swiss government to be a federal project and the Swiss government
federal project and the Swiss government
federal project and the Swiss government will support us with nearly half a
will support us with nearly half a
will support us with nearly half a million Swiss francs to build another
million Swiss francs to build another
million Swiss francs to build another six power coders in six different cities
six power coders in six different cities
six power coders in six different cities during the next three years it’s
during the next three years it’s
during the next three years it’s incredible
incredible
incredible [Applause]
to put that a little bit in a nutshell
to put that a little bit in a nutshell what’s what’s happening right now to us
what’s what’s happening right now to us
what’s what’s happening right now to us and dear friend of mine Hannes gossart
and dear friend of mine Hannes gossart
and dear friend of mine Hannes gossart you in Zurich might know he’s a very
you in Zurich might know he’s a very
you in Zurich might know he’s a very known IT entrepreneur and he is part of
known IT entrepreneur and he is part of
known IT entrepreneur and he is part of the power coders board and he was doing
the power coders board and he was doing
the power coders board and he was doing a speech at our opening party here in
a speech at our opening party here in
a speech at our opening party here in Zurich six weeks ago and what he said is
Zurich six weeks ago and what he said is
Zurich six weeks ago and what he said is power coders if power coders would be a
power coders if power coders would be a
power coders if power coders would be a soccer game we will probably be in the
soccer game we will probably be in the
soccer game we will probably be in the third minute and what I would add to
third minute and what I would add to
third minute and what I would add to that probably in the first game of the
that probably in the first game of the
that probably in the first game of the season so we are really really at the
season so we are really really at the
season so we are really really at the beginning and as you heard we are taking
beginning and as you heard we are taking
beginning and as you heard we are taking off for a big journey here in
off for a big journey here in
off for a big journey here in Switzerland to put all together these
Switzerland to put all together these
Switzerland to put all together these great cohorts in different cities but
great cohorts in different cities but
great cohorts in different cities but what we also want to do we want to
what we also want to do we want to
what we also want to do we want to open-source our concept we want to do it
open-source our concept we want to do it
open-source our concept we want to do it as Ted’s did we want to make it
as Ted’s did we want to make it
as Ted’s did we want to make it available to everyone we want to make it
available to everyone we want to make it
available to everyone we want to make it available to people in other cities
available to people in other cities
available to people in other cities throughout Europe maybe maybe even the
throughout Europe maybe maybe even the
throughout Europe maybe maybe even the world who are having the same
world who are having the same
world who are having the same opportunities or challenges who have
opportunities or challenges who have
opportunities or challenges who have very talented refugees and on the other
very talented refugees and on the other
very talented refugees and on the other side wakened IT jobs and so please if
side wakened IT jobs and so please if
side wakened IT jobs and so please if you know people reach out to us we want
you know people reach out to us we want
you know people reach out to us we want to empower everyone to build up our
to empower everyone to build up our
to empower everyone to build up our coders and teach coding to refugees for
coders and teach coding to refugees for
coders and teach coding to refugees for me what I discovered that I have a
me what I discovered that I have a
me what I discovered that I have a personal skill which is somehow
personal skill which is somehow
personal skill which is somehow entrepreneurial I have a skill that I
entrepreneurial I have a skill that I
entrepreneurial I have a skill that I might believe that things are possible
might believe that things are possible
might believe that things are possible who others don’t and I took that skill
who others don’t and I took that skill
who others don’t and I took that skill and put it in favor of people where
and put it in favor of people where
and put it in favor of people where Clawd where doors were closed so I was
Clawd where doors were closed so I was
Clawd where doors were closed so I was opening doors for certain people and I
opening doors for certain people and I
opening doors for certain people and I believe that everyone in this room so if
believe that everyone in this room so if
believe that everyone in this room so if you sometimes feel a little bit like I
you sometimes feel a little bit like I
you sometimes feel a little bit like I felt that you could do more or do better
felt that you could do more or do better
felt that you could do more or do better maybe start with something very personal
maybe start with something very personal
maybe start with something very personal to you what is a skill you have you
to you what is a skill you have you
to you what is a skill you have you could be put in the favour of someone
could be put in the favour of someone
could be put in the favour of someone else to open doors because I believe
else to open doors because I believe
else to open doors because I believe that the world needs all of us and I
that the world needs all of us and I
that the world needs all of us and I believe the world needs us more than
believe the world needs us more than
believe the world needs us more than ever so please join us to make the world
ever so please join us to make the world
ever so please join us to make the world a better place
a better place
a better place thank you so much
”
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