[Music] even though the photo might not show it
even though the photo might not show it
even though the photo might not show it I’m a normal kid from London I was born
I’m a normal kid from London I was born
I’m a normal kid from London I was born and raised there I’m 19 years old now
and raised there I’m 19 years old now
and raised there I’m 19 years old now I’m traveling for a few months and my
I’m traveling for a few months and my
I’m traveling for a few months and my parents are from Uganda they were kicked
parents are from Uganda they were kicked
parents are from Uganda they were kicked out of Uganda in 1972 when idi amin
out of Uganda in 1972 when idi amin
out of Uganda in 1972 when idi amin giridih buddha qudrat the indians from
giridih buddha qudrat the indians from
giridih buddha qudrat the indians from Uganda and I never planned on going to
Uganda and I never planned on going to
Uganda and I never planned on going to India my parents always used to say to
India my parents always used to say to
India my parents always used to say to me hey Shawn if you don’t do homework
me hey Shawn if you don’t do homework
me hey Shawn if you don’t do homework i’m going to send you to india and it
i’m going to send you to india and it
i’m going to send you to india and it was always the kind of impression I had
was always the kind of impression I had
was always the kind of impression I had the India was a place where you go when
the India was a place where you go when
the India was a place where you go when you when things aren’t going well when
you when things aren’t going well when
you when things aren’t going well when you’re badly behaved and I had this
you’re badly behaved and I had this
you’re badly behaved and I had this picture in my mind that India was just
picture in my mind that India was just
picture in my mind that India was just unpleasant so it would never would have
unpleasant so it would never would have
unpleasant so it would never would have crossed my mind I would have been coming
crossed my mind I would have been coming
crossed my mind I would have been coming here to India as regularly as I have so
here to India as regularly as I have so
here to India as regularly as I have so in 2013 my mom came to me and she was
in 2013 my mom came to me and she was
in 2013 my mom came to me and she was like guess what you’re doing this summer
like guess what you’re doing this summer
like guess what you’re doing this summer you’re going to India and I was I hope I
you’re going to India and I was I hope I
you’re going to India and I was I hope I done wrong this time and she she came to
done wrong this time and she she came to
done wrong this time and she she came to me she like look this program 10 days
me she like look this program 10 days
me she like look this program 10 days long go there explore see what you learn
long go there explore see what you learn
long go there explore see what you learn and I didn’t know they would change my
and I didn’t know they would change my
and I didn’t know they would change my life the way it did I was only a 10 day
life the way it did I was only a 10 day
life the way it did I was only a 10 day program so I didn’t really have an
program so I didn’t really have an
program so I didn’t really have an opportunity to volunteer what to serve
opportunity to volunteer what to serve
opportunity to volunteer what to serve others in any way but um it was an
others in any way but um it was an
others in any way but um it was an opportunity for me to learn about myself
opportunity for me to learn about myself
opportunity for me to learn about myself and to learn about the kind of person
and to learn about the kind of person
and to learn about the kind of person that I was going to become and I think
that I was going to become and I think
that I was going to become and I think there was two experiences on this trip
there was two experiences on this trip
there was two experiences on this trip that really shaped shaped my life the
that really shaped shaped my life the
that really shaped shaped my life the first one was I got to shadow a jawala
first one was I got to shadow a jawala
first one was I got to shadow a jawala so I spent a whole day from morning till
so I spent a whole day from morning till
so I spent a whole day from morning till night with this chai wallah and I made
night with this chai wallah and I made
night with this chai wallah and I made tea I cleaned the dishes I serve tea to
tea I cleaned the dishes I serve tea to
tea I cleaned the dishes I serve tea to the customers and I kept track of the
the customers and I kept track of the
the customers and I kept track of the money that we were making throughout the
money that we were making throughout the
money that we were making throughout the day and this experience was really
day and this experience was really
day and this experience was really eye-opening for me because we put in so
eye-opening for me because we put in so
eye-opening for me because we put in so much work and work so hard by the end of
much work and work so hard by the end of
much work and work so hard by the end of the day I was on the floor I was so
the day I was on the floor I was so
the day I was on the floor I was so tired and we’d made few hundred rupees
tired and we’d made few hundred rupees
tired and we’d made few hundred rupees not much but at the end of the day this
not much but at the end of the day this
not much but at the end of the day this joy while I was smiling saying that he
joy while I was smiling saying that he
joy while I was smiling saying that he was just happy to be able to use that
was just happy to be able to use that
was just happy to be able to use that money and to provide for his kids and
money and to provide for his kids and
money and to provide for his kids and that he was proud of the fact that he
that he was proud of the fact that he
that he was proud of the fact that he had his own company and that he was able
had his own company and that he was able
had his own company and that he was able to represent his family and himself in
to represent his family and himself in
to represent his family and himself in this community so that pride and
this community so that pride and
this community so that pride and energy that he had in his work was
energy that he had in his work was
energy that he had in his work was something that really inspired me and
something that really inspired me and
something that really inspired me and still inspires me today the second
still inspires me today the second
still inspires me today the second experience which shaped my life was just
experience which shaped my life was just
experience which shaped my life was just spending time with all the kids from the
spending time with all the kids from the
spending time with all the kids from the different schools the different
different schools the different
different schools the different communities the different hostels and
communities the different hostels and
communities the different hostels and there was a real contrast that i found
there was a real contrast that i found
there was a real contrast that i found when comparing these kids my friends in
when comparing these kids my friends in
when comparing these kids my friends in ahmedabad to my friends in London and
ahmedabad to my friends in London and
ahmedabad to my friends in London and the thing that I found was that from the
the thing that I found was that from the
the thing that I found was that from the outside perspective we thought these
outside perspective we thought these
outside perspective we thought these kids in ahmedabad had nothing we thought
kids in ahmedabad had nothing we thought
kids in ahmedabad had nothing we thought they were poor we thought they were
they were poor we thought they were
they were poor we thought they were living in poverty but they were content
living in poverty but they were content
living in poverty but they were content and grateful for just being there with
and grateful for just being there with
and grateful for just being there with their friends for having something basic
their friends for having something basic
their friends for having something basic to eat every day and they were much
to eat every day and they were much
to eat every day and they were much happier than my friends back home in
happier than my friends back home in
happier than my friends back home in London whereas I have friends in London
London whereas I have friends in London
London whereas I have friends in London who drive nice cars you have a nice
who drive nice cars you have a nice
who drive nice cars you have a nice house but they’re not happy they want
house but they’re not happy they want
house but they’re not happy they want more they’ll never be like at a point
more they’ll never be like at a point
more they’ll never be like at a point whether fulfilled is what they have so
whether fulfilled is what they have so
whether fulfilled is what they have so that experience for me was really
that experience for me was really
that experience for me was really eye-opening to because kind of gave me a
eye-opening to because kind of gave me a
eye-opening to because kind of gave me a real sense of perspective into life and
real sense of perspective into life and
real sense of perspective into life and it made me realize that Who am I really
it made me realize that Who am I really
it made me realize that Who am I really like really I just wanted to try and
like really I just wanted to try and
like really I just wanted to try and find myself over the coming years and
find myself over the coming years and
find myself over the coming years and like one of the ways I did that was when
like one of the ways I did that was when
like one of the ways I did that was when I went home I spoke to my friends and I
I went home I spoke to my friends and I
I went home I spoke to my friends and I said to my friends that we need to do
said to my friends that we need to do
said to my friends that we need to do something to make a difference even if
something to make a difference even if
something to make a difference even if it’s only to a few people we can’t sit
it’s only to a few people we can’t sit
it’s only to a few people we can’t sit at home we can’t waste our time we have
at home we can’t waste our time we have
at home we can’t waste our time we have to do something positive which makes a
to do something positive which makes a
to do something positive which makes a difference to some people’s lives at
difference to some people’s lives at
difference to some people’s lives at least and my friends are really
least and my friends are really
least and my friends are really supportive they’re really encouraging
supportive they’re really encouraging
supportive they’re really encouraging and we said okay we’re young people were
and we said okay we’re young people were
and we said okay we’re young people were 15 years old what can we do to make this
15 years old what can we do to make this
15 years old what can we do to make this difference and we thought let’s let’s
difference and we thought let’s let’s
difference and we thought let’s let’s get what young people like doing they
get what young people like doing they
get what young people like doing they like to party so we organized the party
like to party so we organized the party
like to party so we organized the party for people our age in a small hole in
for people our age in a small hole in
for people our age in a small hole in the community and we charge people to
the community and we charge people to
the community and we charge people to enter we raised I think about two lakhs
enter we raised I think about two lakhs
enter we raised I think about two lakhs which is in the bigger picture it’s not
which is in the bigger picture it’s not
which is in the bigger picture it’s not a lot of money but it was it was the
a lot of money but it was it was the
a lot of money but it was it was the process of doing it it marketing it
process of doing it it marketing it
process of doing it it marketing it selling it making it part of our lives
selling it making it part of our lives
selling it making it part of our lives for a few months and when we raise that
for a few months and when we raise that
for a few months and when we raise that money we thought now we raised them when
money we thought now we raised them when
money we thought now we raised them when you what can we do with it so in the
you what can we do with it so in the
you what can we do with it so in the community that I visited in ahmedabad
community that I visited in ahmedabad
community that I visited in ahmedabad there was always a lot of kids playing
there was always a lot of kids playing
there was always a lot of kids playing football on the streets with a can or a
football on the streets with a can or a
football on the streets with a can or a not very good ball and there’d be glass
not very good ball and there’d be glass
not very good ball and there’d be glass on the streets and they did not really
on the streets and they did not really
on the streets and they did not really have a
have a
have a pleasant experience playing they’d cut
pleasant experience playing they’d cut
pleasant experience playing they’d cut their feet dead get tired very easily
their feet dead get tired very easily
their feet dead get tired very easily because of the heat so we thought let’s
because of the heat so we thought let’s
because of the heat so we thought let’s construct a small sports facility which
construct a small sports facility which
construct a small sports facility which is just safe and and okay for them to
is just safe and and okay for them to
is just safe and and okay for them to use and we did that we took a swamp and
use and we did that we took a swamp and
use and we did that we took a swamp and we made that swamp into a ground with
we made that swamp into a ground with
we made that swamp into a ground with sand and these kids now play on it every
sand and these kids now play on it every
sand and these kids now play on it every day and we’ve got some real stories from
day and we’ve got some real stories from
day and we’ve got some real stories from this ground which still push me and one
this ground which still push me and one
this ground which still push me and one of those stories is there was a young
of those stories is there was a young
of those stories is there was a young girl who left school in second grade and
girl who left school in second grade and
girl who left school in second grade and she left school because she wanted to
she left school because she wanted to
she left school because she wanted to get involved in gambling and other bad
get involved in gambling and other bad
get involved in gambling and other bad habits that for a girl so young it’s
habits that for a girl so young it’s
habits that for a girl so young it’s really can damage your life and people
really can damage your life and people
really can damage your life and people in the community thought she was going
in the community thought she was going
in the community thought she was going really downhill in the wrong direction
really downhill in the wrong direction
really downhill in the wrong direction and then she got involved in this sports
and then she got involved in this sports
and then she got involved in this sports program and she started training every
program and she started training every
program and she started training every day she started becoming a an athlete
day she started becoming a an athlete
day she started becoming a an athlete and just recently a few months ago she’s
and just recently a few months ago she’s
and just recently a few months ago she’s now representing goodra and state level
now representing goodra and state level
now representing goodra and state level competitions because of this small of
competitions because of this small of
competitions because of this small of this small ground that we manage to
this small ground that we manage to
this small ground that we manage to construct and it’s it’s a small story
construct and it’s it’s a small story
construct and it’s it’s a small story it’s one person’s life but it shows that
it’s one person’s life but it shows that
it’s one person’s life but it shows that just without any effort without just a
just without any effort without just a
just without any effort without just a just a few friends coming together not
just a few friends coming together not
just a few friends coming together not investing any money just putting a bit
investing any money just putting a bit
investing any money just putting a bit of time in and organizing this event we
of time in and organizing this event we
of time in and organizing this event we were able to do something which impacted
were able to do something which impacted
were able to do something which impacted someone’s life another story which is
someone’s life another story which is
someone’s life another story which is really inspiring for me is that there’s
really inspiring for me is that there’s
really inspiring for me is that there’s a young boy named Meyer he has been a
a young boy named Meyer he has been a
a young boy named Meyer he has been a friend of mine since I went the first
friend of mine since I went the first
friend of mine since I went the first time in 2013 he’s about my age and this
time in 2013 he’s about my age and this
time in 2013 he’s about my age and this boy he’s from a slum community so
boy he’s from a slum community so
boy he’s from a slum community so everyone told him that you’re never
everyone told him that you’re never
everyone told him that you’re never going to be a professional football
going to be a professional football
going to be a professional football player and he he never let that get him
player and he he never let that get him
player and he he never let that get him down since 2013 every single day I’ve
down since 2013 every single day I’ve
down since 2013 every single day I’ve seen him training and working hard and
seen him training and working hard and
seen him training and working hard and even if it’s on his own he’ll take a
even if it’s on his own he’ll take a
even if it’s on his own he’ll take a football he’ll go out into the into the
football he’ll go out into the into the
football he’ll go out into the into the streets and play and he never stopped
streets and play and he never stopped
streets and play and he never stopped doing that and just the other day he
doing that and just the other day he
doing that and just the other day he could me up crying saying I just got
could me up crying saying I just got
could me up crying saying I just got selected for the ahmedabad football team
selected for the ahmedabad football team
selected for the ahmedabad football team and to see people doing small things to
and to see people doing small things to
and to see people doing small things to achieve their dreams because of
achieve their dreams because of
achieve their dreams because of something smaller we did is what pushes
something smaller we did is what pushes
something smaller we did is what pushes me and it started to make me believe
me and it started to make me believe
me and it started to make me believe that young people are really capable of
that young people are really capable of
that young people are really capable of making a difference like we were 15 year
making a difference like we were 15 year
making a difference like we were 15 year old 15 year old children we raised a bit
old 15 year old children we raised a bit
old 15 year old children we raised a bit of money we constructed a sports
of money we constructed a sports
of money we constructed a sports facility anyone can do it we were just
facility anyone can do it we were just
facility anyone can do it we were just read normal kids
read normal kids
read normal kids and this project really shifted my
and this project really shifted my
and this project really shifted my mindset to make me believe that this is
mindset to make me believe that this is
mindset to make me believe that this is possible and made me believe that we can
possible and made me believe that we can
possible and made me believe that we can maybe grow this if if a normal kid like
maybe grow this if if a normal kid like
maybe grow this if if a normal kid like me who used to just lounge on the sofa
me who used to just lounge on the sofa
me who used to just lounge on the sofa and play fifa can come from that and be
and play fifa can come from that and be
and play fifa can come from that and be motivated to make a change then why
motivated to make a change then why
motivated to make a change then why can’t any other young person be
can’t any other young person be
can’t any other young person be motivated to make a change just by
motivated to make a change just by
motivated to make a change just by experiencing something so we thought
experiencing something so we thought
experiencing something so we thought what can we do in our local community
what can we do in our local community
what can we do in our local community which gets young people involved in
which gets young people involved in
which gets young people involved in making a difference without having to
making a difference without having to
making a difference without having to travel with because not everyone can
travel with because not everyone can
travel with because not everyone can travel to India for this experience so
travel to India for this experience so
travel to India for this experience so we created a concept with the homeless
we created a concept with the homeless
we created a concept with the homeless drive and the idea is that young people
drive and the idea is that young people
drive and the idea is that young people from all around the world they’ll come
from all around the world they’ll come
from all around the world they’ll come together in their local community no
together in their local community no
together in their local community no pack bags consisting of blankets food
pack bags consisting of blankets food
pack bags consisting of blankets food hygiene items and whatever they feel
hygiene items and whatever they feel
hygiene items and whatever they feel that they’re homeless community needs
that they’re homeless community needs
that they’re homeless community needs and they’ll pack individual resource
and they’ll pack individual resource
and they’ll pack individual resource kits and it’s not about the kits it’s
kits and it’s not about the kits it’s
kits and it’s not about the kits it’s that they spend about 20 to 30 minutes
that they spend about 20 to 30 minutes
that they spend about 20 to 30 minutes with each homeless person they’ll find
with each homeless person they’ll find
with each homeless person they’ll find out their story and it kind of teaches
out their story and it kind of teaches
out their story and it kind of teaches them that it only takes one bad
them that it only takes one bad
them that it only takes one bad experience to put someone on the street
experience to put someone on the street
experience to put someone on the street and it’s a really humbling experience
and it’s a really humbling experience
and it’s a really humbling experience for anyone who comes on and we’ve had
for anyone who comes on and we’ve had
for anyone who comes on and we’ve had days that we thought homeless drives and
days that we thought homeless drives and
days that we thought homeless drives and there’s been over 250 young people
there’s been over 250 young people
there’s been over 250 young people attending these drives on single days
attending these drives on single days
attending these drives on single days and this is what we do to get young
and this is what we do to get young
and this is what we do to get young people involved in this project because
people involved in this project because
people involved in this project because these homeless drives even though we do
these homeless drives even though we do
these homeless drives even though we do this stuff that the aim of the homeless
this stuff that the aim of the homeless
this stuff that the aim of the homeless tribe is not to serve the homeless the
tribe is not to serve the homeless the
tribe is not to serve the homeless the aim of the homeless drive is to serve
aim of the homeless drive is to serve
aim of the homeless drive is to serve the young people who are coming out and
the young people who are coming out and
the young people who are coming out and who are carrying out the active service
who are carrying out the active service
who are carrying out the active service because we want people to believe that
because we want people to believe that
because we want people to believe that they just need to take 10 minutes out of
they just need to take 10 minutes out of
they just need to take 10 minutes out of their day to help someone and that they
their day to help someone and that they
their day to help someone and that they can see the impact that their company
can see the impact that their company
can see the impact that their company and their their resource pack is having
and their their resource pack is having
and their their resource pack is having on this one person’s life so this is
on this one person’s life so this is
on this one person’s life so this is something we’ve been doing for many
something we’ve been doing for many
something we’ve been doing for many years now and we’ve carried them out all
years now and we’ve carried them out all
years now and we’ve carried them out all around the world london San Francisco in
around the world london San Francisco in
around the world london San Francisco in Africa and across Asia and it’s just
Africa and across Asia and it’s just
Africa and across Asia and it’s just something simple that young people can
something simple that young people can
something simple that young people can do and this concept really started to
do and this concept really started to
do and this concept really started to spiral and a lot of young people started
spiral and a lot of young people started
spiral and a lot of young people started getting involved in the youth project
getting involved in the youth project
getting involved in the youth project and it’s starting to prove that youth
and it’s starting to prove that youth
and it’s starting to prove that youth mindsets are changing we are able to
mindsets are changing we are able to
mindsets are changing we are able to make a difference young people from all
make a difference young people from all
make a difference young people from all around the world have come together as
around the world have come together as
around the world have come together as part of the youth project we have 1500
part of the youth project we have 1500
part of the youth project we have 1500 volunteers across 14 countries we have
volunteers across 14 countries we have
volunteers across 14 countries we have 115 projects ranging from a magazine to
115 projects ranging from a magazine to
115 projects ranging from a magazine to to a to the homeless drives to opening a
to a to the homeless drives to opening a
to a to the homeless drives to opening a school in ahmedabad all these different
school in ahmedabad all these different
school in ahmedabad all these different projects that people have had as ideas
projects that people have had as ideas
projects that people have had as ideas they’ve managed to make it happen
they’ve managed to make it happen
they’ve managed to make it happen because we try to prove that if you have
because we try to prove that if you have
because we try to prove that if you have an idea and if you really believe you
an idea and if you really believe you
an idea and if you really believe you can do it you can do it your age doesn’t
can do it you can do it your age doesn’t
can do it you can do it your age doesn’t matter your circumstance doesn’t matter
matter your circumstance doesn’t matter
matter your circumstance doesn’t matter where you come from doesn’t matter
where you come from doesn’t matter
where you come from doesn’t matter anyone can make a difference and that’s
anyone can make a difference and that’s
anyone can make a difference and that’s really what we believe as part of the
really what we believe as part of the
really what we believe as part of the youth project yeah thank you
youth project yeah thank you
youth project yeah thank you [Applause]
”
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