hi good afternoon everyone as you just heard my name is Shantanu
as you just heard my name is Shantanu
as you just heard my name is Shantanu Prakash but the reason I’m here today is
Prakash but the reason I’m here today is
Prakash but the reason I’m here today is because I come from a family of refugees
because I come from a family of refugees
because I come from a family of refugees my father was a refugee in 1947 he was
my father was a refugee in 1947 he was
my father was a refugee in 1947 he was put on a train he hanged from his really
put on a train he hanged from his really
put on a train he hanged from his really comfortable existence in Lahore in
comfortable existence in Lahore in
comfortable existence in Lahore in Pakistan and thrown into a completely
Pakistan and thrown into a completely
Pakistan and thrown into a completely alien land where he knew no one not a
alien land where he knew no one not a
alien land where he knew no one not a soul well he was one of the 15 million
soul well he was one of the 15 million
soul well he was one of the 15 million or so people who were dramatically
or so people who were dramatically
or so people who were dramatically displaced during the partition of India
displaced during the partition of India
displaced during the partition of India at age 15 he had to restart his life
at age 15 he had to restart his life
at age 15 he had to restart his life from zero and today I run a global
from zero and today I run a global
from zero and today I run a global education business that operates in
education business that operates in
education business that operates in several countries of the world and
several countries of the world and
several countries of the world and employs more than 8,000 people quite a
employs more than 8,000 people quite a
employs more than 8,000 people quite a transformation in just one generation my
transformation in just one generation my
transformation in just one generation my story is by no means exceptional if you
story is by no means exceptional if you
story is by no means exceptional if you look back into history if you rewind the
look back into history if you rewind the
look back into history if you rewind the clock you’ll figure out that from from
clock you’ll figure out that from from
clock you’ll figure out that from from the times of thousands of years before
the times of thousands of years before
the times of thousands of years before Christ 740 BC the exodus from Israel go
Christ 740 BC the exodus from Israel go
Christ 740 BC the exodus from Israel go back to the Ice Ages in some sense the
back to the Ice Ages in some sense the
back to the Ice Ages in some sense the world has been shaped by this powerful
world has been shaped by this powerful
world has been shaped by this powerful thing we call refugees and migration and
thing we call refugees and migration and
thing we call refugees and migration and there are plenty of examples of people
there are plenty of examples of people
there are plenty of examples of people from more recent times exceptional
from more recent times exceptional
from more recent times exceptional people who despite having been uprooted
people who despite having been uprooted
people who despite having been uprooted from the place that gave them their
from the place that gave them their
from the place that gave them their sense of self-worth and the sense of
sense of self-worth and the sense of
sense of self-worth and the sense of self managed to leave their mark on the
self managed to leave their mark on the
self managed to leave their mark on the world have a look at some of these
world have a look at some of these
world have a look at some of these really exceptional people Sergey Brin
really exceptional people Sergey Brin
really exceptional people Sergey Brin Madeleine Albright Henry Kissinger Rita
Madeleine Albright Henry Kissinger Rita
Madeleine Albright Henry Kissinger Rita Ora Albert Einstein Sigmund Freud and of
Ora Albert Einstein Sigmund Freud and of
Ora Albert Einstein Sigmund Freud and of course Freddie Mercury we know all of
course Freddie Mercury we know all of
course Freddie Mercury we know all of them right but did we know that all of
them right but did we know that all of
them right but did we know that all of them are refugees
them are refugees
them are refugees and you might say that these are
and you might say that these are
and you might say that these are exceptionally talented people and it
exceptionally talented people and it
exceptionally talented people and it doesn’t really matter you can put them
doesn’t really matter you can put them
doesn’t really matter you can put them in any situation and these people would
in any situation and these people would
in any situation and these people would do exceedingly well well then let’s have
do exceedingly well well then let’s have
do exceedingly well well then let’s have a look at a few ordinary people have a
a look at a few ordinary people have a
a look at a few ordinary people have a look at this picture on the left is
look at this picture on the left is
look at this picture on the left is Abdul Alim he traveled 4,000 miles from
Abdul Alim he traveled 4,000 miles from
Abdul Alim he traveled 4,000 miles from Syria to Germany and he comes with a
Syria to Germany and he comes with a
Syria to Germany and he comes with a Bachelor of Science degree with
Bachelor of Science degree with
Bachelor of Science degree with distinction from the University of
distinction from the University of
distinction from the University of Damascus in the middle you have Ghulam
Damascus in the middle you have Ghulam
Damascus in the middle you have Ghulam Rasool 60 years old general manager of a
Rasool 60 years old general manager of a
Rasool 60 years old general manager of a consumer products company from Somalia
consumer products company from Somalia
consumer products company from Somalia and a PhD in social sciences but the
and a PhD in social sciences but the
and a PhD in social sciences but the world calls him a refugee and then there
world calls him a refugee and then there
world calls him a refugee and then there is young fatima Lubner all of 14 years
is young fatima Lubner all of 14 years
is young fatima Lubner all of 14 years old you can see the glint in her eyes
old you can see the glint in her eyes
old you can see the glint in her eyes because she is the topper of her class
because she is the topper of her class
because she is the topper of her class from Afghanistan I look at these
from Afghanistan I look at these
from Afghanistan I look at these so-called ordinary people and I’m
so-called ordinary people and I’m
so-called ordinary people and I’m reminded of the days when I was
reminded of the days when I was
reminded of the days when I was graduating from business school in a
graduating from business school in a
graduating from business school in a small town in India and I was thinking
small town in India and I was thinking
small town in India and I was thinking of the next big step of my life I wanted
of the next big step of my life I wanted
of the next big step of my life I wanted to start a business I wanted to become
to start a business I wanted to become
to start a business I wanted to become an entrepreneur and I spoke to my
an entrepreneur and I spoke to my
an entrepreneur and I spoke to my professor and I said look I’m the first
professor and I said look I’m the first
professor and I said look I’m the first in my family to do this I have come from
in my family to do this I have come from
in my family to do this I have come from a refugee family I’m really nervous
a refugee family I’m really nervous
a refugee family I’m really nervous about this step that I’m going to take
about this step that I’m going to take
about this step that I’m going to take so he looked at me and he said son you
so he looked at me and he said son you
so he looked at me and he said son you must take this step by all means but do
must take this step by all means but do
must take this step by all means but do some introspection first and see if you
some introspection first and see if you
some introspection first and see if you have these few qualities the capacity to
have these few qualities the capacity to
have these few qualities the capacity to deal with failure take risk have passion
deal with failure take risk have passion
deal with failure take risk have passion flexibility resilience and the ability
flexibility resilience and the ability
flexibility resilience and the ability to start again if you fall and stumble
to start again if you fall and stumble
to start again if you fall and stumble then for a moment I had some kind of an
then for a moment I had some kind of an
then for a moment I had some kind of an epiphany I thought of my dad he started
epiphany I thought of my dad he started
epiphany I thought of my dad he started as a penniless refugee he had a business
as a penniless refugee he had a business
as a penniless refugee he had a business plan but not a business plan for a
plan but not a business plan for a
plan but not a business plan for a business
business
business he had a business plan for his family
he had a business plan for his family
he had a business plan for his family and that business plan had one defining
and that business plan had one defining
and that business plan had one defining characteristic and that was how do how
characteristic and that was how do how
characteristic and that was how do how does he ensure safety and well-being for
does he ensure safety and well-being for
does he ensure safety and well-being for the family and of course the one
the family and of course the one
the family and of course the one ingredient that he believed would be the
ingredient that he believed would be the
ingredient that he believed would be the passport to success yes education well
passport to success yes education well
passport to success yes education well his determination paid off and many
his determination paid off and many
his determination paid off and many years later I graduated with a degree
years later I graduated with a degree
years later I graduated with a degree from the University he was a refugee but
from the University he was a refugee but
from the University he was a refugee but think about it he was also an
think about it he was also an
think about it he was also an entrepreneur before I started dreaming
entrepreneur before I started dreaming
entrepreneur before I started dreaming of creating business plans he had
of creating business plans he had
of creating business plans he had already built built one not for a
already built built one not for a
already built built one not for a business but for his families but the
business but for his families but the
business but for his families but the characteristics of these people we label
characteristics of these people we label
characteristics of these people we label as refugees seemed all of a sudden to me
as refugees seemed all of a sudden to me
as refugees seemed all of a sudden to me very similar to the characteristics of
very similar to the characteristics of
very similar to the characteristics of these people we glorify as entrepreneurs
these people we glorify as entrepreneurs
these people we glorify as entrepreneurs the ability to take risk create
the ability to take risk create
the ability to take risk create something where nothing exists
something where nothing exists
something where nothing exists resilience passion Drive determination
resilience passion Drive determination
resilience passion Drive determination and flexibility these brilliant young
and flexibility these brilliant young
and flexibility these brilliant young men old men women we define them as
men old men women we define them as
men old men women we define them as refugees if you look back at history I
refugees if you look back at history I
refugees if you look back at history I doubt if there’s ever been a word that
doubt if there’s ever been a word that
doubt if there’s ever been a word that is more loaded than this word we call
is more loaded than this word we call
is more loaded than this word we call refugee in fact this word is quite
refugee in fact this word is quite
refugee in fact this word is quite special it evokes a whole range of
special it evokes a whole range of
special it evokes a whole range of emotions inside us
emotions inside us
emotions inside us anger distrust compassion tolerance
anger distrust compassion tolerance
anger distrust compassion tolerance revile ment all kinds of feelings and
revile ment all kinds of feelings and
revile ment all kinds of feelings and sometimes all within the very same
sometimes all within the very same
sometimes all within the very same person but when I look at these refugees
person but when I look at these refugees
person but when I look at these refugees I see them not as refugees but as global
I see them not as refugees but as global
I see them not as refugees but as global entrepreneurs but I want you to think
entrepreneurs but I want you to think
entrepreneurs but I want you to think about refugees from a different
about refugees from a different
about refugees from a different dimension think for a moment close your
dimension think for a moment close your
dimension think for a moment close your eyes if you want
eyes if you want
eyes if you want what was there ever a moment in your
what was there ever a moment in your
what was there ever a moment in your lives when you felt unwanted uncared for
lives when you felt unwanted uncared for
lives when you felt unwanted uncared for where you felt that the whole world
where you felt that the whole world
where you felt that the whole world hated her existence and did not believe
hated her existence and did not believe
hated her existence and did not believe in your ideas
in your ideas
in your ideas nobody had faith in you remember the
nobody had faith in you remember the
nobody had faith in you remember the time when you were bullied at school
time when you were bullied at school
time when you were bullied at school the time when you were turned down in
the time when you were turned down in
the time when you were turned down in your first job interview when people
your first job interview when people
your first job interview when people posted mean comments on your facebook
posted mean comments on your facebook
posted mean comments on your facebook wall that first date when your proposal
wall that first date when your proposal
wall that first date when your proposal was turned down yes we’ve all been there
was turned down yes we’ve all been there
was turned down yes we’ve all been there we’ve all had what I call our refugee
we’ve all had what I call our refugee
we’ve all had what I call our refugee moment dear friends we are all united in
moment dear friends we are all united in
moment dear friends we are all united in this world by what I call a refugee
this world by what I call a refugee
this world by what I call a refugee moment we’ve got out of the refugee
moment we’ve got out of the refugee
moment we’ve got out of the refugee moment we built a life for ourselves but
moment we built a life for ourselves but
moment we built a life for ourselves but are we giving the same chance to the 15
are we giving the same chance to the 15
are we giving the same chance to the 15 million people in this world that the
million people in this world that the
million people in this world that the United Nations and we label as refugees
United Nations and we label as refugees
United Nations and we label as refugees are we giving them an opportunity to
are we giving them an opportunity to
are we giving them an opportunity to grow out of their refugee moment I was
grow out of their refugee moment I was
grow out of their refugee moment I was recently nominated by the World Economic
recently nominated by the World Economic
recently nominated by the World Economic Forum to something called the global
Forum to something called the global
Forum to something called the global futures Council on migration we are a
futures Council on migration we are a
futures Council on migration we are a group of about 25 people or so CEOs of
group of about 25 people or so CEOs of
group of about 25 people or so CEOs of large corporations ministers from
large corporations ministers from
large corporations ministers from different countries Director General’s
different countries Director General’s
different countries Director General’s for not-for-profit organizations and we
for not-for-profit organizations and we
for not-for-profit organizations and we all sit together and we talk we talk
all sit together and we talk we talk
all sit together and we talk we talk about solutions about integration about
about solutions about integration about
about solutions about integration about how we can make this world a better
how we can make this world a better
how we can make this world a better place for Refugees how we can resolve
place for Refugees how we can resolve
place for Refugees how we can resolve the conflict that exists today but
the conflict that exists today but
the conflict that exists today but instead of talking I decided to do
instead of talking I decided to do
instead of talking I decided to do something about it
something about it
something about it I decided to start an online Academy for
I decided to start an online Academy for
I decided to start an online Academy for Refugees not simply an academy that
Refugees not simply an academy that
Refugees not simply an academy that teach you skills a lot of them exist but
teach you skills a lot of them exist but
teach you skills a lot of them exist but an Academy for Global Entrepreneurship
an Academy for Global Entrepreneurship
an Academy for Global Entrepreneurship and Academy that would teach these
and Academy that would teach these
and Academy that would teach these people we call refugees how to transform
people we call refugees how to transform
people we call refugees how to transform how to morph the business plan of their
how to morph the business plan of their
how to morph the business plan of their lives into a sustainable economically
lives into a sustainable economically
lives into a sustainable economically viable business plan I am sure this
viable business plan I am sure this
viable business plan I am sure this Academy will have some impact maybe a
Academy will have some impact maybe a
Academy will have some impact maybe a lot of impact but what I’m really
lot of impact but what I’m really
lot of impact but what I’m really concerned about is the refugee mentality
concerned about is the refugee mentality
concerned about is the refugee mentality amongst all of us maybe instead of
amongst all of us maybe instead of
amongst all of us maybe instead of teaching the refugees maybe all of us
teaching the refugees maybe all of us
teaching the refugees maybe all of us need to learn we need to foster a sense
need to learn we need to foster a sense
need to learn we need to foster a sense of belongingness eliminate the feeling
of belongingness eliminate the feeling
of belongingness eliminate the feeling of being unwanted because friends at
of being unwanted because friends at
of being unwanted because friends at some point of time or the other in our
some point of time or the other in our
some point of time or the other in our lives we’ve all been there we’ve all
lives we’ve all been there we’ve all
lives we’ve all been there we’ve all experienced a refugee moment as you know
experienced a refugee moment as you know
experienced a refugee moment as you know I’m an entrepreneur education is a
I’m an entrepreneur education is a
I’m an entrepreneur education is a business for me but more important than
business for me but more important than
business for me but more important than a business it is a passion and even for
a business it is a passion and even for
a business it is a passion and even for a second if none of you share my passion
a second if none of you share my passion
a second if none of you share my passion for education you cannot deny that the
for education you cannot deny that the
for education you cannot deny that the advantages that all of us have often
advantages that all of us have often
advantages that all of us have often educated a skilled refugee population
educated a skilled refugee population
educated a skilled refugee population are immense and perhaps incalculable
are immense and perhaps incalculable
are immense and perhaps incalculable when can we start
when can we start
when can we start honoring the enterprising zeal of
honoring the enterprising zeal of
honoring the enterprising zeal of refugees and allow them to be a part of
refugees and allow them to be a part of
refugees and allow them to be a part of the solution instead of part of the
the solution instead of part of the
the solution instead of part of the problem if we do not invest in refugees
problem if we do not invest in refugees
problem if we do not invest in refugees today all of us will end up paying a
today all of us will end up paying a
today all of us will end up paying a really big price in the future a heavy
really big price in the future a heavy
really big price in the future a heavy burden that I’m sure none of you want to
burden that I’m sure none of you want to
burden that I’m sure none of you want to carry with yourself but if you look at
carry with yourself but if you look at
carry with yourself but if you look at the data the data puts forward an
the data the data puts forward an
the data the data puts forward an extremely decimal picture that all of us
extremely decimal picture that all of us
extremely decimal picture that all of us should be really concerned about
should be really concerned about
should be really concerned about according to the United Nations High
according to the United Nations High
according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees 3.7 million
Commission for Refugees 3.7 million
Commission for Refugees 3.7 million refugee kids in the world
refugee kids in the world
refugee kids in the world less than 40% even have a chance to get
less than 40% even have a chance to get
less than 40% even have a chance to get a basic education and that’s a violation
a basic education and that’s a violation
a basic education and that’s a violation it’s a violation of the 1951 Refugee
it’s a violation of the 1951 Refugee
it’s a violation of the 1951 Refugee Convention it’s a violation of the 1989
Convention it’s a violation of the 1989
Convention it’s a violation of the 1989 Convention on the Rights of a child but
Convention on the Rights of a child but
Convention on the Rights of a child but what are we doing about it
what are we doing about it
what are we doing about it these people who traveled thousands of
these people who traveled thousands of
these people who traveled thousands of miles are not refugees they are global
miles are not refugees they are global
miles are not refugees they are global entrepreneurs who are highly motivated
entrepreneurs who are highly motivated
entrepreneurs who are highly motivated to rebuild their lives despite all the
to rebuild their lives despite all the
to rebuild their lives despite all the hostile environment around them despite
hostile environment around them despite
hostile environment around them despite all the challenges around them when I
all the challenges around them when I
all the challenges around them when I look at refugees I see a population that
look at refugees I see a population that
look at refugees I see a population that is perhaps going to transform the world
is perhaps going to transform the world
is perhaps going to transform the world like never before and I can attest for
like never before and I can attest for
like never before and I can attest for it myself because if it hadn’t been for
it myself because if it hadn’t been for
it myself because if it hadn’t been for a few very ordinary very unassuming
a few very ordinary very unassuming
a few very ordinary very unassuming people 50 years back I wouldn’t be
people 50 years back I wouldn’t be
people 50 years back I wouldn’t be standing here in front of you today and
standing here in front of you today and
standing here in front of you today and giving this TED talk well I’m making a
giving this TED talk well I’m making a
giving this TED talk well I’m making a small beginning in my own way by setting
small beginning in my own way by setting
small beginning in my own way by setting up this Academy for Global
up this Academy for Global
up this Academy for Global Entrepreneurship for Refugees this
Entrepreneurship for Refugees this
Entrepreneurship for Refugees this Academy will provide business plans
Academy will provide business plans
Academy will provide business plans education mentorship maybe also some
education mentorship maybe also some
education mentorship maybe also some seed funding there is a big difference
seed funding there is a big difference
seed funding there is a big difference between the 740 BC world when you had
between the 740 BC world when you had
between the 740 BC world when you had this huge migration there’s a big
this huge migration there’s a big
this huge migration there’s a big difference from 1947 when 15 million
difference from 1947 when 15 million
difference from 1947 when 15 million people including my father were
people including my father were
people including my father were displaced the world has changed my
displaced the world has changed my
displaced the world has changed my friends the fourth Industrial Revolution
friends the fourth Industrial Revolution
friends the fourth Industrial Revolution is now in front of us but what’s
is now in front of us but what’s
is now in front of us but what’s different in the fourth Industrial
different in the fourth Industrial
different in the fourth Industrial Revolution can ask you this question
Revolution can ask you this question
Revolution can ask you this question what’s more important is it intellectual
what’s more important is it intellectual
what’s more important is it intellectual capital or is it financial capital
capital or is it financial capital
capital or is it financial capital what’s important the color of your skin
what’s important the color of your skin
what’s important the color of your skin are the beauty of your talent what’s
are the beauty of your talent what’s
are the beauty of your talent what’s important changing the world through the
important changing the world through the
important changing the world through the power of religion or changing the world
power of religion or changing the world
power of religion or changing the world with the power of ideas it’s more
with the power of ideas it’s more
with the power of ideas it’s more important to be a
important to be a
important to be a job creator than a job consumer isn’t it
job creator than a job consumer isn’t it
job creator than a job consumer isn’t it and it’s not important
and it’s not important
and it’s not important where you came from what passport you
where you came from what passport you
where you came from what passport you had or what label you put on yourself it
had or what label you put on yourself it
had or what label you put on yourself it is more important where you are heading
is more important where you are heading
is more important where you are heading the sad story is we all talk about
the sad story is we all talk about
the sad story is we all talk about refugees and skills and jobs but we have
refugees and skills and jobs but we have
refugees and skills and jobs but we have a bottoms-up approach to them when you
a bottoms-up approach to them when you
a bottoms-up approach to them when you look at large corporations who have
look at large corporations who have
look at large corporations who have pledged to give jobs to these refugees
pledged to give jobs to these refugees
pledged to give jobs to these refugees they are looking at the bottom of the
they are looking at the bottom of the
they are looking at the bottom of the food chain to give them jobs janitors
food chain to give them jobs janitors
food chain to give them jobs janitors people who sort out male low end jobs
people who sort out male low end jobs
people who sort out male low end jobs what I want to do is use the immense
what I want to do is use the immense
what I want to do is use the immense skills that these people already possess
skills that these people already possess
skills that these people already possess to have a top-down approach in the
to have a top-down approach in the
to have a top-down approach in the fourth Industrial Revolution 70% of the
fourth Industrial Revolution 70% of the
fourth Industrial Revolution 70% of the jobs that we think exists today will not
jobs that we think exists today will not
jobs that we think exists today will not exist over the next five years why can’t
exist over the next five years why can’t
exist over the next five years why can’t you think of these refugees these
you think of these refugees these
you think of these refugees these entrepreneurs as data scientists as
entrepreneurs as data scientists as
entrepreneurs as data scientists as programmers Internet of Things
programmers Internet of Things
programmers Internet of Things professionals like under work in
professionals like under work in
professionals like under work in artificial intelligence legal art and
artificial intelligence legal art and
artificial intelligence legal art and design we want to be top down and not
design we want to be top down and not
design we want to be top down and not top down and not bottoms up yes it seems
top down and not bottoms up yes it seems
top down and not bottoms up yes it seems kind of ambitious but is it impossible
kind of ambitious but is it impossible
kind of ambitious but is it impossible the answer is no I think all we need to
the answer is no I think all we need to
the answer is no I think all we need to do together is to provide guidance
do together is to provide guidance
do together is to provide guidance skills and more importantly a safe
skills and more importantly a safe
skills and more importantly a safe trusted and a welcoming environment so
trusted and a welcoming environment so
trusted and a welcoming environment so today dear friends I am asking you for a
today dear friends I am asking you for a
today dear friends I am asking you for a very small part of your lives if we want
very small part of your lives if we want
very small part of your lives if we want a better world for ourselves and our
a better world for ourselves and our
a better world for ourselves and our children can we make a pledge to do
children can we make a pledge to do
children can we make a pledge to do something different something new
something different something new
something different something new something hopeful a change in mindset
something hopeful a change in mindset
something hopeful a change in mindset perhaps can we smile at a refugee child
perhaps can we smile at a refugee child
perhaps can we smile at a refugee child can we go out and volunteer can we teach
can we go out and volunteer can we teach
can we go out and volunteer can we teach someone a new skill can we do something
someone a new skill can we do something
someone a new skill can we do something the
the
the or that you take to yourself today is
or that you take to yourself today is
or that you take to yourself today is going to change this world the moment
going to change this world the moment
going to change this world the moment you walk out of that door remember we
you walk out of that door remember we
you walk out of that door remember we all had a refugee moment and perhaps
all had a refugee moment and perhaps
all had a refugee moment and perhaps it’s – it’s time to transform our
it’s – it’s time to transform our
it’s – it’s time to transform our refugee moment into a refugee movement
refugee moment into a refugee movement
refugee moment into a refugee movement thank you so much
thank you so much
thank you so much [Applause]
”
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