what an honor it is to be back here in the city of social impact
the city of social impact
the city of social impact speaking about give work so I want to
speaking about give work so I want to
speaking about give work so I want to start with what I hope is a hopeful fact
start with what I hope is a hopeful fact
start with what I hope is a hopeful fact which is that the world is actually
which is that the world is actually
which is that the world is actually getting better despite all of the
getting better despite all of the
getting better despite all of the headlines on indicators of poverty and
headlines on indicators of poverty and
headlines on indicators of poverty and other aspects of human well-being we’re
other aspects of human well-being we’re
other aspects of human well-being we’re actually better than we’ve been at any
actually better than we’ve been at any
actually better than we’ve been at any time since the dawn of Agriculture and
time since the dawn of Agriculture and
time since the dawn of Agriculture and yet we still have a persistent problem
yet we still have a persistent problem
yet we still have a persistent problem which is that we still have over a
which is that we still have over a
which is that we still have over a billion people living on less than about
billion people living on less than about
billion people living on less than about a dollar a day and when I share those
a dollar a day and when I share those
a dollar a day and when I share those numbers that’s actually adjusted for
numbers that’s actually adjusted for
numbers that’s actually adjusted for purchasing power so that’s what a dollar
purchasing power so that’s what a dollar
purchasing power so that’s what a dollar would buy you in the u.s. in 2011 in an
would buy you in the u.s. in 2011 in an
would buy you in the u.s. in 2011 in an average City so this deep poverty is the
average City so this deep poverty is the
average City so this deep poverty is the root cause of so many of the issues that
root cause of so many of the issues that
root cause of so many of the issues that we try to solve downstream through
we try to solve downstream through
we try to solve downstream through philanthropy issues like the lack of
philanthropy issues like the lack of
philanthropy issues like the lack of clean water issues like the fact that
clean water issues like the fact that
clean water issues like the fact that 300,000 women are dying in childbirth
300,000 women are dying in childbirth
300,000 women are dying in childbirth around the world each year and the main
around the world each year and the main
around the world each year and the main cause of this is poverty the World
cause of this is poverty the World
cause of this is poverty the World Health Organization estimates that 99
Health Organization estimates that 99
Health Organization estimates that 99 percent of these deaths are due to
percent of these deaths are due to
percent of these deaths are due to poverty it’s why we have close to a
poverty it’s why we have close to a
poverty it’s why we have close to a billion people living without access to
billion people living without access to
billion people living without access to clean water and over 2 billion people
clean water and over 2 billion people
clean water and over 2 billion people living without access to sanitation
living without access to sanitation
living without access to sanitation let me humanize this for you this is a
let me humanize this for you this is a
let me humanize this for you this is a young man named Ken ki Hara and his
young man named Ken ki Hara and his
young man named Ken ki Hara and his daughter Rosaline and I met Ken several
daughter Rosaline and I met Ken several
daughter Rosaline and I met Ken several years ago in Masari which is a giant
years ago in Masari which is a giant
years ago in Masari which is a giant slum in Kenya where over half a million
slum in Kenya where over half a million
slum in Kenya where over half a million people live on less than a few dollars a
people live on less than a few dollars a
people live on less than a few dollars a day now Ken was actually a success story
day now Ken was actually a success story
day now Ken was actually a success story he had gotten a scholarship and made it
he had gotten a scholarship and made it
he had gotten a scholarship and made it to one of the best high schools in Kenya
to one of the best high schools in Kenya
to one of the best high schools in Kenya and even managed to graduate and you
and even managed to graduate and you
and even managed to graduate and you would think that this would be Ken’s
would think that this would be Ken’s
would think that this would be Ken’s happily ever after’ story no longer will
happily ever after’ story no longer will
happily ever after’ story no longer will he end up a statistic he’ll go on and
he end up a statistic he’ll go on and
he end up a statistic he’ll go on and get a good job and move his family out
get a good job and move his family out
get a good job and move his family out of the slum however like so many young
of the slum however like so many young
of the slum however like so many young people in developing countries where
people in developing countries where
people in developing countries where there’s very high youth unemployment in
there’s very high youth unemployment in
there’s very high youth unemployment in Kenya it’s 70% ken was forced after
Kenya it’s 70% ken was forced after
Kenya it’s 70% ken was forced after graduating from high school and speaking
graduating from high school and speaking
graduating from high school and speaking beautiful English to move back to the
beautiful English to move back to the
beautiful English to move back to the slum and join the informal economy
slum and join the informal economy
slum and join the informal economy now the informal economy is how over a
now the informal economy is how over a
now the informal economy is how over a billion people around the world work and
billion people around the world work and
billion people around the world work and still earn less than a dollar a day
still earn less than a dollar a day
still earn less than a dollar a day they’re doing things like picking trash
they’re doing things like picking trash
they’re doing things like picking trash up off the side of the road and selling
up off the side of the road and selling
up off the side of the road and selling it to the local recycler or doing what
it to the local recycler or doing what
it to the local recycler or doing what these young men are doing in the photo
these young men are doing in the photo
these young men are doing in the photo they’re actually brewing a local kind of
they’re actually brewing a local kind of
they’re actually brewing a local kind of moonshine called chunga and that sounds
moonshine called chunga and that sounds
moonshine called chunga and that sounds fun and like a good side job except when
fun and like a good side job except when
fun and like a good side job except when you realize what chunga is made of they
you realize what chunga is made of they
you realize what chunga is made of they actually mix it with kerosene and ken
actually mix it with kerosene and ken
actually mix it with kerosene and ken told me that people in the slum drink
told me that people in the slum drink
told me that people in the slum drink the substance to forget themselves so
the substance to forget themselves so
the substance to forget themselves so this is what an educated young man in
this is what an educated young man in
this is what an educated young man in urban Kenya was forced to do because he
urban Kenya was forced to do because he
urban Kenya was forced to do because he couldn’t find work now our typical
couldn’t find work now our typical
couldn’t find work now our typical approach to helping someone like Ken
approach to helping someone like Ken
approach to helping someone like Ken involves charity right we think the best
involves charity right we think the best
involves charity right we think the best thing to do is build his community oh
thing to do is build his community oh
thing to do is build his community oh well or build them a school and maybe
well or build them a school and maybe
well or build them a school and maybe their lives are going to be a little bit
their lives are going to be a little bit
their lives are going to be a little bit better and this way of thinking became
better and this way of thinking became
better and this way of thinking became institutionalized in the international
institutionalized in the international
institutionalized in the international aid movement which really started
aid movement which really started
aid movement which really started believe it or not with Americans
believe it or not with Americans
believe it or not with Americans sending aid to Europe after World War
sending aid to Europe after World War
sending aid to Europe after World War two the term care package which you may
two the term care package which you may
two the term care package which you may have heard of originated in this era
have heard of originated in this era
have heard of originated in this era during the Marshall Plan when war-torn
during the Marshall Plan when war-torn
during the Marshall Plan when war-torn Europe was receiving food aid from the
Europe was receiving food aid from the
Europe was receiving food aid from the West or from from the US and what
West or from from the US and what
West or from from the US and what happened after Europe started recovering
happened after Europe started recovering
happened after Europe started recovering is all of these nongovernmental
is all of these nongovernmental
is all of these nongovernmental organizations that had started to share
organizations that had started to share
organizations that had started to share this food aid started sending it
this food aid started sending it
this food aid started sending it elsewhere outside of Europe to places
elsewhere outside of Europe to places
elsewhere outside of Europe to places like sub-saharan Africa and Asia and so
like sub-saharan Africa and Asia and so
like sub-saharan Africa and Asia and so over the last 60 years over a trillion
over the last 60 years over a trillion
over the last 60 years over a trillion dollars of development related Aid has
dollars of development related Aid has
dollars of development related Aid has been transferred from wealthy countries
been transferred from wealthy countries
been transferred from wealthy countries to sub-saharan Africa alone and yet we
to sub-saharan Africa alone and yet we
to sub-saharan Africa alone and yet we have not seen a rise in per capita
have not seen a rise in per capita
have not seen a rise in per capita incomes for the poorest people we still
incomes for the poorest people we still
incomes for the poorest people we still have over 350 million people just like
have over 350 million people just like
have over 350 million people just like Ken who are still living on less than a
Ken who are still living on less than a
Ken who are still living on less than a dollar a day despite this massive aid
dollar a day despite this massive aid
dollar a day despite this massive aid transfer what’s wrong with this picture
transfer what’s wrong with this picture
transfer what’s wrong with this picture well it turns out that
well it turns out that
well it turns out that government-to-government aid transfers
government-to-government aid transfers
government-to-government aid transfers don’t often reach the people that
don’t often reach the people that
don’t often reach the people that they’re intended to help people like Ken
they’re intended to help people like Ken
they’re intended to help people like Ken and the challenge is that these models
and the challenge is that these models
and the challenge is that these models create cycles of dependency and robbed
create cycles of dependency and robbed
create cycles of dependency and robbed people of the sort of agency that can
people of the sort of agency that can
people of the sort of agency that can only be provided when you give them cash
only be provided when you give them cash
only be provided when you give them cash directly the
directly the
directly the are two ways to give cash directly we
are two ways to give cash directly we
are two ways to give cash directly we can give handouts and believe it or not
can give handouts and believe it or not
can give handouts and believe it or not statistics are showing us now that even
statistics are showing us now that even
statistics are showing us now that even handouts of direct cash to low-income
handouts of direct cash to low-income
handouts of direct cash to low-income people like Ken are better than the
people like Ken are better than the
people like Ken are better than the traditional aid model but even better
traditional aid model but even better
traditional aid model but even better than handouts where possible is to give
than handouts where possible is to give
than handouts where possible is to give work when we give work we not only
work when we give work we not only
work when we give work we not only ensure that poor families are able to
ensure that poor families are able to
ensure that poor families are able to pay for their own expenses to pay for
pay for their own expenses to pay for
pay for their own expenses to pay for their own food and water and clothing
their own food and water and clothing
their own food and water and clothing and schooling but we give them the sense
and schooling but we give them the sense
and schooling but we give them the sense of agency that comes with deciding where
of agency that comes with deciding where
of agency that comes with deciding where you want to invest your paycheck and
you want to invest your paycheck and
you want to invest your paycheck and even more importantly work strengthens
even more importantly work strengthens
even more importantly work strengthens people’s relationship with their
people’s relationship with their
people’s relationship with their government imagine if you’re running a
government imagine if you’re running a
government imagine if you’re running a country in Africa and the majority of
country in Africa and the majority of
country in Africa and the majority of your budget is coming from foreign aid
your budget is coming from foreign aid
your budget is coming from foreign aid donors who are you going to be
donors who are you going to be
donors who are you going to be accountable your own population or the
accountable your own population or the
accountable your own population or the people who are paying for your budget
people who are paying for your budget
people who are paying for your budget so Aid creates an unhealthy relationship
so Aid creates an unhealthy relationship
so Aid creates an unhealthy relationship between government leaders and foreign
between government leaders and foreign
between government leaders and foreign donors and giving work creates a much
donors and giving work creates a much
donors and giving work creates a much healthier relationship between people
healthier relationship between people
healthier relationship between people who for the first time get taxed as part
who for the first time get taxed as part
who for the first time get taxed as part of the formal economic system then they
of the formal economic system then they
of the formal economic system then they start demanding things people like Ken
start demanding things people like Ken
start demanding things people like Ken will say why are you not building a well
will say why are you not building a well
will say why are you not building a well you’re not fixing the pothole on my road
you’re not fixing the pothole on my road
you’re not fixing the pothole on my road to work why are there poor public buses
to work why are there poor public buses
to work why are there poor public buses in Nairobi so work creates
in Nairobi so work creates
in Nairobi so work creates accountability and agency now thanks to
accountability and agency now thanks to
accountability and agency now thanks to the internet and all of this new
the internet and all of this new
the internet and all of this new technology infrastructure we have a
technology infrastructure we have a
technology infrastructure we have a really powerful way to provide work to
really powerful way to provide work to
really powerful way to provide work to people like Ken this is an image of me
people like Ken this is an image of me
people like Ken this is an image of me by the side of the road in northern
by the side of the road in northern
by the side of the road in northern Uganda a couple of years ago it’s not a
Uganda a couple of years ago it’s not a
Uganda a couple of years ago it’s not a place where you would imagine there to
place where you would imagine there to
place where you would imagine there to be a tech hub when you hear people say
be a tech hub when you hear people say
be a tech hub when you hear people say that the internet is rolling out in a
that the internet is rolling out in a
that the internet is rolling out in a new geography this is literally what it
new geography this is literally what it
new geography this is literally what it looks like this is me standing next to a
looks like this is me standing next to a
looks like this is me standing next to a pool of a spool of fiber-optic cable
pool of a spool of fiber-optic cable
pool of a spool of fiber-optic cable that was getting rolled out across
that was getting rolled out across
that was getting rolled out across northern Uganda over 10,000 miles of
northern Uganda over 10,000 miles of
northern Uganda over 10,000 miles of this cable have been placed in East
this cable have been placed in East
this cable have been placed in East Africa in the last couple of years and
Africa in the last couple of years and
Africa in the last couple of years and what that means is that for the first
what that means is that for the first
what that means is that for the first time in human history
time in human history
time in human history someone like Ken can transcend the
someone like Ken can transcend the
someone like Ken can transcend the accident of geography that led him to
accident of geography that led him to
accident of geography that led him to being born in Mathari and work for
being born in Mathari and work for
being born in Mathari and work for companies anywhere this is a
companies anywhere this is a
companies anywhere this is a fundamentally liberating force if we can
fundamentally liberating force if we can
fundamentally liberating force if we can apply it for social good and so see
apply it for social good and so see
apply it for social good and so see this trend I decided to start an
this trend I decided to start an
this trend I decided to start an organization that would harness this
organization that would harness this
organization that would harness this type of work several years ago what kind
type of work several years ago what kind
type of work several years ago what kind of work is now possible with the
of work is now possible with the
of work is now possible with the internet being cheap and widely
internet being cheap and widely
internet being cheap and widely available in places like northern Uganda
available in places like northern Uganda
available in places like northern Uganda well one growing field is called
well one growing field is called
well one growing field is called computer vision this is the field that
computer vision this is the field that
computer vision this is the field that enables technologies like self-driving
enables technologies like self-driving
enables technologies like self-driving cars and by 2019
cars and by 2019
cars and by 2019 the computer vision industry will reach
the computer vision industry will reach
the computer vision industry will reach 33 billion dollars one example of a task
33 billion dollars one example of a task
33 billion dollars one example of a task that’s needed to train algorithms
that’s needed to train algorithms
that’s needed to train algorithms powering self-driving cars is tagging
powering self-driving cars is tagging
powering self-driving cars is tagging images this is a picture of a road and
images this is a picture of a road and
images this is a picture of a road and this is the annotation of that image
this is the annotation of that image
this is the annotation of that image that is then sent to a machine learning
that is then sent to a machine learning
that is then sent to a machine learning team that’s powering self-driving cars
team that’s powering self-driving cars
team that’s powering self-driving cars so this image is actually teaching the
so this image is actually teaching the
so this image is actually teaching the machine to recognize objects and images
machine to recognize objects and images
machine to recognize objects and images and you can see how someone who’s
and you can see how someone who’s
and you can see how someone who’s finished high school but doesn’t have
finished high school but doesn’t have
finished high school but doesn’t have much training in the formal economy
much training in the formal economy
much training in the formal economy could quickly learn how to do this type
could quickly learn how to do this type
could quickly learn how to do this type of work I formed an organization called
of work I formed an organization called
of work I formed an organization called samasource
samasource
samasource in late 2008 our first check actually
in late 2008 our first check actually
in late 2008 our first check actually came from the Dutch postcode lottery
came from the Dutch postcode lottery
came from the Dutch postcode lottery believe it or not and we are a nonprofit
believe it or not and we are a nonprofit
believe it or not and we are a nonprofit organization committed to connecting
organization committed to connecting
organization committed to connecting low-income people like Ken to digital
low-income people like Ken to digital
low-income people like Ken to digital work to move them out of poverty since
work to move them out of poverty since
work to move them out of poverty since we started we have signed contracts with
we started we have signed contracts with
we started we have signed contracts with some of the biggest companies in the
some of the biggest companies in the
some of the biggest companies in the world and they signed contracts with us
world and they signed contracts with us
world and they signed contracts with us because the quality of this work done by
because the quality of this work done by
because the quality of this work done by people like Ken is actually quite high
people like Ken is actually quite high
people like Ken is actually quite high we’ve pioneered this model in urban
we’ve pioneered this model in urban
we’ve pioneered this model in urban areas like Nairobi where all of our
areas like Nairobi where all of our
areas like Nairobi where all of our workers come from slum communities all
workers come from slum communities all
workers come from slum communities all the way to rural centres like this
the way to rural centres like this
the way to rural centres like this Center which was also funded by the
Center which was also funded by the
Center which was also funded by the Dutch government and now has provided
Dutch government and now has provided
Dutch government and now has provided employment for over 400 people making us
employment for over 400 people making us
employment for over 400 people making us the largest technology employer in
the largest technology employer in
the largest technology employer in northern Uganda an area mostly known for
northern Uganda an area mostly known for
northern Uganda an area mostly known for brutal civil war what’s most remarkable
brutal civil war what’s most remarkable
brutal civil war what’s most remarkable is the personal transformation people
is the personal transformation people
is the personal transformation people make when they move out of poverty our
make when they move out of poverty our
make when they move out of poverty our workers on average are starting below
workers on average are starting below
workers on average are starting below the poverty line at 2 dollars and 20
the poverty line at 2 dollars and 20
the poverty line at 2 dollars and 20 cents a day which means they don’t have
cents a day which means they don’t have
cents a day which means they don’t have access to decent health care their
access to decent health care their
access to decent health care their primary source of calories we actually
primary source of calories we actually
primary source of calories we actually measure this in surveys is sugar cane
measure this in surveys is sugar cane
measure this in surveys is sugar cane it’s the cheapest source of calories you
it’s the cheapest source of calories you
it’s the cheapest source of calories you can get in a slum and they don’t have
can get in a slum and they don’t have
can get in a slum and they don’t have access to decent schooling because they
access to decent schooling because they
access to decent schooling because they can’t even afford uniforms or books
can’t even afford uniforms or books
can’t even afford uniforms or books average three years after samasource
average three years after samasource
average three years after samasource people have maintained an over $8 a day
people have maintained an over $8 a day
people have maintained an over $8 a day income so about a four-fold increase in
income so about a four-fold increase in
income so about a four-fold increase in income and what’s remarkable is how
income and what’s remarkable is how
income and what’s remarkable is how they’re spending this money they’re
they’re spending this money they’re
they’re spending this money they’re investing it on the health and education
investing it on the health and education
investing it on the health and education often of children living at home and
often of children living at home and
often of children living at home and women in particular are known around the
women in particular are known around the
women in particular are known around the world to reinvest 90% of their paycheck
world to reinvest 90% of their paycheck
world to reinvest 90% of their paycheck into the health and education of their
into the health and education of their
into the health and education of their own children and the betterment of their
own children and the betterment of their
own children and the betterment of their communities there’s no better aid
communities there’s no better aid
communities there’s no better aid program than buying from women we have
program than buying from women we have
program than buying from women we have now used this model to move 36 thousand
now used this model to move 36 thousand
now used this model to move 36 thousand people out of poverty and keep them
people out of poverty and keep them
people out of poverty and keep them there and what’s so exciting is that
there and what’s so exciting is that
there and what’s so exciting is that this model can be replicated around the
this model can be replicated around the
this model can be replicated around the world because we actually became
world because we actually became
world because we actually became profitable as a social enterprise last
profitable as a social enterprise last
profitable as a social enterprise last year we’ve started a version of our
year we’ve started a version of our
year we’ve started a version of our model in the u.s. that can be exported
model in the u.s. that can be exported
model in the u.s. that can be exported globally called sama school especially
globally called sama school especially
globally called sama school especially in economies like here in Europe where
in economies like here in Europe where
in economies like here in Europe where most of the net employment growth is
most of the net employment growth is
most of the net employment growth is happening in the freelance economy in
happening in the freelance economy in
happening in the freelance economy in this rise of workers who are no longer
this rise of workers who are no longer
this rise of workers who are no longer part of a formal job so this model can
part of a formal job so this model can
part of a formal job so this model can absolutely work here and this is an
absolutely work here and this is an
absolutely work here and this is an example of someone who we’ve worked with
example of someone who we’ve worked with
example of someone who we’ve worked with in the US grace grace has been able to
in the US grace grace has been able to
in the US grace grace has been able to increase her income fourfold by doing
increase her income fourfold by doing
increase her income fourfold by doing this work hourly and she’s a military
this work hourly and she’s a military
this work hourly and she’s a military veteran yeah which is a very
veteran yeah which is a very
veteran yeah which is a very marginalized community back home in the
marginalized community back home in the
marginalized community back home in the u.s. I’m gonna end on the note of scale
u.s. I’m gonna end on the note of scale
u.s. I’m gonna end on the note of scale how do we take this movement even
how do we take this movement even
how do we take this movement even further it turns out that the biggest
further it turns out that the biggest
further it turns out that the biggest 2000 companies in the world the global
2000 companies in the world the global
2000 companies in the world the global 2000 spent 12 trillion dollars annually
2000 spent 12 trillion dollars annually
2000 spent 12 trillion dollars annually on goods and services this is money
on goods and services this is money
on goods and services this is money that’s spent on everything from rugs to
that’s spent on everything from rugs to
that’s spent on everything from rugs to the fair trade coffee hopefully in their
the fair trade coffee hopefully in their
the fair trade coffee hopefully in their lunch rooms if we’re able to marshal
lunch rooms if we’re able to marshal
lunch rooms if we’re able to marshal just a tiny percentage of this 12
just a tiny percentage of this 12
just a tiny percentage of this 12 trillion dollars to spend it on social
trillion dollars to spend it on social
trillion dollars to spend it on social enterprises like samasource imagine the
enterprises like samasource imagine the
enterprises like samasource imagine the difference we could make in the world so
difference we could make in the world so
difference we could make in the world so my mission is to get big companies
my mission is to get big companies
my mission is to get big companies around the world not just aid
around the world not just aid
around the world not just aid organizations to shift but big companies
organizations to shift but big companies
organizations to shift but big companies to shift towards a model of giving work
to shift towards a model of giving work
to shift towards a model of giving work rather than giving aid and I think we
rather than giving aid and I think we
rather than giving aid and I think we have a much greater potential to change
have a much greater potential to change
have a much greater potential to change the world through giving work thank you
the world through giving work thank you
the world through giving work thank you so much
so much
so much [Applause]
”
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