a few weeks ago I was walking around in New York City in my neighborhood with my
New York City in my neighborhood with my
New York City in my neighborhood with my daughter yada we walked by a homeless
daughter yada we walked by a homeless
daughter yada we walked by a homeless man and he asked us for money I tried to
man and he asked us for money I tried to
man and he asked us for money I tried to remember if I had changed my wallet and
remember if I had changed my wallet and
remember if I had changed my wallet and I didn’t think I did so I just kept
I didn’t think I did so I just kept
I didn’t think I did so I just kept walking I didn’t get far though because
walking I didn’t get far though because
walking I didn’t get far though because yata stopped me
yata stopped me
yata stopped me she asked PAH why did you ignore that
she asked PAH why did you ignore that
she asked PAH why did you ignore that man and I said well I didn’t think I had
man and I said well I didn’t think I had
man and I said well I didn’t think I had change so so I just kept going and she
change so so I just kept going and she
change so so I just kept going and she wasn’t satisfied with that then she
wasn’t satisfied with that then she
wasn’t satisfied with that then she asked well could you look in your wallet
asked well could you look in your wallet
asked well could you look in your wallet so I did and I had a five dollar bill I
so I did and I had a five dollar bill I
so I did and I had a five dollar bill I felt ashamed because the slightest of
felt ashamed because the slightest of
felt ashamed because the slightest of inconvenience is taking a few seconds to
inconvenience is taking a few seconds to
inconvenience is taking a few seconds to check my wallet had stopped me from
check my wallet had stopped me from
check my wallet had stopped me from helping that man to yata who’s five
helping that man to yata who’s five
helping that man to yata who’s five years old there’s only one possible
years old there’s only one possible
years old there’s only one possible response when someone asks you for help
response when someone asks you for help
response when someone asks you for help you help all kids have a superpower I
you help all kids have a superpower I
you help all kids have a superpower I don’t mean the kind of power that comic
don’t mean the kind of power that comic
don’t mean the kind of power that comic book heroes have powered fly or freeze
book heroes have powered fly or freeze
book heroes have powered fly or freeze time I also don’t mean the kind of power
time I also don’t mean the kind of power
time I also don’t mean the kind of power that parents dread like the power to
that parents dread like the power to
that parents dread like the power to wake up at 6:00 a.m. every morning for
wake up at 6:00 a.m. every morning for
wake up at 6:00 a.m. every morning for an entire childhood it’s the power to
an entire childhood it’s the power to
an entire childhood it’s the power to help and it comes from a deep desire we
help and it comes from a deep desire we
help and it comes from a deep desire we all have within us as grown-ups many of
all have within us as grown-ups many of
all have within us as grown-ups many of us have lost touch with that desire but
us have lost touch with that desire but
us have lost touch with that desire but if you give a young child the chance to
if you give a young child the chance to
if you give a young child the chance to help they’ll take it and they’ll feel
help they’ll take it and they’ll feel
help they’ll take it and they’ll feel great about it and if we can give an
great about it and if we can give an
great about it and if we can give an entire generation of children the power
entire generation of children the power
entire generation of children the power to help we can change society for the
to help we can change society for the
to help we can change society for the better I grew up in Sri Lanka in the
better I grew up in Sri Lanka in the
better I grew up in Sri Lanka in the midst of a civil war between the single
midst of a civil war between the single
midst of a civil war between the single and Tamil communities I didn’t really
and Tamil communities I didn’t really
and Tamil communities I didn’t really belong to either side because I had a
belong to either side because I had a
belong to either side because I had a Tamil dad and a single Imam so in the
Tamil dad and a single Imam so in the
Tamil dad and a single Imam so in the south of the country I had the wrong
south of the country I had the wrong
south of the country I had the wrong last name and in the north of the
last name and in the north of the
last name and in the north of the country I spoke the wrong language when
country I spoke the wrong language when
country I spoke the wrong language when I was 10 civil rights broke out all over
I was 10 civil rights broke out all over
I was 10 civil rights broke out all over the nation including in Colombo where my
the nation including in Colombo where my
the nation including in Colombo where my family lived civilian mobs
family lived civilian mobs
family lived civilian mobs we’re roaming the streets looking for
we’re roaming the streets looking for
we’re roaming the streets looking for Tamil people and when they found them it
Tamil people and when they found them it
Tamil people and when they found them it would beat them violently and in some
would beat them violently and in some
would beat them violently and in some cases burn them alive it was brutal
cases burn them alive it was brutal
cases burn them alive it was brutal my brother Rajan who is an incredibly
my brother Rajan who is an incredibly
my brother Rajan who is an incredibly thoughtful kind brilliant human being
thoughtful kind brilliant human being
thoughtful kind brilliant human being was 15 at the time he had gone to school
was 15 at the time he had gone to school
was 15 at the time he had gone to school that morning when the riots broke out
that morning when the riots broke out
that morning when the riots broke out before my parents had realized what was
before my parents had realized what was
before my parents had realized what was happening and that was not a good day to
happening and that was not a good day to
happening and that was not a good day to be a young man with a tamil sounding
be a young man with a tamil sounding
be a young man with a tamil sounding name walking around the streets of
name walking around the streets of
name walking around the streets of colombo we could have lost him that day
colombo we could have lost him that day
colombo we could have lost him that day but we didn’t and we were among the
but we didn’t and we were among the
but we didn’t and we were among the lucky ones I want my daughter to grow up
lucky ones I want my daughter to grow up
lucky ones I want my daughter to grow up in a world where she doesn’t need to be
in a world where she doesn’t need to be
in a world where she doesn’t need to be lucky to escape tragedy I want her to
lucky to escape tragedy I want her to
lucky to escape tragedy I want her to grow up in a world where instead of
grow up in a world where instead of
grow up in a world where instead of hating each other we help each other and
hating each other we help each other and
hating each other we help each other and all kids do want to help it comes from a
all kids do want to help it comes from a
all kids do want to help it comes from a deep deep desire they have to feel like
deep deep desire they have to feel like
deep deep desire they have to feel like they matter to feel a sense of belonging
they matter to feel a sense of belonging
they matter to feel a sense of belonging they want to feel important and there’s
they want to feel important and there’s
they want to feel important and there’s nothing that helps a child feel
nothing that helps a child feel
nothing that helps a child feel important than being given the chance to
important than being given the chance to
important than being given the chance to help another child in need three years
help another child in need three years
help another child in need three years ago the ventures team at UNICEF USA
ago the ventures team at UNICEF USA
ago the ventures team at UNICEF USA working with an incredible group of
working with an incredible group of
working with an incredible group of partners started to develop a new kind
partners started to develop a new kind
partners started to develop a new kind of technology that could tap into that
of technology that could tap into that
of technology that could tap into that desire kids have we called it a wearable
desire kids have we called it a wearable
desire kids have we called it a wearable for good because it converted physical
for good because it converted physical
for good because it converted physical activity into social impact we named a
activity into social impact we named a
activity into social impact we named a venture UNICEF Kidpower because it gives
venture UNICEF Kidpower because it gives
venture UNICEF Kidpower because it gives kids the power to literally save lives
kids the power to literally save lives
kids the power to literally save lives with every step they take so here’s how
with every step they take so here’s how
with every step they take so here’s how it works
it works
it works kids get active with a UNICEF kid power
kids get active with a UNICEF kid power
kids get active with a UNICEF kid power band and they earn points points unlock
band and they earn points points unlock
band and they earn points points unlock funding from partners and parents and
funding from partners and parents and
funding from partners and parents and fans and funds are used by UNICEF to
fans and funds are used by UNICEF to
fans and funds are used by UNICEF to deliver ready-to-use packets of
deliver ready-to-use packets of
deliver ready-to-use packets of therapeutic food to severely
therapeutic food to severely
therapeutic food to severely malnourished children all around the
malnourished children all around the
malnourished children all around the world so the more kids move the more
world so the more kids move the more
world so the more kids move the more points they earn the more children they
points they earn the more children they
points they earn the more children they help to separate
help to separate
help to separate found that kids are joined kid power
found that kids are joined kid power
found that kids are joined kid power move more they move a lot more like 55%
move more they move a lot more like 55%
move more they move a lot more like 55% more because while the novelty of a new
more because while the novelty of a new
more because while the novelty of a new tech gadget might last a week or two the
tech gadget might last a week or two the
tech gadget might last a week or two the desire to do something that matters
desire to do something that matters
desire to do something that matters never fades and it only grows over time
never fades and it only grows over time
never fades and it only grows over time we heard about a nine-year-old in
we heard about a nine-year-old in
we heard about a nine-year-old in Sacramento who had joined kid power and
Sacramento who had joined kid power and
Sacramento who had joined kid power and then started insisting that her mom take
then started insisting that her mom take
then started insisting that her mom take her for walks after school every day she
her for walks after school every day she
her for walks after school every day she wanted to walk more because she wanted
wanted to walk more because she wanted
wanted to walk more because she wanted to earn more points and unlock more
to earn more points and unlock more
to earn more points and unlock more packets of food to help more children we
packets of food to help more children we
packets of food to help more children we heard about a fifth grader in North
heard about a fifth grader in North
heard about a fifth grader in North Carolina who started his own walking
Carolina who started his own walking
Carolina who started his own walking Club because he wanted all his friends
Club because he wanted all his friends
Club because he wanted all his friends to join in so that together they could
to join in so that together they could
to join in so that together they could earn more points and unlock more packets
earn more points and unlock more packets
earn more points and unlock more packets and help more children and these kids
and help more children and these kids
and help more children and these kids aren’t just getting more active and
aren’t just getting more active and
aren’t just getting more active and healthy they’re also becoming globally
healthy they’re also becoming globally
healthy they’re also becoming globally aware with kid power they go on missions
aware with kid power they go on missions
aware with kid power they go on missions which are virtual journeys to discover
which are virtual journeys to discover
which are virtual journeys to discover new places including some of the very
new places including some of the very
new places including some of the very communities that are benefiting from
communities that are benefiting from
communities that are benefiting from their impact
their impact
their impact they learn about Haiti and Burkina Faso
they learn about Haiti and Burkina Faso
they learn about Haiti and Burkina Faso and Pakistan not as far away places to
and Pakistan not as far away places to
and Pakistan not as far away places to fear or avoid but it’s fascinating
fear or avoid but it’s fascinating
fear or avoid but it’s fascinating cultures to explore and understand and
cultures to explore and understand and
cultures to explore and understand and that perspective will stay with them
that perspective will stay with them
that perspective will stay with them forever
forever
forever and inspire them to grow up to create a
and inspire them to grow up to create a
and inspire them to grow up to create a more inclusive society that benefits
more inclusive society that benefits
more inclusive society that benefits everyone and equally importantly these
everyone and equally importantly these
everyone and equally importantly these kids are learning the value of helping
kids are learning the value of helping
kids are learning the value of helping and their understanding their place in
and their understanding their place in
and their understanding their place in their own communities and as agents of
their own communities and as agents of
their own communities and as agents of change with the power to make a
change with the power to make a
change with the power to make a difference and make the world a better
difference and make the world a better
difference and make the world a better place we heard from a teacher in
place we heard from a teacher in
place we heard from a teacher in California who had a few students in her
California who had a few students in her
California who had a few students in her class from El Salvador and those
class from El Salvador and those
class from El Salvador and those students hadn’t been aware that severe
students hadn’t been aware that severe
students hadn’t been aware that severe malnutrition existed there so they went
malnutrition existed there so they went
malnutrition existed there so they went home and talked their parents about it
home and talked their parents about it
home and talked their parents about it and they found out that some of their
and they found out that some of their
and they found out that some of their family members had also struggled with
family members had also struggled with
family members had also struggled with hunger and those children felt powerful
hunger and those children felt powerful
hunger and those children felt powerful because even though they were just
because even though they were just
because even though they were just children they were able to make an
children they were able to make an
children they were able to make an impact in their own community we heard
impact in their own community we heard
impact in their own community we heard from a teacher in Georgia who had a
from a teacher in Georgia who had a
from a teacher in Georgia who had a student in her class
student in her class
student in her class who was homeless and living in a shelter
who was homeless and living in a shelter
who was homeless and living in a shelter she didn’t have a smartphone but she
she didn’t have a smartphone but she
she didn’t have a smartphone but she kept a little notebook where she kept a
kept a little notebook where she kept a
kept a little notebook where she kept a tally of every packet of therapeutic
tally of every packet of therapeutic
tally of every packet of therapeutic food she unlocked and every night she
food she unlocked and every night she
food she unlocked and every night she would share that with her family in the
would share that with her family in the
would share that with her family in the shelter can you imagine the sense of
shelter can you imagine the sense of
shelter can you imagine the sense of empowerment that child felt because even
empowerment that child felt because even
empowerment that child felt because even though she didn’t have a home she was
though she didn’t have a home she was
though she didn’t have a home she was able to help another child in need we
able to help another child in need we
able to help another child in need we saw a local news clip out of Iowa when
saw a local news clip out of Iowa when
saw a local news clip out of Iowa when an entire school had joined Kidpower and
an entire school had joined Kidpower and
an entire school had joined Kidpower and when one of their classrooms had
when one of their classrooms had
when one of their classrooms had unlocked their hundred and fiftieth the
unlocked their hundred and fiftieth the
unlocked their hundred and fiftieth the packet of therapeutic food that’s one
packet of therapeutic food that’s one
packet of therapeutic food that’s one full course of treatment that’s enough
full course of treatment that’s enough
full course of treatment that’s enough to save one life they screamed so loudly
to save one life they screamed so loudly
to save one life they screamed so loudly that the entire school heard and one kid
that the entire school heard and one kid
that the entire school heard and one kid kept saying we just saved a kid we just
kept saying we just saved a kid we just
kept saying we just saved a kid we just saved a kid and we heard about a group
saved a kid and we heard about a group
saved a kid and we heard about a group of fifth graders in Oregon who had loved
of fifth graders in Oregon who had loved
of fifth graders in Oregon who had loved helping children around the world with
helping children around the world with
helping children around the world with kid power but decided they wanted to do
kid power but decided they wanted to do
kid power but decided they wanted to do more so they organized a food drive all
more so they organized a food drive all
more so they organized a food drive all by themselves and they filled up an
by themselves and they filled up an
by themselves and they filled up an entire Subaru with food and they had a
entire Subaru with food and they had a
entire Subaru with food and they had a parent drive it over to the local food
parent drive it over to the local food
parent drive it over to the local food bank kid power is not just an idea it’s
bank kid power is not just an idea it’s
bank kid power is not just an idea it’s real it’s been proven to work in
real it’s been proven to work in
real it’s been proven to work in underserved communities in schools
underserved communities in schools
underserved communities in schools without playgrounds in classrooms
without playgrounds in classrooms
without playgrounds in classrooms without computers for students who don’t
without computers for students who don’t
without computers for students who don’t have a smartphone in just three years
have a smartphone in just three years
have a smartphone in just three years kid power has become one of the largest
kid power has become one of the largest
kid power has become one of the largest EdTech programs across US Elementary
EdTech programs across US Elementary
EdTech programs across US Elementary School’s it’s in 16 hundred cities and
School’s it’s in 16 hundred cities and
School’s it’s in 16 hundred cities and towns in 49 states kid power
towns in 49 states kid power
towns in 49 states kid power also has shown that it’s desirable among
also has shown that it’s desirable among
also has shown that it’s desirable among affluent communities two years ago we
affluent communities two years ago we
affluent communities two years ago we launched kid power as a consumer product
launched kid power as a consumer product
launched kid power as a consumer product at retail and it was an instant hit last
at retail and it was an instant hit last
at retail and it was an instant hit last year it was named one of x 25 best
year it was named one of x 25 best
year it was named one of x 25 best inventions and it’s now become one of
inventions and it’s now become one of
inventions and it’s now become one of the best-selling kids wearables ever
the best-selling kids wearables ever
the best-selling kids wearables ever brought to market by tapping into kids
brought to market by tapping into kids
brought to market by tapping into kids intrinsic motivation versus relying on
intrinsic motivation versus relying on
intrinsic motivation versus relying on rewards or entertainment or technology
rewards or entertainment or technology
rewards or entertainment or technology kid power succeeding where many others
kid power succeeding where many others
kid power succeeding where many others have failed so far we had all
have failed so far we had all
have failed so far we had all a half a million kids who’ve joined
a half a million kids who’ve joined
a half a million kids who’ve joined Kidpower together they walked over a
Kidpower together they walked over a
Kidpower together they walked over a hundred billion steps and they’ve
hundred billion steps and they’ve
hundred billion steps and they’ve unlocked enough packets of therapeutic
unlocked enough packets of therapeutic
unlocked enough packets of therapeutic food to deliver full courses of
food to deliver full courses of
food to deliver full courses of treatment to 52,000 severely
treatment to 52,000 severely
treatment to 52,000 severely malnourished children that’s fifty two
malnourished children that’s fifty two
malnourished children that’s fifty two thousand lives that have been saved by
thousand lives that have been saved by
thousand lives that have been saved by all these kids from all walks of life
all these kids from all walks of life
all these kids from all walks of life from all across the country who have
from all across the country who have
from all across the country who have come together to make a difference there
come together to make a difference there
come together to make a difference there are two billion children in the world
are two billion children in the world
are two billion children in the world today that’s two billion heroes with the
today that’s two billion heroes with the
today that’s two billion heroes with the power to help imagine the kind of world
power to help imagine the kind of world
power to help imagine the kind of world we could be living in if we could tap
we could be living in if we could tap
we could be living in if we could tap into that power and unleash that power
into that power and unleash that power
into that power and unleash that power within every child that’s the kind of
within every child that’s the kind of
within every child that’s the kind of world that I want my daughter Jana to
world that I want my daughter Jana to
world that I want my daughter Jana to grow up in and I think it’s the kind of
grow up in and I think it’s the kind of
grow up in and I think it’s the kind of world that we all want from our children
world that we all want from our children
world that we all want from our children so next time you see a child ask her for
so next time you see a child ask her for
so next time you see a child ask her for help and watch what happens
help and watch what happens
help and watch what happens thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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