Unleashing potential

One of the most progressive aid organizations is Ashoka International, founded by Bill Drayton. It’s been around 25 years or so, and it’s certainly a contender for a Nobel Peace Prize. Bill figured that the best and fastest way to change the world was to identify people in countries who are getting started in socially innovative projects, and support them so that they could dedicate themselves to their cause. There is a worldwide “search” committee that consists of thousands of people in local communities who keep their eyes out for these sorts of people—the single-minded, almost fanatical idealist who has a vision of something great. Every year, the foundation selects “Ashoka Fellows” who are given financial support so that they can pursue their dream, until the dream can get funding from other sources or become self-supporting. The financial support usually lasts about three years. As Bill says, “We’re investing in the person, not the project.” Over the years, Ashoka has supported 2,000 fellows.

I like the premise—find people who are change-makers, who know their communities and the problems, who are creative in coming up with solutions, and support them so they can make change happen. It’s a beautiful concept.

Ultimately, however, I think that more attention needs to be given to the average person, who doesn’t see himself or herself as an agent of social change. I think that the world (and by extension, our little island) will change for the better when every common citizen starts to recognize and unlock their own potential. The problems of the world are complex, and solutions don’t generally work when imposed from outside. We need the collective talents—the hidden and undiscovered talents—of every member of the community in order to address our problems.

My visit to Hopwood junior high, which I wrote about several weeks ago, still haunts me—all that potential, veiled even from the eyes of those who possess it. I wonder what are the keys to unlocking that potential. Certainly education is a key. But an element that needs investigating is unlocking qualities such as belief in oneself, acceptance of responsibility to improve our communities, improvement of decision-making when voting, and ethical behavior. It will take a combination of all of us gaining new attitudes, new insights, new skills, and combining practical with spiritually based approaches.

[I](David Khorram, MD is a board certified ophthalmologist and director of Marianas Eye Institute and the author of the book World Peace, a Blind Wife, and Gecko Tails. Comments and questions are welcome. Call 235-9090 or email him through www.MarianasEye.com, or leave comments at www.MarianasEye.blogspot.com. Copyright © 2008 David Khorram)[/I]