What Took You So Long?
We are very proud to present you our newest partner, the What Took You So Long Foundation. Co-founded by Sebastien Lindstrom (25), a swedish Sandbox member based in Hong Kong and by Hong Kong Brit Evan Fowler (29), the movement aims to help grass roots NGOs by giving them publicity and access to a global network of volunteers. By traveling to Africa, WTYSLF will also contribute to spread the Sandbox word further, connecting us with the most extraordinary talents that they will meet on their way.
The WTYSL Foundation wants to inspire young people by example, beginning with a 14,200 kilometre trip from Marrakesh to Johannesburg down the west side of Africa leaving on 23 June. In the spirit of true international co-operation, Lindstrom and Fowler will travel with five young colleagues, all aged 25 or under, from Japan, the USA and Hong Kong. They will be using public transport like the locals and visiting 20 small NGOs en route.
We have all heard of the “butterfly effect” – that a wing beat on one side of the world can eventually cause a tornado on the other. Small actions often have huge consequences. Yet people feel disempowered and hopeless in the face of ‘big’ issues like poverty or war or social injustice. “What difference can I make?” they say. “I’m just one person, nothing I do will change anything.” But the actions of a few can change the world. One small stone kicked down the mountain of inertia can start an avalanche of hope. Fowler and Lindstrom firmly believe in the power of “just doing it”.
They aim to celebrate unsung heroes, the people whose efforts make a huge difference to the locals but who are unknown outside their own small circle. I met an amazing Dutch guy called Eric when I took a group of Hong Kong students to Ghana recently, says Fowler. He is virtually a one-man band, living and working in a tribal community on the border with Burkina Faso. He has set up a small charity to help kids who’ve been abandoned because their parents died of HIV/AIDS. I asked him if he had applied for any funding and he told me that the paperwork would take up too much time which could be spent with the people he needs to help. And they probably wouldn’t give him funding anyway. It’s people like Eric that we want to tell the international community about.
We are going to share positive, hopeful stories, adds Lindstrom. We are not going to dwell on the stereotyped clichés of misery and hopelessness, because Africa isn’t like that. It’s full of positive, enthusiastic individuals who are striving to achieve their hopes and dreams. We can learn from them as much as they can from us.
Adapted from a text by Fiona TankardPhoto by David Ranc .
On the 24. June 2009 at 16:08 o'Clock
You should check out the video, too. It gives some very good insights into the work of the WTYSL Foundation. Check the website, the video is on the top right: http://whattookyousolong.org/
On the 24. June 2009 at 16:40 o'Clock
[...] Sandbox Dinner A 15+ strong mix of Sandbox and WTYSL related talents joined forces on the 21st of June during a night long dinner event with everything from grass root brainstorming to heat problems in Rome. There is no end of the possibilities and through Sandbox platform WTYSL will scout out you promising talents that we will meet on our journey down the face of Africa. Sandbox will use its internal resources and external contacts to take WTYSL to take WTYSL to the next level Christian Busch, Sandbox Co-Founder says “We use our various communication channels to spread the word about the WTYSL project”. This is just the beginning. Extensive cooperation is the only way forward to create a sustainable world (read more). [...]
On the 26. June 2009 at 14:53 o'Clock
[...] by a photo-session at Trafalgar Square, some Sandbox members and WTYSL-adventurers manifested the new cooperation around great food and smooth wine at London’s Obika Mozarella [...]