LITMUS TEST FOR EVERY CHANGE MAKER

 DEY PLAY DEY PLAY, you hear?

This is no child’s play, Lives are really being affected here.

It is how some of you think of this has just another means to being known or popular.

Social impact is really SOCIAL IMPACT. 

A life is being affected.

A society is being transformed.

Someone is dreaming again.

Someone is gaining confidence and dreaming again.

That child can now live without fear of dying from malnourishment.

That child can now have clean water to drink.

You must think of this as some sort of a big joke.

You must think, Oh it’s the pictures that matters.

Attaching hashtags like #sdgambassador

You must think of these people and society as joke.

Come on, WAKE UP!

These are real problems.

Do you have to wait to experience it before it becomes something that matters to you?

I recently found out that, L’Oréal unveiled a handheld, computerised makeup applicator called Hapta. It is designed for people with limited hand and arm mobility. “Hapta is essentially a miniature robotic arm that requires lots of machine learning and complicated algorithms. Combine that with our sense of purpose and drive around inclusion, I truly believe this is the result of marriage of these two forces.” says Balooch (The Global Chief of L’Oreal)

Those who have limited hands don’t longer have to feel inferior to those who can put on lipsticks themselves. They can now proudly dress up, put on their lipstick and show up confidently.

Basic things that look normal to you are so many others prayer point. Some others even lead to envy then probably hatred which now leads to more problems in the society. Can you blame them? Are you sure you are not even part of the people compounding their problems?

Social impact should never be one of your strategy to being popular.

You must really have these people and society in your heart. You must bring yourself to a position of feeling what they feel.

Quick question: Have you even tried to know the name of that child in your area who doesn’t go to school but roam around?

Have you tried saying “how are you?”

Have you tried even smiling at her?

You have to start these little things to begin to feel their pain which they might not even realise it’s a pain.

When you are able to feel it, you would want to go to any length to help them.

You would be able to think deeper of solutions you can provide. You won’t just relent at noticing the problem.

There would be a surging drive within you to cause a change.

Not because of popularity but you want to see a life change for better.

EVERY SOCIAL IMPACT LEADER MUST HAVE THESE TRAITS:

1. PASSION: Be passionate! You have to be so passionate about the lives of people. They are not skits or comedy. They are real people just like you. Love them so much that you become so uncomfortable with their situation. Passion can’t be over-emphasised. When you are passionate about something, you can’t hide it. The sparkle would be seen in your eyes everytime. Let’s take Oprah Winfrey as an example. It’s so obvious that she is passionate about the lives of people. That’s why even if she’s a TV host, she ensures that for everyone watching her show is inspired to live their best lives. She does her possible best to bring to stage different phases and unspoken areas of people lives so they would see hope and know they are not alone. She uses the show to support children’s education, help women and so many others. Her passion is written all over. You don’t need to ask her what she is passionate about. It’s so clear she wasn’t doing it for popularity. Yet greatness followed her. I repeat, BE PASSIONATE!

1. COMPASSION: This is synonymous to having a deep love for someone or something. Be compassionate. It’s not about going out once in a while to give out food to the less-privileged but you really weeping in your heart about their situation and searching so deeply for a permanent solution to their problem. You are not looking for what you would receive but how much you can give to change their lives. Compassion is what separates you from those doing social impact for popularity.

1. DOGGEDNESS: You would be frustrated. You would want to give up. If there is one thing you need the most on this journey of social impact is doggedness. You must be willing to keep going even when it seems like nothing is changing or the situation seems unresponsive. You must be able to push ahead and even harder. Not everyone would support you. People naturally are not comfortable with change. You must see to it that it happens. Do not relent. You are closer than you started.

Some things like character or state of heart of change makers today are not being talked about. We only make so much emphasis on the world problems which is necessary because solutions need to be proffered but the truth is , it would keep looking like we are not moving forward in these SDG movement or nothing is changing if the character of the ones preferring the change are not also given attention because it’s only with one mind we can achieve our goals faster.

Don’t be a life ruiner either consciously or unconsciously, be a CHANGE MAKER indeed.