Latest From Philanthropy 2.0 [12.04.14]

• Great expectations : Bill Gates [The World In 2015] (TahsinVersion2)

"Dramatic advances in children’s health and in poverty-reduction are within the world’s grasp, argues Bill Gates, co-chair, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Successful movements share certain key features: 

the remarkable leadership of a few visionary individuals and organisations; 

a moment that jars the consciousness of the masses; 

and political evolutions that create the environment where change seems possible.

[Related Link: 

• The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell (Amazon) 

Malcolm Gladwell discusses how products, ideas spread like viruses by

• • a small set of early influencers, 

    rapid spread through network effect, 

    an environment that is conducive to spreading of the product, idea.

    ] 

  But perhaps the most important prerequisite for a mass movement is a record of progress that convinces the majority that change can happen if they commit themselves to achieving it.

  
  I believe 2015 can be the moment when the fight to save the lives of children around the world turns into a popular movement, because the world has built a record of progress that proves dramatic change is possible in our lifetimes. 

  When children have the basic health care needed to live past their fifth birthdays, 

  when they have access to food that keeps them well nourished and 

  when they can go to school,  

  whole societies are empowered.

  
  We know precisely why children are surviving:

  More vaccines for more diseases are being delivered to more places. 

  Bed nets treated with insecticide have saved millions from malaria. 

  Simple oral rehydration salts keep children suffering from diarrhoea alive. 

   

  We also know why ­people are escaping poverty: 

  it is thanks to more productive agriculture, 

  better access to financial services, 

  and the spread of functioning health systems that prevent expensive medical emergencies. 

   
  Another reason for all this progress is that we’ve become much better at understanding what works, how to measure it and how to know if we’re on track or not.
  

  In September 2015 they will meet at the United Nations to agree to the next set of goals in key areas of development, like saving children’s lives, reducing extreme poverty and providing access to clean water.

  In the year ahead we can broaden the conversation so that billions of people can take part in the discussion of what the world should look like and how to get there."