If you’re interested in trends, then take a look at the attached – quite spectacular…
Richard Watson, who’s a futurologist created this, and he claims that those on the outer fray of this tube style map is already taking place.
Incredible stuff. Enjoy.
Just a couple of weeks ago, I visited Ethiopia to attend the World Economic Forum’s Africa Summit – a choice which confused many of us, as, like many other African countries, doesn’t strike you as being a natural choice to host such an event, but when we scratched beneath the surface, what impressed was their total focus on applying science and engineering to boost their economic and agricultural productivity, which is obviously working as they’re now the world’s third fastest growing economy. Imagine that! I remember, as a young boy, cycling to my local record shop to buy the charity single that brought Ethiopia into focus, and where we all sang along to “do they know its Christmas time at all”.
And it’s not the only example of a country that we think of as ‘developing’ as being in a vastly different economic environment than we might think. While we all know of the rise of the BRIC economies, but did you know that a country like India produces more engineers & doctors than the whole of Europe put together?
Both examples show that investing in STEM education makes good economic sense. Education can be the driver for economic growth. But it’s not always universal and girls and women are often being left behind. There’s an obvious moral argument to this – how can it be right to leave behind so many people – but there’s also an economic argument. On what basis can we look at ourselves if we don’t do more to ensure that we create generations of female mathematicians, scientists, engineers, and technologists?
Did you know that since the inception of the Nobel Prize for Physics, only two women have won this prize? Only four have won the Chemistry prize. How can this be right? We can drill even further as the statistics for women “of colour” are even more alarming such as; only 2% of all women professors in the US are “of colour”.
How can this be right?
The work that the Varkey GEMS Foundation does with UNESCO concerns the recruitment of more women into the teaching profession, the skilling of these recruits to ensure girls advance in STEM subjects, and an ongoing commitment to their professional development as educators.
As a company, if there’s one thing that GEMS has learnt from educating children is that good teachers matter. Who stands at the front of a classroom often makes the essential difference to a child’s prospects of success.
As a charitable foundation we believe that the role & status of teachers has become so derided that we fail to appreciate their critical contribution to a country’s progress. We also fail to understand the way in which the teaching profession is changing, for example as technology allows for easier transfer of knowledge, the classroom teacher takes on an ever more critical role – that of a “mentor”. In this avatar, teachers can have an incredible influence on parents, students and the wider community, and can convince those who don’t believe that science pays, of the rewards advancement in STEM subjects can hold for families and communities – whether in cosmopolitan cities like London or Paris or in the most rural locations in Lesotho or Kenya, where our intervention is targeted.
No longer are STEM subjects taught in isolation, real world challenges demand an inclusive, combined approach. In this new way of learning, teachers become even more vital as they join the dots for students to make the subjects real and practical.
We need to be clear in our minds that a focus on STEM education can boost a country’s economic chances – which in these challenging and austere times is important to understand. But, clarity of thought is one thing, we ought to also bear in mind the moral argument in training girls and women, for they have been neglected for far too long by a male dominated political culture, which is hard to defend on any basis.
Teachers are the backbone of the education sector. By investing in them, we invest in ourselves.
As a father of two daughters, I wanted to convey my thanks to H. E. Ms. Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO for convening such an alliance to further the education of girls and women and look forward to reporting back the progress we’re making in Lesotho & Kenya over the next few years.
Vikas Pota
Chief Executive Officer
The Varkey GEMS Foundation
This interview was first featured on www.indiaincorporated.com, where I write a column called The Social Capital
The Social Capital with Vikas Pota – What giving really means?
Vikas Pota speaks to Nigel Walsh from the world of financial services…
Nigel Walsh is Business Development Director, Insurance, at Capgemini Financial Services.
1. Is giving important? Why?
Yes. Pay it forward, helping others is always more rewarding than helping yourself.
2. What charities do you personally support?
I do a lot of cycling and this is mainly organised by Action Medical Research (www.action.org.uk) that has provided some great research into premature births and much more. Other charities that organise cycling events include BHF (British Heart Foundation).
I also support many other charities through my involvement in Freemasonry and I am a trustee of a national charity focused on health in the community, Hertsmere Leisure.
3. What was your first ever donation to a charity?
Possibly, to the British Heart Foundation.
4. Do you have a focus on where you donate your money?
Children’s charities.
5. Which individuals stand out for their support to charitable causes?
People like David Walliams and Eddie Izzard are a real inspiration. It’s too easy to give money. Giving time, especially training time, goes way beyond leveraging their brand to get more for the charity of choice.
6. What percentage of our income should we give to good causes?
At least one per cent.
7. What do you personally gain from contributing?
That everyone can make a difference, not everyone is as fortunate. There is always someone better and someone worse off than you.
8. What was the last donation you made?
This was my fifth consecutive year as part of a team of 11 cyclists from London to Paris. We raised over £25,000 as part of a bigger group that collected a total of £600,000. Something different awaits in 2012!
9. Have you taken part in any adventure events to raise money?
Cycling to Paris, among other charity bike rides.
10.·Is Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and charitable giving by companies a marketing gimmick?
No. It brings emotion, usually in a few key individual’s minds, to bear to a brand that by nature can’t have a personality.
Through these in-depth interviews with industry leaders, Vikas Pota asks charity-related questions that unearth the driving force behind their philanthropy and social responsibility.
This interview was first featured on www.indiaincorporated.com, where I write a column called The Social Capital
The Social Capital with Vikas Pota – What giving really means?
Vikas Pota speaks to Sumit Jamuar from Lloyds Bank…
Sumit Jamuar is a managing director at Lloyds Banking Group. He joined the bank in 2003 and is currently responsible for cash and payments sales, trade finance and agency treasury services and global clients for financial institutions (FI), part of Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets.
1. Is giving important? Why?
Yes, it is. Balancing self with contributing positively to society is an important part of my upbringing and personal philosophy. I realise that I am immensely privileged and it is my obligation to give back to society when I am able to.
2. What charities do you personally support?
Personally, I don’t have one dedicated charity, but there are causes that are close to my heart. Being an Indian living in Britain, charities that help bring the two countries together in some way are in my view extremely valuable.
Specifically, charities connected to education, talent-development and sustainable-finance are also hugely important. Some of the initiatives that come to mind are Money for Life, Opportunities International, Pratham, Save the Children, and Sewa Day.
Additionally, my responsibilities as the chairman of the GEM Network within Lloyds are part of my commitment to contribute positively to society and the bank.
3. What was your first ever donation to a charity?
It was in the 1980s when there was a severe drought in India. With around 20 neighbourhood friends we organised and delivered a charity event where we raised about Rs 250 through selling tickets. We ended up meeting the Prime Minister at that time, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, to deliver the cheque for his relief fund.
Looking back, while the amount we raised was relatively small, I am proud that we worked hard and tried to contribute in our own way.
4. Which individuals stand out for their support to charitable causes?
Bill Gates and N.R. Narayana Murthy are both phenomenal individuals who have contributed to society on a huge scale. Their application of their business skills to solve social problems is quite unique.
Within the Lloyds Banking Group I have always been influenced by Truett Tate, our vice-chairman – client coverage, who has been an inspirational leader with his relentless focus on contributing to society through charitable causes.
5. What percentage of our income should we give to good causes?
I don’t think a percentage really matters as long as you do it for the right reasons.
6. What do you, personally, gain from contributing?
When I was young, someone taught me that I should give 10 per cent of my time to something that I am passionate about, to contribute to society without having any expectations in return. I have found that this approach has allowed me to be pleasantly surprised. These experiences have always enriched me, in many situations, in totally unexpected ways.
7. How do you decide whom to donate to? Does your family influence your decision?
It depends on the themes as outlined above, and on the person who is committing time to this cause.
8. What was the last charity fundraiser you attended? How much was raised there?
Recently at a senior leadership event we raised £10,000 for Save the Children, which is Lloyds Banking Group’s charity of the year.
9. Should charitable donations be private?
Yes, they should preferably be anonymous
Through these in-depth interviews with industry leaders, Vikas Pota asks charity-related questions that unearth the driving force behind their philanthropy and social responsibility.
This interview was first featured on www.indiaincorporated.com, where I write a column called The Social Capital
The Social Capital with Vikas Pota – What giving really means?
Vikas Pota speaks to Malcolm Lane from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)
Malcolm Lane has over 35 years’ management experience within the IT and telecommunications industries. He joined Tata Consultancy Services in 2001 where he is Director Corporate Affairs. He also leads the European Tata Corporate Sustainability Group, which encourages synergy across the Tata Group companies.
1. Is giving important? Why?
Yes, when we see others in need around us, I fail to see how we can close our eyes and ignore. Clearly it is not possible to support all in need locally or around the globe so we need to identify the areas close to our hearts where we feel we can have maximum impact.
2. What charities do you personally support?
Some of the groups overseas and locally in the UK that do marvellous work like Compassion, Tear Fund, British Asian Trust and Cell Barnes Residents Association, St Albans.
Health is another area close to my heart and support includes The Institute of Cancer Research, Myeloma UK, Grove House hospice, Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research, Anthony Nolan Trust and Indian Cancer Society.
Through the online Just Giving channel I like to encourage people in their fundraising, especially employees of Tata Consultancy Services.
Education charities are another priority area for me. I admire and support groups like the Mumbai Mobile Crèche, Loomba Trust, African Children’s Choir (orphans in Africa), Cunningham Hill School UK – where I have been a school governor for 24 years, Bread Tin – teaching young City professionals philanthropy and Stepney Football club education projects.
A truly inspirational project is the Sevalaya School [www.sevalaya.org] project in India, built by a former TCS employee over a 20-year period. The idea is to help any child who cannot afford to pay to go to school. The school has an orphanage for boys and girls as well as an old people’s home, a library and medical centre and a sanctuary for cows. I have been associated with Sevalaya School for many years. It has succeeded in eradicating child labour in a number of villages in the area.
Some faith-based charities I support include Prospects UK – supporting adults with learning disabilities, Thirlmere Church, and students at All Nations Christian College addressing needs in society.
3. What was your first ever donation to a charity?
To my local church as a child in Sunday school.
4. Which individuals stand out for their support to charitable causes?
Eric Low, the CEO of Myeloma UK, and V. Muralidharan, founder and managing trustee of the Chennai-based Sevalaya School.
5. What percentage of our income should we give to good causes?
A minimum of 10 per cent is a good starting point. But for those who have more, I believe more is expected. Consider, if a person receiving a ridiculously high income of £1 million and then gives away 90 per cent they are still left with £100,000 which is four times the national average income. So, 10 per cent for high earners (however you define high earners) would seem inadequate.
6. What do you, personally, gain from contributing?
I believe we should give expecting nothing in return. However, sometimes we are pleasantly surprised with gifts that money cannot buy, such as a get well card signed individually by 750 children from Sevalaya School, Chennai, and subsequently a thank you card signed by 900 children a few years later on my 60th birthday.
7. Do administrative charges by charities determine your decisions?
I used to judge a charity as being good if it had a very low administration charge, however we need to be more sophisticated in our approach. Different charities include different activities in their administration charges. Whilst I would still want to see low administrative charges, the administrative activities can be the engine and powerhouse of a charity.
8. When was the last time you volunteered for a cause?
On June 27, 2011, I spoke in the House of Parliament at the launch of Myeloma UK’s latest initiative to improve information to Health Care Professionals (HCPs) of the latest treatment and care options via the Myeloma Academy training facility. The aim was for the HCPs to be equipped to inform patients of the best treatments and latest options available in terms of emotional and financial support.
9. Should charitable donations be private?
We need to look from the perspective of those in need and if making our giving visible encourages others to give we should swallow our humility or pride to remain humble. However, neither should we be proud and shout ‘look at me, how good am I for giving so much’ or use our giving as a means of buying favour or recognition. In addition to financial donations, we should donate our time and skills which might be visible and as a result have a positive impact on those the charity is seeking to support.
10. Does your faith play a role in the charities you support?
A strong driver in life is my Christian faith, but not just faith for faith’s sake. Faith without deeds is dead and that action should be to meet the needs of those of all faiths and those of none. Faith might be our driver but not to just meet the needs of those aligned to our own faith. Unless faith brings about action with compassion for those in need, we had better confine the promotion of our faith to those well off and comfortable, which would be to my mind a wrong understanding of faith. I would summarise my Christian faith as ‘love God and love your neighbour’. Who is my neighbour? All those in need!
Through these in-depth interviews with industry leaders, Vikas Pota asks charity-related questions that unearth the driving force behind their philanthropy and social responsibility.
THE MOST IMPORTANT BIT ON THIS BLOG IS AT THE BOTTOM – DON’T FORGET TO READ IT.
I’m starting to write a new column on a popular website called India Incorporated (www.indiaincorporated.com) where I hope to interview high profile business leaders, professionals, and other such people on their views on their charitable interests and giving.
When researching and writing my book on Indian entrepreneurship, I was positively flabbergasted with the level of personal involvement that high profile people invest in giving back to good causes, which I found refreshing and inspiring. But, I wondered why we’d never read about such acts of kindness and generosity in our media. I know I’d be interested.
Was it because they felt that this was “private” i.e should not be spoken about? Well, no.
If you opened the Annual Report (which is a marketing document) of their businesses, you’d find sections on how they were making a social impact by leveraging their resources effectively – so my assumption that their charity was “private” proved to be wrong.
So, why is it that we don’t read about their views on the subject of ‘Giving’?
It’s this I hope to contribute.
What I need your help on is to compile a generic list of questions you’d like answered from business leaders on charitable giving. If you’d like to contribute, then please leave a comment at the end of this blogpost.
Thanks.
Vikas
I, like almost everyone I talk to, am bothered about the state of affairs regarding education & skills. I’m not referring to the political agenda in England revolving around free schools, the promotion of academy status for schools, the education maintenance allowance, university fees or any such subject that’s being debated in our political media; rather I’m referring to the injustice of the 60million or so children who’ve never set their eyes on a school building. More so, I get even more vexed when I hear about the millions of children who do attend a school, but leave without learning anything! How comes that never comes up in our media?
The reason I mention this, is recently, I was fortunate to have met with Madhav Chavan, who in the mid-90s founded a NGO in India called Pratham. Later that evening, I attended a dinner hosted by their UK chapter where he laid out the challenge.
His argument was simple. One of the main reasons children fail in the Indian schooling system is because they lack basic literacy skills – they can’t read or write. As a result of this realization, Pratham’s dedicated itself to reaching the absolute bottom (of the famous Indian) pyramid to equip those children (and now adults) with these skills.
To assist their work, one the most valuable things that Pratham instituted and conducts with rigour is a national survey, called ASER, which has now become the de-facto study on education in India, as approx 720,000 people in 16,000 villages across the sub-continent are surveyed.
Chavan highlighted some of the following statistics, which made me sit up and think (read: pull my hair out):
• 97% of children in India are enrolled in a school – emphasis is on enrolled. They don’t necessarily attend or sit exams.
• After four years of learning, in class 5, between 40 – 50% of children can’t read or can’t write.
• In rural India (which is the majority of India), after four years of schooling, in class 5, 60% of children fail to solve a simple division sum.
If this is the case, regardless of where we live, we all need to worry.
If a quarter of the world’s work force is expected to reside in India within the next 15 years, where are all the skilled workers going to come from? Yes, India has a large, and young population that could be a massive advantage in its ascendancy to super-power status, but there’s simply no hiding from these facts.
Right now, it’d be quite easy to take a pot-shot at the role of government, but as Chavan explained, India is a very complex country, where there is a long term commitment in fixing this problem. I assume the challenge comes in dealing with the situation here & now – which if you’ve ever visited India is a challenge in most spheres of life.
As is so true, he explained that where good leadership exists, you find change. For example, some progressive state governments do recognise the huge hurdle that exists and are doing something about this. Bihar is a good example. It has 10 million illiterate adults, and to institute a programme to equip them with “employment ready” skills will require an army of volunteers, which Pratham is trying to marshal with the support of Nitish Kumar, their Chief Minister.
Similarly, Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat, realizes as a result of ASER data on his state that in order to translate his success in attracting massive investment commitments he needs a skilled and educated workforce. He’s now mandated his Ministerial team to visit schools to assess for themselves the problems in their system.
If you read my first post in January 2011, you’ll see that I took my kids to a Pratham school in Mumbai. The thing that struck me was that Pratham’s model works because it’s so simple. Because it’s low-cost. Because they’re at ground level. But more importantly, because they can prove their method works.
At the dinner later that day, surrounded by ultra successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and city professionals, Chavan conveyed his message with great effectiveness. His audience were positively agitated and somewhat pissed off at the situation in their beloved motherland. In typical fashion, wanting to put the world right several suggestions were offered by those assembled, but Chavan put it all in perspective, at least for me. He explained: in a country where almost 75% of the population defecates in the open, you need solutions that take into cognizance the reality of India, here and now, and build on them rather than building clouds in the sky.
He’s right. You & I know it. By offering our support to the likes of Pratham, we’ll be doing something about the challenges facing our future generations.
In a world where CEOs and business leaders have come under immense scrutiny, and where their ethical behaviour and ability to walk the talk ranks as highly as their ability to deliver shareholder value, I found it absolutely refreshing to attend a briefing held by an Indian NGO called Akshaya Patra (http://www.akshayapatra.org) which had invited Narayana Murthy, Founder & Chairman of Infosys, to speak about why he supports them.
If there’s a business leader in the world who symbolises integrity and transparancy, the award should surely go this this tech titan.
It’s easy to see him through the lense of entrepreneurship, after all he founded what is today, one of India’s most international and prestigious firms’. His story is the stuff of legend and there’s no need to repeat it here, but you can read about him in my forthcoming book (http:://www.indiaincthebook.com).
What he captured in his speech tonight floored an audience comprising some very prominent people. Akshaya Patra runs a mid-day meals programme in India. Since 2000 they have grown from providing meals to five schools in Bangalore to feeding 1.2million kids over 7 states through leveraging the use of technology and understanding best practices and other management techniques to scale up their NGO.
Murthy narrated a life experience, which I cover in the first chapter of the book from a different angle, about when in 1974 he decided to return to India from France, he went without food and water for over 4 days after being locked up in Yugoslavia / Bulgaria for speaking to a girl on a train (!), which made him realise the injustices and inequalities of life. Having experienced starvation himself, he offered to the august audience that was gathered today that they should dig deep to support Akshaya Patra’s ambitions of delivering mid-day meals to 5 million malnourished kids by 2015.
What astounded me was the simple maths. One meal costs a mere Rs5.52, so to feed one child for a year, the cost is no more than £8 per year!
With Murthy backing them, they have my support.
Going back to how I started, its par for the course for large companies to have corporate social responsibilty programmes that support such NGOs, but Infosys isn’t a run-of -the-mill type of company, and what shone through once again is that Murthy isn’t an ordinary guy.
To end with he said it beautifully, he explained that rather than a fat bank balance, the ability to illicit a smile on the face of child is a better measure of success.
“You can have a comfortable night’s sleep knowing that you’ve helped another child sleep better”