Kristof and WuDunn in Conversation

From the website American Program Bureau

From the website American Program Bureau

A Path Appears

Tonight I heard Nicholas Kristof and his wife Sheryl WuDunn talk about their new book, A Path Appears. There’s a wonderful description of the book from the website of American Program Bureau:

“In their newly released book, A Path Appears, Kristof and WuDunn have outlined the roadmap to becoming an effective global citizen. In this essential narrative, the authors set out to find the answer to the question: how can one truly make a difference in the world?”

The authors related inspiring stories that answer the question. Their commitment to social justice and optimism about possibilities for change came through loud and clear.

We can all make a difference. We do it in our own ways – sometimes with gifts to charities, sometimes raising awareness of difficult issues, and sometimes blogging about Ebola!

Our local public radio station, WSHU, presented the program as part of their series, “Join the Conversation.” Craig LeMoult, senior reporter, was the moderator. They recorded the program and will have the podcast so you can listen if you like.

I Joined the Conversation

I was happy that we were invited to ask questions. My question followed a comment Kristof made about shaming governments into providing better public health options for their citizens. I asked if they had thoughts about how to shame government leaders in developing countries so they stop tolerating, even participating in, corrupt practices.

Kristof and WuDunn

Kristof and WuDunn on stage with the moderator Craig LeMoult

Attack Corruption with Accountability

“It takes a strong leader, someone who commands respect, to bring about a change from a culture that accepts corruption to one that condemns it.” WuDunn said this (or something close to it) in her answer.

Kristof talked about accountability. He said governments must demand that people show up and get paid for work they do, not work they should be doing but aren’t.  He said spot checks on attendance of teachers and medical workers have made a difference.

Bead Parties Lead to Prosperity

The book, A Path Appears, came with the $30 price of a ticket. So now Clem and I each have a copy. I read the beginning of one chapter while we were waiting for the speakers who were stuck in traffic and arrived twenty minutes late!

The chapter is Changing Lives, Bead by Bead. A former Peace Corps volunteer and her adult daughter happened upon a woman in Uganda who was making necklaces with beads made from scrap paper.

They bought 225 necklaces, brought them back to the U.S., and sold them. Today Bead for Life holds thousands of “bead parties” where women in the U.S. sell these necklaces to their friends.

Red paper-bead necklace from their website

Red paper-bead necklace from their website

They sell other products as well. Many impoverished women in Uganda have joined the program, get eighteen months of training, start other businesses and are prospering.

Gifts of Meaning

At the back of their book, Kristof and WuDunn have included “A Gift List.” They suggest giving ‘gifts of meaning.’ “Here you can get a gift in someone’s name that will truly have a transformative impact,” they say. I love it!

It’s what I say in my other blog, Grandma Charity Challenge. I encourage adults – they don’t have to be grandmothers –  to encourage children to get involved in charitable giving. I started it at Christmas several years ago with a challenge to my two older grandchildren. I gave them each $25 to give to a charity. I asked them to decide which charity (I gave them a few suggestions to start) and tell me why they chose that one. Then I would match the $25 and make a gift of $50 with my credit card in their name.

Today I posted a suggestion for three ways to confront the Ebola virus that can be meaningful for children.

Line Too Long

I would have liked to get the authors’ signatures. I wanted to greet them and  say hello to the moderator, Craig, whom I’ve met. But the line was too long. We came home after a lovely brief conversation with our senior interim minister at The Unitarian Church in Westport, Rev. Roberta, and her husband Barry.

Now on to reading A Path Appears.

Will you read the book? Have you heard the authors speak?

 

Author: Catherine Onyemelukwe

Author, blogger, speaker. Born in New York, grew up in mid west United States, lived in Nigeria for 24 years, back in U.S. since 1986. Advocate for racial justice.

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