On June 5 and 6, Forest Whitaker will be in Singapore, participating in the 5th Ecosperity Conference and UNLEASH, a nonprofit innovation lab, in his capacities as CEO/Founder of WPDI, UNESCO Special Envoy for Peace and Development as well as member of the Advocacy Group for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Ecosperity and UNLEASH are two global-reaching initiatives aiming at mobilizing the energies of civil society and the private sector to set the world on the course of sustainability. Ecosperity is a series of conferences that places the spotlight on sustainable development. It is presented by Temasek Foundation Ecosperity, a Singapore-based non-profit philanthropic organisation that funds and supports sustainability-driven programmes. It brings together corporate leaders, innovators, policy-makers and experts from all over the world, it aims to push the frontiers of sustainable development by exploring its latest trends and insights.
Held in relation with the United Nations World Environment Day, this edition of the Ecosperity conference will explore new approaches to education, food and healthcare, so as to achieve impact at scale and build resilient societies in an increasingly digital and urban future. Forest Whitaker will take part in the discussions of the conference drawing on his extended experience with young people in Africa and the Americas.
UNLEASH is a global innovation lab that brings together 1,000 talented young people from all over the world to transform 1,000 personal insights into hundreds of ideas, and build lasting global networks around the Sustainable Development Goals. This year, UNLEASH is organized in Singapore in conjunction with Ecosperity to further their aim of accelerating next generation ideas and partner talents with individuals, companies, NGOs, government agencies, investors and foundations that are at the forefront of innovation and global development.
Forest Whitaker shared his experiences and his vision, based in particular on the tribune article he published on CNN.com on the occasion of the event: “Nearly 60 years ago” he wrote, “John F. Kennedy came up with the idea of the Peace Corps — after an improvised speech at a university prompted thousands of young people to write him about their desire to commit to peace and development in vulnerable countries. We need that kind of responsiveness from the adults — but we need more than a volunteer program that will mobilize young people around projects designed and managed by adults. We need policies and programs that truly embrace change and social innovation. We need institutions that assume young people are going to come with ideas that don't necessarily fit what adults believe to be an established truth. Of course, young people need guidance and mentorship.”
Read the full OpEd published on CNN International: https://edition.cnn.com/2018/05/31/opinions/support-youth-activism-opinion-whitaker/index.html
Follow Forest Whitaker live at Ecosperity and UNLEASH #GlobalGoals