Bon voyage

“If not me, who? And if not now, when?” - Mikhail Gorbachev, the last head of state of the USSR

Change is happening all around us, all the time. The opportunity is there to influence these changes towards creating the world we want to live in.

Social innovation as we know it is a starting point. It is up to you to explore and create the new landscape of social innovation, and in doing so, empower others to create their own desired future.

"Sometimes the notion of change, big or small, seems overwhelming and we retreat into inertia or paralysis. What I say to myself at the beginning of each day, to keep things moving toward that nourishment internally and externally, is just to acknowledge my intention and take one action every day. The sense of that, whether it is accomplishment, self-satisfaction or euphoria lends meaning to my life and each day ends with gratitude. I see simple ways like these - daily personal intention, action and gratitude - can add to a mountain of positive change in the world, quickly. This is how I would define self-responsibility. Once I start, it's not just one thing I'm doing, but many." - Deborah Goldblatt - Founder of the Youth Dialogue Programme, San Francisco

"Changes come from actions. Positive social change can happen by chance, but looking at history and the challenges facing the world today, it feels too haphazard to leave it up to sheer luck. Recognizing an opportunity to do something is also an opportunity to act. An act, ever so small, is better than no act. We can do more. Better.” - Christer Lidzélius, CEO and Principal of the KaosPilots International

“Citizens, consumers, employees and leaders have an opportunity to influence and contribute to the development of a better world. And this is indeed where it starts - with ourselves. We all have an important role to play - and we can all contribute as social innovators in each our own way. To quote the American anthropologist, Margaret Mead – Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has” – Tania Ellis, author of De Nye Pionerer on social innovation and entrepreneurship

Join the conversation! Think big by starting small, and stop being a victim of circumstance but the agent for change that lies within you.

Traveller, we salute you!

June 2008 Team 13