Yote Yawezekana, Swahili for ‘all is possible,’ beautifully characterizes the feeling of the members from The Value Web as we left Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. While The Value Web had twice before supported the World Economic Forum in South Africa, neither we, nor the country of Tanzania had ever hosted anything like the Summit held there the week of May 2-7.

The 10-person team designed and facilitated the largest gathering of this kind ever. The number of Young Global Leaders we were working with reached nearly 350! Prior gatherings had at most 150 people.

Any of you who have been to Africa can imagine the logistics of caring for, moving and engaging such a large group. No hotel or meeting venue could handle our numbers. We wound up in a large tent … did I tell you it was the rainy season???! With temperatures hovering at around 28˚ and 100% humidity, we knew we’d have to bring air-conditioning into the tent. But in a country in which only 14% of the population even has electricity, our draw caused constant power outages. Neither the heat, nor the lack of power affected our mood. All were delighted to jump into the global summit.

Empowering change and delivering impact
The Value Web’s mission, “to engage in multi-sector/multi-stakeholder collaboration in transformational projects for a more sustainable, equitable world,” matched the willingness of the YGL team to provide inspiration, facts, time and space for the YGL community to consider how to unleash its collective potential.

Individual Models of Change
Three main themes were designed to flow through the course of the summit. Theme #1 focused on individual and African stories of transformation – how individuals with the right model of change and support can not only break the cycle of poverty, but also multiply their success in ways that elevate a region, and even a country, out of pain and poverty. (Learn more about our amazing opening speakers: Kimmie Weeks, Penelope Machipi.

Documenting how one makes an impact is what we termed a personal model of change. As change-makers, the YGLs had already made an impact in their respective areas of expertise, but few had taken the time to step back and chart their methods. The most effective change makers regularly evaluate their actions to ensure that they remain relevant. We gave the YGLs paper, markers, and time to draw. What they delivered was inspiring. (In next week’s blog we’ll give step-by-step instructions about how you can consider and draw your personal model of change. Come back to learn more!)

Community Models of Change to deliver impact
Day 2 focused on the ways agencies and communities deliver impact. The YGLs first looked at local agencies in Dar es Salaam. They discussed leverage points and barriers within the ecosystem and how pressing on these points might help alleviate tough issues and release new possibilities.

Looking outward is one thing; looking inward another. The YGLs were challenged to consider how their community delivers impact. They took the time to consider the ways in which their task forces deliver change and they spoke about ways to unleash some of their untapped potential in order to shape a more positive future for the planet.

Global Models of Change
Complexity. What more is there to say about the issues facing our planet? The YGLs heard from Professor Schwab, Founder of the Forum. He urged them to use the Forum platform for deliberate multi-stakeholder dialogue.