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Can you have fun when addressing global poverty? YAO says YES!
This past month, 30 YAO (Young Ambassadors for Opportunity) members gathered at the Board of Governors conference in Scottsdale, Arizona. For some of us who had traveled to Tanzania and Rwanda together last fall on the YAO insight trip it was a sweet reunion. For others it was the first time they found fun younger people to hang with at a conference like this. With a variety of backgrounds and familiarity with microfinance and Opportunity we all found a common ground in a shared value set that makes us believe that globally poverty is an atrocity and that we have the creativity, passion and commitment to do something about it.
• We are NOT ok with 20,000 people dying of hunger EVERY DAY, the number equivalent to 60 full jumbo jets.
• We are NOT ok with ineffective aid being poured into poor countries creating a culture of dependency and devastating local economies.
• We are NOT ok with millions of hard working people not able to feed their families and create a stable life because they lack the access to capital and other financial services needed to start or improve their business.
• We are NOT ok with just writing a check to clear our conscious on the matter.
YAO is a network of globally minded young professionals dedicated to inspire, educate and involve younger generations in the power of microfinance and the mission of Opportunity International.
Saturday night after the conclusion of the conference, the YAO San Francisco chapter chair, Alana Aldag hosted a YAO reception at the home of her parents in Scottsdale. Conversation among the 22 guests was similar to that of any young professional cocktail party but with a unique twist. Conversation on travel was that of trips to Africa and the best way to get into, Dar Es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, rather than that of the latest and greatest resort. And conversation on business was that of develop8ing markets and jobs to create sustainable change in poor countries rather than that of getting that big deal no matter what the cost to society. The uplifting conversation and fun stories of travel in Africa continued at dinner in Old Town Scottsdale and into the night. After a weekend of meeting new friends and reconnecting with old; we all left with two dates on our calendars… September 4-11 for the next YAO trip to Tanzania and Oct. 8-9 for the next Opportunity Conference being held in Washington DC.
If you are interested in plugging in with this crowd, join YAO at www.opportunity.org/yao
If you want to hear more from our members, here are a few highlights from the conference:
Tagged Arizona, Board of Governors, Board of Governors Conference, Creativity, Insight Trip, Passion, Rwanda, spring 2010 microfinance conference, spring microfinance conference, Tanzania, YAO, Young Ambassadors for Opportunity, Young Professionals
