In order to make a difference, we must be the change we wish to see in this world. ONE Champions do just that — they are global activists who are working today to create a better world for tomorrow. They are a strong and vibrant group of volunteers who work to support ONE Africa’s advocacy work via lobbying, recruiting, and supporting the ONE mission.
In order to grow that amazing team and further their efforts, ONE has just launched recruitment for 2020 Champions in Senegal and Mali (applications close 31 August)!
To shed some light on the experience of being a ONE Champion, we spoke with two Champions in Dakar, Senegal — Jerry Azilinon, 24, who has been a Champion for one year, and Fatou Warkha Samb, 31, who was part of the first cohort of ONE Champions in West Africa for a year. They’re sharing their experiences about what it has been like being a part of the ONE team, what global activism means to them, and what they hope to achieve in the future.
What does being a ONE Champion mean to you?
Champion Jerry Azilinon.
Jerry: Being a ONE champion is being part of a family where you meet young people like you from around the world who are fighting the same battles, sharing the same values, and facing the same challenges as you. It is an empowering and enriching experience from the variety of perspectives it offers. On the other hand, we are doing what we have always done, i.e. activism and advocacy with an extra dose of credibility thanks to ONE’s undisputable renown.
Fatou: For me, being a ONE Champion means many things: it is like becoming aware of the impact our actions have in our communities. It is also the feeling of being privileged because not everyone gets the chance to be a ONE Champion. When you look at all of ONE’s campaigns and accomplishments around the world, being a ONE Champion is a great opportunity. It has been one of my greatest experiences in activism so far.
It was an opportunity for me to learn new things that could help me take my advocacy to another level and make the voices of the voiceless better heard.
What made you want to become a ONE Champion?
Jerry: I wanted to become a ONE Champion to better serve my community. Despite my efforts, I felt that there were still notions I didn’t quite understand and platforms that I did not necessarily have access to in order to expand my message. That is what the Champions program allowed me to access.
Fatou: Champions play an important role in amplifying ONE’s advocacy campaigns in Africa and around the world. My motivation to become a Champion came from the fact that it was an opportunity for me to learn new things that could help me take my advocacy to another level and make the voices of the voiceless better heard.
Why is it important for young people to get involved in global activism?
Jerry: It is important for youth to engage in activism because the generations that preceded us are passing the torch of all social struggles to us and we must embrace that responsibility, we must embrace the fact that these struggles are ours and that it is our individual and collective responsibility to leave a better world for those who will come after us. Nowadays, youth is only perceived as a demographic force, but that is not all we are. We are an endless source of ideas, innovation, and change. Yet, that must be visible through our activism.
Given the current situation of the world, it is our task to lead the fight against poverty and inequalities. We owe this to the next generation.
Champion Fatou Warkha Samb.
Fatou: It is fundamental that young people engage in activism because we are the future. Given the current situation of the world, it is our task to lead the fight against poverty and inequalities. We owe this to the next generation.
What has been your biggest accomplishment while being a ONE Champion?
Jerry: I don’t necessarily have one that stands out from the rest, but I would say that my success is that with each day that passes, we get a little closer to the final goal we’ve set ourselves. Even if the gap is still very wide, we are still making progress.
Fatou: We have achieved a lot of things last year. However, the campaign against gender-based violence is one that I am proud to have been involved in. I am proud that we were able to push the government to do the right thing by criminalizing rape. But, the fight continues.
What do you hope ONE Champions achieve in the future?
Jerry: I [hope] that with each day that passes, we get a little closer to the final goal we’ve set ourselves.
Fatou: We can make this world a better place. We are on the right track and with all the opportunities this program offers, nothing is impossible.
