The start of the year gives us a chance to consider what we want to accomplish in the year ahead. Here at ONE, our ultimate hope is ending extreme poverty and preventable diseases, but there’s a lot we need to achieve this hope. Things like gender equality, access to health services, good education, and investments in agriculture give us the tools we need to achieve our mission.
Luckily, there are activists worldwide working to make some of these things a reality. We asked a few of them about their hopes for 2020, and their responses inspire us to keep the fight going into the new decade. Here’s what they had to say:
“My wish for 2020: that we think the unthinkable and together make the bold moves needed to build the world we want — one in which everyone, everywhere, has the opportunity to thrive and live in dignity.” — Gayle Smith, CEO for ONE
“By 2020, I hope that all forms of discrimination against women will be banished from our lives and that every child in the world will have access to education without any distinction of race or gender. I particularly hope that girls’ education will be one of the priorities for our African states. Today’s children are tomorrow’s adults and investing in girls’ education will only make our societies better. It is time for us to join forces to give every child the opportunity to thrive, to build and to fulfill their dreams. I am an advocate for children. What about you?” — Black Queen, Rapper and Activist
“My hope is that ordinary people would awake to the power within them and move from apathy to action in the face of gross injustice, inequality and discrimination in order to hold themselves and others accountable for their actions. The world is in need of people with moral courage who will no longer turn a blind eye.” – Melene Rossouw, Founder of the Women Lead Movement
“I hope 2020 will be: the year to accelerate commitments for the Sustainable Development Goals Decade of action; the year of increased access to universal health, specifically maternal and reproductive health services, building on the commitments of the 25 years of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD); the year of progress towards building a generation equality and realizing women’s rights for an equal future leading to the 25 years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for action on gender equality and beyond.” — Dr. Joannie Marlene Bewa, founder of the Young Beninese Leader Association
“2020 is a start of a new decade. I am hopeful that it will be a year for me to have a clearer vision about my goals and aspirations. I also look forward to exploring more opportunities for personal and professional growth. I am positive that 2020 will give me bigger platforms to tell my Yours In Power story, thereby inspiring thousands of young girls and women around the world.” — Wadi Ben-Hirki, Founder of the Wadi Ben-Hirki Foundation
“My hopes for 2020 are include: to be a better version of myself; to be at the forefront of ending extreme poverty, no matter how little my impact may seem; to network and as well as collaborate with individuals and organizations that are committed to making the world a better place for all, especially all especially in the areas of gender equality and education; to educate more people on the mission and vision of ONE, Campaign because together, we can do so much.” – Chindinma Ibemere, ONE Champion
