Some may call it naive, but I believe that EVERYTHING is possible. No exceptions. Knowing that, I find it remarkable that the western world is trying to ‘teach’ the people in third world countries how to live the RIGHT way.. Are we as successful when we think about it? Knowing what we know today, we would probably do a few things differently, wouldn’t we?

Let’s go back about 100-150 years. Most European countries had plenty of poverty, a very young public school system – mostly there for the elite. People from the lower classes of society lived in slums and the higher classes viewed them as if they were less intelligent and less worthy to life than they were. Revolutions flipped these thoughts upside down and created industrialism and society as we know it today.

Industrialism came with commercialism and created a place where we’d rather replace than fix. The ability to buy new things became a status symbol and poverty and slums were not seen many places in Europe anymore. However, and I think I will put that in capital!! HOWEVER! Industrialism and society, norms and values in popular culture as we know it today is a heavy weight on our planet, on life quality and is not catering to the challenges we are facing.

The school systems are ancient. Creative and energetic children are forced to learn to sit still and learn the same curriculum as they did 100 years ago, even though several studies show that they have a massive capacity to create amazing solutions that we need in order to sustain the planet we are living on. Ken Robinson makes it clear it his TED speech Schools kill creativity.

While we know that the current situation calls for a ‘different’ society, most projects in the developing countries are aimed at industrialization. What we are trying to do is to make duplicates of the western world in South America, Africa and Asia. But why duplicate something that we have proven to have such a high impact on the state of the planet?

I am certain that other people around the world have thought what I am saying here millions of times and I am also sure that they are doing their best to fulfill everything. So let’s be positive here, let’s learn from our mistakes and not think that we did all the right things 100 years ago when we know there can be better ways. Let’s build schools that have capacity for all types of intelligence-types and rethink what we are doing out there.

A few questions that may underline the issue:

Are we empowering African citizens by donating money to their corrupt governments? Is it effective to let 40+ children sit in a small room in 40 degrees heat to learn ABC from a teacher that takes bribes? Does it benefit anyone to be stigmatized? Poor. Sick. Black. Dumb. Hungry. Or would it be better to focus solely on opportunities and solutions and each individual’s potential?

I know it may sound VERY ambitious, but I mean it. If we want to change the state of the planet, we need to look for potential and opportunities. It’s right there in front of us.