“What is the missing piece in my puzzle?”
From Vision to Success If we want to inspire the next generations to create a better world, we need to redefine success and how we measure it, as these dictate our relationship with volunteers, communities we work with and our statements of intent towards our stakeholders and partners. But how do we redefine success? I am convinced that the future success of the RCRC work will link to both individual and institutional-demonstrated abilities along these three pillars: 1.) Accepting human imperfections such as fear from losing control (I encourage people to read Letter to a Young Poet #8 by Rainer Maria Rilke), 2.) Championing power-sharing, and 3.) Nurturing relational leadership. A relational leader will always go for action over position and relationship over attainment. Trustworthy Engagement Today, we recognise that engagement of people with organisations is increasingly driven by a cause and impact rather than a brand. Undoubtedly, there are many worthy causes and still not all organisations manage to mobilise as many resources and people to join them as they would wish for. So, is it possible that people “massively” contribute to causes championed and pioneered by those who are relatable and trustworthy? Yes, by elevating meaningful youth engagement in our strategic frameworks, we indeed have a unique chance to reinforce our role of an enabler of, vs conduit for community resilience strengthening. Circling Back Working alongside young people can help us work on the core of our human imperfections and boost our collective potential to become a trustworthy, and cause-driven enabler of community resilience, a partner of choice fitted to address the needs of humanity in this changing world. If the RCRC processes human imperfections in a healthy way, champions power-sharing, and excels at relational leadership while meaningfully engaging girls, boys, adolescents, and young adults, then the engagement of other constituencies will be much easier and more successful. Why? Because young people will become the RCRC voice echoing our institutional intent to wider communities, donors, governments, decision-makers, and overall our future allies. Be Like a Roman In conclusion, I would like to borrow the words of Marcus Aurelius which I believe are universally true and valid for whatever future we as a humanitarian network will happen to live:
“Concentrate every minute like a Roman— like a man— on doing what’s in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness, tenderly, willingly, with justice. And on freeing yourself from all other distractions.”
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