To read part 1, click here. To read part 2, click here.
Cendrine Marrouat: As the creator and CEO of two NGOs, what are the main challenges that you encounter?
Nejeed Kassam: This question could take hours and hours to answer. I would say there are three main challenges: It's too big, am I legitimate? And money.
One major challenge that I have encountered has been the feeling that the world is so big, there are so many problems, and I am just one person. Where do I start? The answer, I have found, to this question, is right here. And when? Right now. Often the most difficult step to take is the first one. There are so many amazing people out there, so many incredible resources (Conversations for Change being just one). I believe that you can make a difference. You just need to start.
Legitimacy, especially for young people, is something that must be earned. In doing the work that I've done, at the level that I have, I have found that getting older people to trust you can be very difficult. But, as the book and documentary show, there is so much being done by young people, we just need to prove ourselves. But that ability is in all of us, and sceptics can't argue with results!!!
Finally, money. I don't have a charming response or piece of wisdom for this one. In a world that is dominated by financial matters, with governments cutting funds to non-profits and arts initiatives, with people facing economic challenges, and with a recession, getting money for initiatives, be they new or on-going, is a challenge. And it will be a continued challenge in the future.
CM: What advice would you give someone who wants to follow in your footsteps?
NK: Read the book, watch the documentary. Participate in the conversation. It is not my footsteps that people should be following-in. It's the footsteps of all the amazing young people that are part of this conversation.
But beyond that, all I say is believe. Believe you can, and you will.
CM: What would you like to achieve through your work?
NK: Everyone who works in this field wants to change the world, and I am no exception. But that's a big task that starts with each of us. For me, changing the world is getting everyone to believe that they can. I work at the infrastructure level, now. I am a facilitator for change, and I want to facilitate young people's engagement in changing the world. If I succeed in what I'm doing, we all succeed, even just a little. That is what I want to achieve.
CM: How can people get in touch with you?
NK: I am actually a very easy person to get a hold of. I love hearing from people, no matter their age, nationality, or qualification.
I am on Facebook and Twitter. And you can email me at nejeed@networksforchange.org.
CM: Any last words?
NK: Cendrine, thank you so much for this interview. I feel truly blessed about having been given this opportunity. Thank you very much.
Further, I want to make it clear, be it the book or the documentary or the campaign, I am only one small piece of amazing teams. Our staff are the ones who should be given credit for all the awesome work being done.
Finally, there are a bunch of links that I think would interest your readers.
- Conversations for Change: campaign website: www.conversationsforchange.ca
- Conversations for Change: Full film on Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/25051169
- The High on Life Book: You can purchase the book at: www.amazon.ca/High-Life-Stories-Change-Leadership/dp/0981049028/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311320387&sr=8-1
- Networks for Change (one of the organizations that I work for): www.networksforchange.org
- End Poverty Now (the poverty-alleviation organization that I used to work for, based out of Montreal, Quebec): www.endpovertynow.ca
End of the interview.
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Cendrine Marrouat may be contacted for potential interviews, reviews and general enquiries at info@cendrinemarrouat.com
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