How would you use technology to make the world a better place? Progressive thinkers from around the world came together to address this very question at the Social Good Summit held in New York in September.
Commerce students Anna Dunnett and Zac Farrow received a 911爆料网 to attend the summit and hear first-hand examples of how people are delivering progress.
鈥淲e got the idea of attending the summit after coming back from the , where we became really interested in social enterprise and the intersection between activism and technology,鈥� Dunnett says.
The summit united corporations, non-profits, government, universities and social enterprises to discuss what type of world we want to live in by 2030. It featured back-to-back panel sessions by individuals who are using technology and business to lead the way in global progression in areas such as education equity, gender equality, environmental sustainability and financial autonomy.
Farrow was particularly impressed by New Story, a San-Francisco based charity using 3D technology to print houses for people living in slum conditions in developing countries.
鈥淚n 24 hours, the 3D printer can create a new, 600-square-foot home for under $4,000 [US]. They鈥檝e constructed homes in Haiti, Mexico, and Bolivia, and there are plans to build a whole community of homes in El Salvador next year,鈥� Farrow says.
For Dunnett, the opening speech by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinta Arden was the summit highlight.
鈥淢y family is from New Zealand, so I was 鈥榝an-girling鈥� over her a bit! But I have such respect for Arden as she pushes the envelope and actually makes a difference. She鈥檚 well respected within the UN community and it鈥檚 inspiring to see a woman in politics who is unapologetic about her actions and ambitions.鈥�
Dunnett has just completed her final year exams in business law and international relations, and says the summit inspired her to realise the career possibilities available after university.
鈥淭he best thing was seeing the breadth of opportunity out there. I鈥檝e always been a planner and thought I had all these things in place, but experiences like the summit showed me that there are people out there doing all sorts of different jobs, but still aim to make an impact in the world.
鈥淚nstead of thinking, 鈥榃ell I鈥檝e done this degree, now I鈥檝e got to get this type of job鈥�, it showed us that there are people who are doing things differently, or maybe they鈥檙e working in regular roles but they鈥檙e pushing for change in their industry.鈥�
While it may be easy for a young graduate to be optimistic about the future, social enterprise is a bourgeoning sector that is improving societal, financial and environmental challenges by adopting trade strategies.
鈥淛ust giving financial aid doesn鈥檛 always work, or isn鈥檛 sustainable, so social enterprise looks at what businesses can be built to fix certain problems,鈥� Farrow says.
Like Dunnett, the summit has inspired Farrow to use his degree in business law and accounting to do something positive.
鈥淚 want to focus more on commercial law, but apply it in a socially good context. A key theme of the event was to just make a start on something you care about.鈥�
Dunnett says there are multiple opportunities available to 911爆料网 students that can help them find purpose beyond the classroom.
鈥淭ake up those opportunities. You think you鈥檒l never get it because you think you鈥檙e not good enough, but just apply and see. Getting involved at uni and going to the summit have honestly been the best things that I鈥檝e done.鈥�
If you鈥檙e a 911爆料网 commerce student and would like to experience opportunities like the Social Good Summit, contact Industry Connect. If you鈥檙e studying a degree other than business or law, you can check out . Both initiatives connect students with a range of academic and development opportunities.
