Dear Guests

Anniversaries are wonderful – not just because of the parties and the presents, but also because they give us an opportunity thank and reflect. It is with sincere gratitude that I follow this good tradition.

Let me tell you how Kids of Africa was born and let me also reflect on what it means for me personally.

My fortuitous adventure of getting to know Uganda began with an unexpected, seemingly insignificant letter from someone I hadn’t known asking for financial assistance. Its author must have been curious what my response to his letter could be. I became curious indeed. That was ten years ago and marked the beginning of a friendship.

Through the passage of time and circumstances, I founded Kids of Africa. In an intriguing way, a small, seemingly insignificant letter initiated an unexpected series of events, which ultimately led to this wonderful village.

This village is a beautiful example of the “Butterfly effect” – small things can sometimes lead to big consequences. There are many examples of where the butterfly effect has changed history – for better or worse. It reminds me why we should always strive to do the right thing in life – no matter how insignificant the opportunity may seem. 

Kids of Africa is also an example of how the world has become a village – raising our obligation to care about the future of our planet. We are all one family. Closing our eyes or hearts from that insight is not the right thing to do.

I mention this anecdote because three factors were essential for this to happen: curiosity, a willingness to take risks and enthusiasm. While I claim by no means to be particularly good at any of them, I believe, that these are also values which we should try to teach our children. Let me explain.

1. Curiosity is what got Kids of Africa started. Curiosity is the mother of all invention and education. Curiosity empowers us. It opens new doors where we hadn’t looked before. Isn’t this unusual combination of Ugandan, Danish, Swiss and English people working together at KoA an amazing example, how curiosity connects people, ideas and resources?
   
   Albert Einstein remarked that "It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that modern methods of instruction have not entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom.” If I have one wish for all of us and, above all, for our children, it is that we preserve and foster this holy gift of curiosity.

2. Taking personal risks: use the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. Even if it involves failures. If our life is free of failures, then we are not taking enough risks. Kids of Africa has always been my greatest personal risk. I hope this doesn’t scare you. But I believe that risks, even if they lead to failure mostly strengthen us. When we stand united and act as a team, as a family would do, then I have no doubt, we do not need to fear the future but can curiously embrace it.

3. Enthusiasm: nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. Enthusiasm, I believe, is a vital condition for our success and to shape a better future. Enthusiasm must be both source and object in our work with children. Seeing such enthusiasm in their eyes is our greatest reward. Because our children are our future. 

These are my beliefs and some lessons from experience. 

As I also look into the future, I have a dream what it may bring. My dream is that our children will become shining leaders themselves.

I talk about leadership often. Leadership is not a hierarchical concept (unlike management). Leaders are not necessarily bosses let alone good bosses. Nor are bosses necessarily good leaders. Everyone can be a leader and all of us should be leaders. Leadership is about setting a good example which others will follow.

A single mother who sacrifices her time and resources in order to facilitate a better future for her children is one of the many great leaders of our times.

Great leaders do not necessarily create newspaper headlines. But they catalyze real change for a better world. Leaders set examples to make the world a better place. To set positive examples, leaders must have vision and values.

My dream is that our children will benefit from both: from good examples to learn from and the vision and values, which will be shining lights in an uncertain world. Our children’s love, perseverance and enthusiasm to help others are the best future we can hope for.

These are my beliefs and this is a dream worth pursuing.

I thank and congratulate you all for the outstanding progress which you have achieved and for your inspiration.

May you be blessed by a humble heart, good health and resourceful hands. 

May God bless you and your countries - and our children.