One of the best things about my job is hearing people’s stories when I travel. I love retelling those stories in interviews and speeches, and in my blog posts, because they help everybody understand what’s at stake when the world makes commitments to global health and development.
To me, the stories I hear underscore the fact that, no matter how different people’s circumstances, we’re all linked by a common humanity. When I meet mothers, it’s clear to me that we all have the same goals: for our children to grow up healthy, and then get an education, so they can realize their full potential.
At the Gates Foundation, we think a lot about telling stories. One of our partners, LinkTV, is creating ViewChange.org, a multimedia website that uses stories to show how investments in global health and development are making real differences in real peoples’ lives. The website is scheduled to go live in November.
This summer, the ViewChange team launched a contest urging filmmakers to submit short videos about progress toward the UN’s Millennium Development Goals—global commitments to dramatically decrease poverty, hunger, and disease in the developing world. These films will be used to raise awareness, motivate action, and accelerate the worldwide movement for global equity.
I'm excited about this opportunity because I truly believe that stories can change the world. I encourage you to watch the videos and—starting tomorrow—vote for the story that inspires you the most. (Voting ends September 15.)