Momentum
October, 2007

A Year of Dignity
December 2007

By Dan Shine, Vice President, 50x15 Initiative

I can think of no better way to describe the past year than to share with you the wisdom of four teenagers from a Public School in New Delhi. Asked to define what Dignity means for them during a December visit from Young Global Leaders, they answered, “Dignity re-defines a person’s identity. It is like a one-legged chair, when a person sits on it, he either topples or balances himself, it varies from person to person. Dignity is something like this. It is never lost. It just depends on the mindset of the person.”

We’ve met extraordinary people this year. They humbled us with their dignity, their passion, and their tenacity to make things better for their families, their communities, and their nation. Even the youngest children we worked with stunned us with their understanding of the world around them and the belief that life is beautiful. They have inspired us to meet our commitments with urgency, and to go beyond.

This edition of the newsletter recaps some of the highlights and success stories from a benchmark year for us. As I reviewed the various articles, it’s clear that we are delivering compelling solutions that help foster digital inclusion throughout the world. And that, we hope you’ll agree, is a very good thing.

Sunset, like a blade,
Lays bare quiet, selfless gifts
Of heart, hand, and hope

Here’s to a new year of peace and joy.