Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change

International Symposium
25 November 2005
Basel, Switzerland

Background

Far from the limelight, innumerable women and men work without remuneration in the welfare sector and make the lives of their fellow people more worth living. In Switzerland, for example, the number of unpaid hours spent by volunteers working in the health and social sector is far higher than the number of paid ones. Volunteer work is just as important a backbone of society as gainful employment. Numerous people work for a more humane world, on every continent, in all kinds of areas, day after day. Some are so successful that their commitment draws high public recognition.

Can a single individual change the world? In private economy, entrepreneurial initiative is naturally acknowledged as the driving force behind economic success. But solidarity – not just profitability – also depends on individuals’ personal commitment. Personal initiative makes a difference in the humanitarian sector as well. “When we dream alone it is just a dream, but when we dream together it is the beginning of reality” (Miguel de Cervantes). Personal commitment, competence and persistence are what we need for the future.

The 2005 Symposium organised by the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development offers the possibility of getting to know people whose vision and initiatives represent social movements in the north and the south. What were these persons’ motivations when they started getting involved in a social movement? What did they achieve – to what extent was it more than a drop in the ocean? What made their initiatives have a broad effect? What are the success factors for social movements? Is humanitarian commitment apolitical and is it truly sustainable? What are the three main lessons that can be learned so far from humanitarian work?

Well-known and distinguished personalities will shed light upon this topic from very different perspectives and on the basis of very different personal experiences. With this Symposium, the Novartis Foundation would like to offer insights into the daily work of humanitarian pioneers in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Europe. In the words of the American civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, “Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change”. Resignation? No thanks! Get your inspiration from humanitarian success stories!