Bill and Melinda Gates were asked by a reader What would your advice be to young people who want to make a difference in the world for the better? Here’s what they had to say:
Bill: Choose a cause that’s important to you and get involved. Whether you can donate your money, your time, or your voice, there are thousands of incredible nonprofits that could use your help. I’m a big fan of ONE, but websites like Charity Navigator and GuideStar can help you find other reputable organizations working on the issues that you care about the most. If you’re interested in volunteering, our foundation put together a good list of resources to help connect you to opportunities.
Melinda: Remember that no one is born a change-maker. It’s something you become when you see a problem, then dare to become part of the solution.
If you want to know what that looks like, just look to the young men and women of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. In the wake of unfathomable and unacceptable gun violence, these students are insisting that their tragedy will be the last. “We are going to be the kids you read about in textbooks,” student Emma Gonzalez said last week. “We are going to change the law.”
This is how change happens. With bravery, hope, commitment—and the knowledge that progress only comes when we stand up and demand it.