only a week to go before the i.genius world summit in Thailand! if you haven't heard about this event yet, then you're obviously not in the know. for a little lite reading, visit www.i-genius.org to find out more on this event.
i'll be heading out next week to report on the 4 day summit, so stay tuned for up-to-date blogs.Right.Here.And at http://www.unltdworld.com/
in the meantime, i caught up with Jo (i-genius) to hear how all the preparations are going...
"Less than a week to go now Jo, how’s your To-Do-List for the summit coming along?"
It’s actually not too bad... a bit of a ‘calm before the storm’ type scenario going on. Ask me in another week and I’m sure I’ll be running around like a headless chicken. Seriously though, it feels like it is all coming together now which I am really pleased about – am looking forward to a fantastic event.
"What is the aim of the summit?"
There are lots of official aims – the chance to network, showcase your work, develop partnership, tap routes into funding etc. But for me, the main aim is for like-minded, creative, amazing people to all come together in an inspirational setting, and meet, make friends, share ideas and go away feeling refreshed and inspired . I believe that’s the real essence of what we are doing in Thailand.
"Where did the idea to hold the summit in Thailand come from?"
I think it came from Tommy on his travels, having met many incredible social entrepreneurs across the world he felt inspired to bring these people together in one place and see what came of it. And despite being UK-based, i-genius is a global network, so we were keen not to host anything in the UK, which would have excluded much of our community. Thailand is also a place where social entrepreneurship is beginning to flourish, particularly post-tsunami. And who doesn’t want to go to an event in Phuket?! It sure beats a conference centre in Milton Keynes...:)
"i.genius recently organised the World Commission – what was its purpose/aims and how are things going forward from this?"
The World Commission is looking at the relationship between social entrepreneurs and financial institutions (banks, money lenders etc) and analysing the main obstacles for social entrepreneurs seeking finance – a lot of those obstacles lie in language barriers, so much of what the World Commission will look at this aspect . Things with this study are progressing well – we are working in close collaboration with Delta Economics, and had some great discussions at the World Entrepreneurship summit in January. Once we get back from Thailand, we will begin working on a ‘tool-kit’, with input from financial lenders, NGOS, academics and social entrepreneurs.
"The issue of charities using celebrities as a cause came up at the World Commission, what are your views on this?"
I’m all for charities using this sort of marketing to raise the public profile of pressing campaigns, but I think that the real danger in using celebrity endorsement lies in the pyrrhic effects that such marketing can have on other equally pressing, or even more severe campaigns, that risk becoming marginalised as a result. For example the Asian tsunami appeal that was supported by numerous internationally recognised celebrities received more media attention in the first six weeks after it struck than all the world’s top 10 forgotten emergencies combined in the previous year (such as the War in the DRC, HIV/AIDS/Chechnya). If celebrity endorsement puts the spotlight too much on one crisis, others do risk becoming less pressing in public consciousness, and the aid effort can suffer as a consequence.
"Bono or Geldof?"
The million dollar question! Hhmmm toughie. To be honest, both irritate me slightly, but perhaps slightly irrationally! If I were to be very politically correct I would say that both have raised the public profile and image of ‘aid’ and international development. I guess Bono helped put the Make Poverty History Campaign onto the political agenda in the UK, while Bob Geldolf’s ‘Band Aid’ was the best selling record to date in 1985, and precipitated the start of Comic Relief (which I have my reservations about, but still!) So I guess those are good things, but again, I think the danger is that egos, personal agendas, and a sense of self-righteousness can often get in the way. And in making something like African famine seemingly ‘in vogue’ I think serves to reinforce stereotypes and increase the perception of aid-dependency.
Oh I can’t choose! Oh okay then, neither.
"What are you most excited about?"
Going to Thailand! Meeting all the people I have been e-mailing for months but never met. Seeing what great things happen at the event, listening to all the great speakers...as well as eating pad thai in Bangkok, feeling smug about how hot it is compared to England, listening to the sound of the sea...
"What are your plans for after the summit?"
I am extending my trip to go and see my friend in Cambodia, who is working for an organisation in Phnom Penh. Then a few days in Bangkok, then back to blightie!
"Where would you like to hold the next summit?"
There is talk of Mexico or India, both would be great. Or the Maldives?!
Jo is the Director of Marketing and Communications for i-genius. In her before life, she interned in the Business Development department of Oxfam International before working in Calcutta, India, with an organisation called 'Future Hope'. She has recently completed an MA in Development Management, where she became interested in the role of the media in development issues.Jo will be heading out to the i.genius summit next week. Stay tuned for more on the event.
