Can one person change the world?

Today I started a new Honors class of 10 and 11 year olds, where I went through a newspaper with the kids and discussed the articles we read. The articles were mostly bland and not very thought-provoking, but finally we came across one worth talking about. The article was about a resourceful man in Uganda who felt obligated to help the crisis surrounding the amount of trash in the world. He decided to make someone elses trash, Uganda's treasure. He began to build playgrounds from the waste he would find, including an amazing playground in the slums of the capital city. His work is now known around the world because he has changed so many neighborhoods in his country from being useless, to incredibly useful and magnificent for the children. He believes in saving the environment and in the simple necessity of children being able to play.

After reading the article we talked about words they didn't know and summarized what we read. Eventually I got to the question I had been waiting to ask.

"Can one person change the world?"

Almost all the children went on to say 'no.' One girl said yes but wasn't quite sure why she was saying it. They proceeded to say that without all of the people who helped him gather trash and make the playgrounds, then Uganda wouldn't have been changed.

"But it was HIS idea. I know he needed help, but doesn't the person with the idea who sparked the playgrounds count as one person changing the world?"

"No." They didn't seem to see how one persons idea is where it all started, and without him there would be no playgrounds for the kids in the slums. So I proceeded to ask them what their dream would be to change the world, hoping I could inspire them. Two of the boys said they wanted to become a lawyer so they could help the innocent to go free. One girl said she wanted to teach others about recycling because many don't understand how to do it. All I could think was 'perfect.'

I then asked, "If one lawyer gets an innocent man off the hook for a crime he did not commit, did he change that persons life?'

"Yes...."

"Then he changed the world. That man may go off and become a lawyer also and proceed to get 10 more innocent people off the hook for crimes they didn't commit."

There were many looks exchanged, nodding of heads, and smiles. It was starting to sink in. So I then looked at the girl who wanted to be an advocate for recycling.

"If every person you taught to recycle, began to recycle, then wouldn't that have an impact on saving the environment?"

"Yes...."

"Then you have changed the world."

They all seemed to get it at this point and there were smiles and looks of hope in their eyes. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but I could see the light bulb turn on in their heads and the wheels turning. As a teacher, that's all I want. To inspire kids to change the world. Change their reality, change the community, and challenge injustice. You can do anything you put your mind to.

It was very ironic that this conversation happened the same day I am beginning to work on my website for my nonprofit. Truly, I am working on changing the world, and I am just one person with an idea, but it absolutely will happen.Who knows, maybe the seed I planted in these kids head today will help them to go on changing the world, and I will have had a small part in it.

It was a very inspiring and meaningful conversation. It left me feeling hopeful and energized.

And then we turned to the next article in the newspaper which was entitled. "My poop becomes tasty coffee!"