0:00:08.062,0:00:10.563
Hello, good afternoon.

0:00:10.563,0:00:13.396
As he said, my name is Jeroo Billimoria

0:00:13.396,0:00:16.479
and what I like doing is [br]starting organizations

0:00:16.479,0:00:21.478
because I think everyone of us can [br]do something to change the world.

0:00:21.478,0:00:25.028
So, here you see two things:

0:00:25.028,0:00:28.601
Child Helpline International [br]and Aflatoun.

0:00:28.601,0:00:31.267
I've started six organizations,

0:00:31.267,0:00:34.148
so I'll share with you [br]a bit of my journey

0:00:34.148,0:00:39.073
and ask you all some questions [br]on the way, if that's okay.

0:00:39.813,0:00:42.718
I started very young, actually, [br]I started when I was sixteen,

0:00:42.718,0:00:48.085
and that's when I argued with my mom [br]and started my first organization.

0:00:48.085,0:00:51.323
You know, we all do that [br]as adolescents, right?

0:00:51.323,0:00:54.752
And that was basically [br]to teach math skills to students

0:00:54.752,0:00:57.835
so that they would not fail in school.

0:00:57.835,0:00:59.731
And that was where it started.

0:00:59.731,0:01:02.752
Then of course I went abroad,[br]studied, the whole gamut,

0:01:02.752,0:01:05.584
and was working [br]with street children in India.

0:01:05.584,0:01:10.002
They said that they wanted somewhere [br]where they could call up 24 hours a day,

0:01:10.002,0:01:13.834
not between the convenient times [br]of our social workers,

0:01:13.834,0:01:16.584
because they said,[br]"You all make money,

0:01:16.584,0:01:20.086
you make it at our expense, but [br]you're never there when we need you."

0:01:20.086,0:01:22.251
That was basically what they said.

0:01:22.251,0:01:24.335
So they said, "Have a service!"

0:01:24.335,0:01:26.251
When we first went there,

0:01:26.251,0:01:30.002
and I approached the Telecom [br]authorities and other people,

0:01:30.002,0:01:32.585
they said, [br]"A phone service with street children?

0:01:32.585,0:01:34.588
And who will run it? [br]You mean professional people?"

0:01:34.588,0:01:36.968
I said, [br]"No, the kids themselves will run it."

0:01:36.968,0:01:38.752
And they thought I was crazy.

0:01:38.752,0:01:43.275
So they refused and we didn't get [br]a toll free number from the government.

0:01:43.275,0:01:47.578
So we tried again, and this time [br]we said, "Let's be smart."

0:01:47.578,0:01:49.918
I was teaching at Tata Institute,

0:01:49.918,0:01:52.835
but there were no student researchers [br]who wanted to work,

0:01:52.835,0:01:57.835
so we got a bunch of street kids together [br]and they did the first ever research study

0:01:57.835,0:02:03.467
on why they as street kids wanted to have [br]a phone service for street children.

0:02:03.467,0:02:08.303
So we took this research study [br]and then we went and presented it

0:02:08.303,0:02:10.867
to the Deputy Director General [br]of the Telecom,

0:02:10.867,0:02:15.704
we got the toll free number [br]and today, in a way, this is history.

0:02:15.704,0:02:19.085
CHILDLINE India is a project [br]of the government of India,

0:02:19.085,0:02:22.614
it is part of the child protection system,

0:02:22.614,0:02:26.051
we received two million phone calls[br]from children,

0:02:26.051,0:02:29.654
are spread in 80 districts [br]across the country,

0:02:29.654,0:02:33.965
and based on the calls [br]which came from CHILDLINE India,

0:02:33.965,0:02:36.463
we now have a government policy

0:02:36.463,0:02:39.631
where the government [br]was forced to acknowledge

0:02:39.631,0:02:42.934
the amount of demand there was [br]for protection services

0:02:42.934,0:02:48.387
and from a budget of one crore,[br]that's around 250,000,

0:02:48.387,0:02:52.687
they now give 100 crore [br]integrated child protection scheme

0:02:52.687,0:02:54.588
linked to the policy.

0:02:54.588,0:02:56.486
So that's what happened [br]and it only happened

0:02:56.486,0:03:01.836
because a bunch of kids had enough guts [br]and were willing to follow and do stuff.

0:03:01.836,0:03:06.224
From CHILDLINE India, [br]which is still where my heart lies,

0:03:06.224,0:03:08.838
we moved into [br]Child Helpline International,

0:03:08.838,0:03:10.838
so that's what you see over there.

0:03:10.838,0:03:15.968
Many countries started asking us [br]about helplines for children by children.

0:03:15.968,0:03:21.876
Germany has a very established helpline,[br]which has been there for almost 25 years.

0:03:21.876,0:03:24.087
Which is from -- [br]all of you know.

0:03:24.087,0:03:27.445
But there are no helplines [br]in economically developing countries

0:03:27.445,0:03:31.950
because everyone said telecoms cannot work [br]for economically developing countries,

0:03:31.950,0:03:35.004
even though CHILDLINE India [br]had proved otherwise.

0:03:35.004,0:03:39.793
So we said, okay, let's take up [br]the challenge globally, and we did.

0:03:39.793,0:03:45.087
Today, we are Child Helpline International, [br]it's in 150 countries.

0:03:45.087,0:03:49.087
We have live helplines [br]in more than 110 countries

0:03:49.087,0:03:54.587
and respond to between 14-18 million [br]calls and contacts annually

0:03:54.587,0:03:58.170
and have helped on an annual basis [br]more than a million children

0:03:58.170,0:04:01.045
who were being abused [br]from different sorts of abuses.

0:04:01.045,0:04:05.669
So basically if you will look at this story, [br]I think the important thing is that

0:04:05.669,0:04:11.755
anyone of you can have an idea and then,

0:04:11.755,0:04:15.472
if you just follow your heart [br]and your dream, and ...

0:04:15.472,0:04:17.328
It's easy![br](Laughter)

0:04:17.328,0:04:20.599
Just ... go ahead [br]and just do it, you know?

0:04:20.599,0:04:23.246
And you'll be able [br]to work with a lot of people,

0:04:23.246,0:04:25.893
So -- looking at that.

0:04:25.893,0:04:28.540
But after taking Child Helpline global

0:04:28.540,0:04:35.114
and today, since its inception, we have[br]responded to more than 55 million calls,

0:04:35.114,0:04:37.252
that's more than [br]half a billion phone calls,

0:04:37.252,0:04:40.217
and helped millions [br]and millions of children.

0:04:40.217,0:04:42.501
But I can tell you myself,

0:04:42.501,0:04:46.209
I don't mean to be complacent, [br]what is the cause of the problems?

0:04:46.209,0:04:49.996
Why do the children run away, [br]why is there abuse in the homes?

0:04:49.996,0:04:51.864
What is happening?

0:04:51.864,0:04:53.708
Even with the economic crisis,

0:04:53.708,0:04:56.335
everyone's talked about[br]the millions that have been lost,

0:04:56.335,0:05:00.854
the billions of bailouts, [br]rescue packages, the whole gamut.

0:05:00.854,0:05:05.546
But the truth is that the child, [br]who is most affected,

0:05:05.546,0:05:08.796
nobody has ever talked about that.

0:05:08.796,0:05:13.213
Through the crisis, [br]more children have been abused at home,

0:05:13.213,0:05:16.520
more children have been [br]forced to drop out,

0:05:16.520,0:05:20.879
more children are not able [br]to meet their basic school fees,

0:05:20.879,0:05:24.212
and malnourishment [br]in families has increased.

0:05:24.212,0:05:28.866
So this is something that is happening[br]where macroeconomics affects children.

0:05:28.866,0:05:34.203
So the question, not just with the crisis,[br]but even when I spoke to street children,

0:05:34.203,0:05:36.702
why did they run away from home,[br]

0:05:36.702,0:05:40.078
is because they saw [br]no opportunities at home.

0:05:40.078,0:05:41.782
So then the question was,

0:05:41.782,0:05:49.798
how can you work to create a society [br]where every child really feels empowered?

0:05:50.988,0:05:55.955
And then the question I posed, and [br]I think actually some of my kids said,

0:05:55.955,0:06:00.613
is what you really need to know is [br]know about money, know how to use it.

0:06:00.613,0:06:04.420
And here I'm going to take [br]a one second break and ask you all:

0:06:04.420,0:06:07.617
How many of you started saving[br]when you were children?

0:06:07.617,0:06:09.754
Just raise your hands.

0:06:09.754,0:06:11.622
Most of you.

0:06:11.622,0:06:16.011
How many of you who have kids [br]do teach your children to save?

0:06:16.011,0:06:17.495
Or your cousins, or ...?

0:06:17.495,0:06:22.042
Those who have kids, [br]you teach your kids to save.

0:06:22.042,0:06:26.659
What happens in a family [br]which has never learned to save?

0:06:26.659,0:06:28.720
Do they ever manage?

0:06:28.720,0:06:33.077
Be it in Germany, be it in the US, [br]be it in rural India?

0:06:33.077,0:06:38.659
What happens? There is nobody[br]who can teach children about saving.

0:06:38.659,0:06:45.298
Teach them about investments, teach them [br]about believing and having a choice.

0:06:45.298,0:06:47.994
And that is what Aflatoun does.

0:06:47.994,0:06:52.106
Aflatoun teaches children [br]to believe in themselves.

0:06:52.106,0:06:54.705
I can go on and on about Aflatoun, [br]

0:06:54.705,0:06:57.324
but here I'm going [br]to take a two minute pause

0:06:57.324,0:07:02.182
and ask them to show you a film [br]which was made by Aflatoun

0:07:02.182,0:07:04.516
with our kids in parallel.

0:07:04.516,0:07:07.152
So I'll step aside [br]so you can see the Aflatoun film

0:07:07.152,0:07:09.947
which brings the spirit of what Aflatoun is.

0:07:09.947,0:07:12.175
(Video)

0:07:12.175,0:07:16.305
(Music)

0:07:25.529,0:07:28.547
♪ I am Aflatoun ♪

0:07:30.039,0:07:32.423
♪ I'm a fireball ♪

0:07:32.730,0:07:35.626
♪ I come from outer space ♪

0:07:35.626,0:07:37.900
♪ From far away I come ♪

0:07:41.799,0:07:44.375
♪ I am Aflatoun ♪

0:07:46.482,0:07:49.027
♪ I like playing games ♪

0:07:49.027,0:07:51.802
♪ I live inside a child ♪

0:07:51.802,0:07:54.673
♪ And give her strength, I do ♪

0:07:58.161,0:08:02.125
♪ I like teaching your children [br]about their rights ♪

0:08:02.125,0:08:06.029
♪ I teach them saving and spending [br]and enterprise ♪

0:08:06.029,0:08:10.993
♪ They discover their powers, [br]that's what I'm all about ♪

0:08:14.258,0:08:16.860
♪ Separate fiction from fact ♪

0:08:16.860,0:08:20.927
♪ Explore, think, investigate and act. ♪

0:08:22.565,0:08:24.674
♪ Make a change around the world ♪

0:08:24.674,0:08:30.485
♪ It's our choice [br]as an Aflatoun boy and girl ♪

0:08:30.485,0:08:32.548
♪ I'm aware of what my rights are ♪

0:08:32.548,0:08:34.611
♪ and how this can bring me so far ♪

0:08:34.611,0:08:36.675
♪ But I know what my duties are too ♪

0:08:36.675,0:08:41.636
♪ I'm an empowered child! ♪

0:08:42.820,0:08:46.791
♪ I am Aflatoun ♪

0:08:46.791,0:08:49.933
♪ I know who I am ♪

0:08:49.933,0:08:54.986
♪ The flame that burns so bright, [br]burns in me too, it does. ♪

0:08:59.260,0:09:03.541
♪ I am Aflatoun ♪

0:09:03.541,0:09:06.235
♪ I save coins and things ♪

0:09:06.235,0:09:11.741
♪ Things that are valuable [br]are safe with me, they are. ♪

0:09:15.487,0:09:19.233
♪ Aflatoun helped show me [br]how to plan my stuff ♪

0:09:19.233,0:09:23.349
♪ So when it comes to resources, [br]I'll have enough ♪

0:09:23.349,0:09:28.007
♪ I'm tremendously happy, [br]it's in my neighborhood. ♪

0:09:31.446,0:09:33.863
♪ Separate fiction from fact ♪

0:09:33.863,0:09:39.571
♪ Explore, think, investigate and act. ♪

0:09:39.571,0:09:42.670
♪ Make a change around the world ♪

0:09:42.670,0:09:47.604
♪ It's our choice [br]as an Aflatoun boy and girl ♪

0:09:47.604,0:09:51.782
♪ I'm aware of what my rights are [br]and how this can bring me so far ♪

0:09:51.782,0:09:54.197
♪ But I know my duties well too ♪

0:09:54.197,0:09:57.666
♪ I'm an empowered child! ♪

0:10:00.028,0:10:02.416
♪ Separate fiction from fact ♪

0:10:02.416,0:10:08.580
♪ Explore, think, investigate and act ♪

0:10:08.580,0:10:10.492
♪ Make a change around the world ♪

0:10:10.492,0:10:16.169
♪ It's our choice [br]as an Aflatoun boy and girl ♪

0:10:16.169,0:10:20.236
♪ I'm aware of what my rights are [br]and how this can bring me so far ♪

0:10:20.236,0:10:22.694
♪ But I know my duties well too ♪

0:10:22.694,0:10:27.806
♪ I'm an empowered child! ♪

0:10:35.447,0:10:40.019
JB: Now, I was a school teacher, [br]or at university, I still ask:

0:10:40.019,0:10:41.988
What was there in the film?

0:10:41.988,0:10:44.405
What were the messages [br]we were communicating?

0:10:44.405,0:10:48.317
I have seven minutes, so I can ask. [br](Laughter)

0:10:48.769,0:10:49.704
Any idea?

0:10:49.704,0:10:52.819
What was the main message that Aflatoun, [br]according to the film, communicates?

0:10:54.069,0:10:55.824
Woman: I'm an empowered child.

0:10:55.824,0:10:58.695
JB: Yeah! You're an empowered child.

0:10:58.695,0:11:01.616
Yeah. Anyone else? ... No?

0:11:02.366,0:11:03.539
Man: Learning can be fun.

0:11:03.539,0:11:05.198
JB: Learning can be fun!

0:11:05.808,0:11:06.982
Someone else?

0:11:08.192,0:11:09.220
Man: Saving money.

0:11:09.460,0:11:11.135
JB: Saving money! Yeah!

0:11:11.135,0:11:13.879
That's one of the main things[br]Aflatoun teaches,

0:11:13.879,0:11:17.229
it teaches you to believe in yourself,

0:11:17.229,0:11:21.009
it teaches you to save your money,

0:11:21.009,0:11:25.329
resources, water, electricity,[br]everything,

0:11:25.329,0:11:29.662
and it teaches you to be entrepreneurial, [br]so you can go and follow your dream.

0:11:29.662,0:11:31.562
That's what it teaches.

0:11:31.562,0:11:35.439
Aflatoun is the fireball which unites

0:11:35.439,0:11:41.770
approximately 800,000 children [br]in 40 countries across the world.

0:11:41.770,0:11:46.010
When we started with Aflatoun, [br]everyone said,

0:11:46.010,0:11:51.553
"We are not funding this. Teaching [br]children to save money is bad."

0:11:52.133,0:11:54.251
I'm not joking! Honestly. [br]And I said,

0:11:54.251,0:11:55.995
"But don't you teach your own children?"

0:11:55.995,0:11:59.246
Yes, but teaching children [br]to save money is bad.

0:11:59.246,0:12:04.709
No NGO was willing to collaborate[br]and no donor was willing to fund us.

0:12:05.989,0:12:09.148
So for the first four years actually, [br]my husband and myself said,

0:12:09.268,0:12:12.277
"Ok, we'll fund it to whatever extent [br]of money we have."

0:12:12.447,0:12:15.343
We aren't rich, but we said, [br]"Let's just do it."

0:12:15.343,0:12:21.248
And then we built it. In 2008, [br]we launched the campaign,

0:12:21.248,0:12:26.290
and just least year we had around [br]560,000 children saving.

0:12:26.290,0:12:28.952
And I have a question to all of you:

0:12:28.952,0:12:34.289
How much do you think, last year, [br]560,000 children saved?

0:12:34.289,0:12:38.333
Most of these children are from [br]less than a dollar a day families.

0:12:38.333,0:12:42.436
Take your guess! [br]How much do you think they saved?

0:12:42.636,0:12:47.036
Collectively. Remember, there's [br]less than a dollar a day families.

0:12:47.036,0:12:48.706
Man: One million!

0:12:48.706,0:12:54.839
JB: Go higher! You're right![br]2.6 million! That's what they saved!

0:12:55.209,0:13:01.479
Can you imagine?[br]2.6 million is what the children saved.

0:13:01.689,0:13:06.066
And they started [br]five thousand enterprises.

0:13:06.066,0:13:09.856
Enterprises to start livestock,

0:13:09.856,0:13:12.796
so a child saved, bought a chicken, why?

0:13:12.796,0:13:16.116
So that he or she could then [br]have money to go to school,

0:13:16.116,0:13:19.547
because they saved the money, [br]have the chicken, get eggs,

0:13:19.547,0:13:22.250
make a revenue, and can eat.

0:13:23.080,0:13:28.114
Some school children took gunny sacks and [br]planted potatoes in their school playground!

0:13:28.114,0:13:31.854
Yet others took waste and [br]made bags from them.

0:13:32.794,0:13:37.144
Yet others decided that there was [br]enough space to do rice,

0:13:37.144,0:13:42.533
so they planted rice fields in that small [br]patch, and that became part of the thing.

0:13:42.533,0:13:46.448
Others opened school canteens [br]and a zillion more things.

0:13:47.438,0:13:51.627
So, all I'm trying to say is that [br]if we are able to teach children,

0:13:52.407,0:13:57.872
they have the power and the ability [br]to be the agents of change.

0:13:57.912,0:14:00.803
And that is what Aflatoun is about.

0:14:00.803,0:14:04.621
So that is what we do, [br]that is what we believe in,

0:14:04.621,0:14:06.473
that is what we take forward.

0:14:07.373,0:14:10.059
Nine out of ten times, [br]when we start something,

0:14:10.059,0:14:12.129
nobody is willing to believe in us.

0:14:12.129,0:14:15.207
And I can go on and on about [br]how many people say no,

0:14:15.207,0:14:18.013
but there are some people [br]who are willing to invest in us.

0:14:18.013,0:14:21.125
And I think those are actually [br]the more courageous people

0:14:21.125,0:14:23.153
than people like me [br]who want to start things.

0:14:23.153,0:14:25.627
I think Bart sitting there will agree.

0:14:25.627,0:14:27.591
Because you start, fine,

0:14:27.591,0:14:31.971
but it's the investors who say, "Hey, [br]we believe in you, we take it forward."

0:14:31.971,0:14:36.376
And that means everyone of you [br]who is sitting here in this room

0:14:36.376,0:14:41.659
has the ability to be an investor [br]and to be the change,

0:14:41.659,0:14:45.033
to be the movement which we need,

0:14:45.033,0:14:48.468
so that our children [br]don't have a financial crisis,

0:14:48.468,0:14:51.954
so that our children can see a future

0:14:51.954,0:14:56.043
and, like this film said, [br]be empowered children and citizens.

0:14:56.043,0:14:58.189
And the change is not with me, [br]it's with you.

0:14:58.189,0:14:59.371
So I hope we can do it.

0:14:59.371,0:15:00.712
Thank you very much.

0:15:00.712,0:15:02.835
(Applause)