Susan Byrnes: Partners of Human Potential: Good People Doing Great Things… That Lead to Even Greater Things

Susan Byrnes, Chief Communications Officer at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Nonstop negative headlines about devastating conflicts, geopolitical tensions, economic constraints, and immense human suffering can make optimism about the future seem out of touch.

But at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we also get to see another set of headlines: about the exciting progress driven by thousands of our global partners—innovators, mothers, fathers, youth, scientists, farmers, community leaders, and more—who are developing and delivering solutions to the world’s toughest problems. Their inspiring stories give us tremendous hope because they’re grounded in real, measurable progress.

Now, more than ever, as funding for global health and development is under increasing threat in multiple countries, and other issues grab public attention, the world needs to hear these incredible human stories. They remind us that progress toward a better world isn’t just possible—it’s happening right now.

At the Gates Foundation, our mission is simple. We believe that every person, no matter where they are born, should have a chance to live a healthy and productive life.

We get to work with incredible people demonstrating the power of human potential, which can create positive ripple effects in families, communities, and even across countries.

For instance, countries around the world are learning from a ground-breaking study in India that shows that immediate Kangaroo Mother Care—where mothers snuggle fragile newborns with skin-to-skin contact—is a life-saving intervention for small and sick babies and can save up to 150,000 lives additionally in a year, across the world. Many of our partners are adopting this practice in their own hospitals and medical schools. Through a program called YouthForce in New Orleans, students are building skills and confidence for high wage career pathways, including medical school, and 99% of graduates continue on to higher education or receive job offers. Technology from new sanitation systems invented in China is ensuring that students in South Africa have clean toilets, and an overall better school experience. In one school, the toilets led to an 80% decrease in absentee rates. Cows that produce between five to fifteen liters more milk per day in Kenya are enabling farming families to make a profit and send their children to school.

We launched “Partners of Human Potential” because optimism is a powerful force: Seeing good people doing great things … and how it leads to even greater things … enables us to imagine a better future. I hope these stories will inspire you the way they’ve inspired me—to learn about exciting solutions and believe that a better world is within reach.
Join us as we embark on this journey of inspiration.”

Source: Susan Byrnes/LinkedIn