Change Is on Its Way Because I Am + Because We Are
I am…
A child of the world
A global citizen
I am… A woman, a woman, a woman
I am… A young woman
I am… A proud Ugandan woman
I am…
A US-born daughter of immigrants
A daughter of the African soil
I am… As tall as a tree
I am…
A seeker of justice
A lover of justice
A fighter for justice
I am…
An activist
An advocate for the vulnerable
A biomedical engineer
A supply chain specialist
A researcher
A communicator
A pharmacist
A storyteller
A problem solver
A project manager
A business performance analyst
A poet
A data lover
A health systems enthusiast
A sprouting public health technologist
An aspiring physician whose highest priority is to serve the underserved
I am… A speck in the universe
I am…
A vector for change
A change agent
A changemaker
I am…
A mover and shaker
A listener
A thinker
A motivator
A mobilizer
A servant leader
A champion for human rights
I am… A friend
I am… A sister
I am… A daughter
I am… A brother
I am… A son
I am… A people person
I am… A savvy idealist
I am…
Always learning
Always growing
Always building
Always creating
I am…
Excited
Inspired
Dedicated
Overjoyed
Nervous
Brilliant
Compassionate
Proud
Eager
I am… Looking forward to taking the next step.
I am… Grateful for this opportunity
I am… Grateful for this community
I am… Grateful for this life
I am…
Humbly chosen to be a light for others
Committed to speaking truth to power
Passionate about meaningful connection
Dedicated to living my values
Driven to keep trying
Eternally curious
Inspired by the passion and energy of those around me
I am… A health advocate in the making
I am… A passionate advocate for universal health coverage
I am… strong
I am… smart
I am… soft
I am…
Sensitive, but also powerful
Proud of myself for overcoming challenges
My brother’s sister’s keeper
I am…
Because you are.
I do this work because…
I care about Rwanda
I care about Uganda
I care about Zambia
I care about Malawi
I care about the US
I care about my community
I care about our world
I do this work because… I want others to care
I do this work because…
I am powerful
I am ready to be the change I want to see
I do this work because…
I believe it matters
I believe that I can lead with love
I believe all voices should be heard
I believe everyone can thrive
I do this work because… If I don’t step up, who will?
I do this work because… If not me, then who?
I do this work because…
I have a role to play
It is my duty and my responsibility
I am accountable to my people
We need to fill the gap
I do the work because… I won the lottery at birth, but it shouldn’t depend on that
I do this work because…
To whom much is given, much is expected
I do this work because…
I want to wake up with optimism and drive, not dread and lethargy
I want to leave this world better than I found it
I want others to live abundantly
I want my children to thrive in this world
I do this work because…
My mother was taken from this earth by cervical cancer, a treatable disease
I do this work because…
I want to empower and lift up younger women
I want to eradicate gender-based violence
I want to ensure women and girls are not left out
I do this work because…
Working for social justice is who I am
Pouring out love makes a difference
I do this work because…
My humanity is tied to yours
Transformation depends on us
I do this work because…
Humans can fix the society we broke
There are enough resources for all of us
Everyone is worthy
I do this work because…
Change is possible
Change is necessary
Change is the only constant
Change is on its way
I do this work because…
Health is the nexus of the issues I am passionate about
Health is a human right
I do this work because…
Every human deserves a chance to live well no matter where we live, how we live, or whom we love
Every person is valuable
Every life is precious
We are…
Agents of change
Catalysts for change
Empowered creators of change
We are… Going to face challenges that will strengthen us
We are… Here to encourage each other in times of success, failure, and doubt
We are… Dedicated to learning, growing, and supporting each other in our collective pursuit of global health equity
We are… Called to use our strengths and talents to transform health systems
We are… Driven by morals that we value as the hope for our Earth
We are…
Innovators
Trailblazers
Activators
Critical thinkers
Lifelong students
Reflective practitioners
Moral health ambassadors
Love driven leaders
We are…
Partners in this journey
Realizing that one of the best tools we have is learning from each other
We are…
A movement and a momentum
A revolution of young changemakers
A collective and a coalition
All connected to one another
We are…
Making moves
Embracing discomfort
Uncovering greatness
Paying it forward
Preserving humanity
Leading with love
Fighting for justice and equity
Battling systems of oppression
Rejecting the status quo
We are…
On a mission
Already making an impact
We are… what the world needs
We are… the dreams of our ancestors for a better world
We are… Hungry
We are… Angry
We are… Ready
We are… Powerfully diverse.
We are…
Capable, together
Stronger, together
Powerful, together
Ready to make this world beautiful, together
We are… Human
We are… Unstoppable
We are… Expansive
We are… Amazing
We are… United
We are… One.
Brittany Cesarini is the Advocacy and Communications Senior Associate at Global Health Corps.
This poem was composed by curating responses to the prompts “I am”, “I do this work because”, and “We are” from GHC’s entire 2018–2019 fellow class of 134 emerging leaders.
All GHC fellows, partners, and supporters are united in a common belief: health is a human right. Want to get involved? Check out these great opportunities to support the health equity movement and consider joining us as a fellow or partner when applications open later this year! And don’t forget to connect with us on Twitter / Instagram / Facebook.
