Internet For All

We all are aware of the ‘half-full, half empty cup’ expression. If people see a glass of water filled half-way as half-full, they are optimists. Their supply of hope and idealism make them look forward to the future. If individuals see a glass of water half-empty, it can be argued that they are unlucky. In fact, pessimists might agree with me on their bad luck. In contrast to optimists, they have a supply of despair and cynicism. What we need in present times are optimistic visionaries, ahead of their time, always coming up with creative solutions to create a better world. There are limitless possibilities for the future, it is indeed up to us, to create a domino effect that will impact the future generations to come and ensure a prosperous future for all.

According to TechJury’s statistics, in 2018 approximately 40% of all people accessed the internet. This means that only less than half of the world has access, leaving many people behind. If we want to think about the future, we have to dream big. Global internet connectivity will remove barriers to education, decrease food inequality, change social enterprises for the better, employ more social justice and last but not least empower youth.

If we take education as an example,every person without exception needs access to quality education, as Nelson Mandela once stressed: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. I believe we can achieve this through internet connectivity, and as a result we will be able to manifest the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights principal:‘Everyone has the right to education’ in which lots of countries have pledged to abide by.

There are inspirational individuals such as Dr Abraham George, the founder of Shanti Bhavan, a residential school for the poorest of the poor in Tamil Nadu, India. He mainly focuses on Dalit children seen as ‘untouchables’ and coming from families of four to five that earn less than $2 a day. The school aims to empower the students with knowledge and essential skills from preschool until 12thgrade with all expenses paid including meals, accommodation, school supplies and healthcare.

Thanks to Shanti Bhavan, alumni are joining reputable companies like Adobe, ExxonMobil, Lufthansa, and PayPal when previously they would have never had the opportunity to do so. Shanti Bhavan transforms poverty-stricken children into empowered individuals that are financially stable and are able to give back to their families and communities.

Imagine similar projects to Shanti Bhavan but with a world-wide reach, the impact will be mind-blowing. I foresee in the future that primary,secondary and university education will be wholly accessible online. Anyone, anywhere can virtually study, take exams at world-class institutions and earn accredited qualifications which are fully recognised by companies and governments.

This way we will be able to revolutionise the world of online learning so that it becomes the norm in our society. Nowadays, many people in developing countries/rural areas are disadvantaged, their circumstances force them to balance jobs and family commitments leaving little to none time for education. A connected digital society is the solution to solve many of the problems we face.

We must work towards making education for all, a reality in the future. In fact, Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the Founder of Education Above All Foundation and a United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goal Advocate, emphasised the urgency of this: “I say, give me 10 reasons why educating the world’s out of school children can wait, and I’ll give you 10 million reasons why it cannot”.

With increased internet connectivity, a complete positive transformation of the food industry, is also possible. The internet will allow every person’s voice to be heard so that food businesses can be held accountable like never before. A world with more awareness about food issues will surely inspire entrepreneurs to find groundbreaking solutions to enormous problems. Life Pack for example, has developed environmentally friendly plates, 100% compostable and able to grow a plant in eight days to reduce plastic waste and fight pollution.

Moreover, the news outlet Coinidol and numerous other sources predict that the current development of blockchain, a digitalised record of data added by its members, will do wonders. Blockchain will allow people to scan a barcode using their mobile phones to find out transparent information about where their food is produced and who inspected it. This could reveal food safety issues such as foodborne illnesses like salmonella. Doctors and community leaders can then collaborate to ensure disease-free and nutritious food.

Similarly, social enterprises can benefit from a more connected world. For instance, Sama Source a global social enterprise, believes that ‘connecting people to dignified digital work, and paying living wages, has the potential to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges’. Internet for all will also lead to big advancements in technology. Who knows we might be able to program drones so that they are able to send supplies like urgent medical equipment to any country, no matter how far, in only a few hours. If could achieve this, it would be miraculous!

Additionally, I think that there will be a rise in mergers between different social enterprises, removing issues of lack of funding, resources, skills and human capital. This will allow them to create social impact faster, expand their reach and break up power hungry monopolies. Social enterprise mergers can use the internet to gather support and extra funding from people who believe in their cause and who previously had no way to know about them. Indeed, like the proverb goes ‘if you want to go fast, go alone. But if you want to go far go together’. Stronger social enterprises, connected by millions will definitely make the world a better place.

On another note, social justice professionals and volunteers will be able to connect easier and faster with investors and like-minded changemakers to share advice, resources and network. They will also be able to keep a digital record of all their accounts which can be accessed and referred back to when needed. The use of apps will also facilitate the process to file injustice reports and will ensure a quick response. Indeed, we must learn from the wise words of Martin Luther King Jr. who once said “Those who love peace must learn to organize as effectively as those who love war.” Internet connectivity also enables the fulfillment and exercise of human rights. In fact, the United Nations declared that disconnecting people from the internet is a human rights violation and against international law. It is our responsibility to ensure that there is no internet access gap in the future.

And last but not least, youth will also benefit from the extension of internet connectivity in many different ways. The World Bank reported that in 2017, four in 10 people — 42% of the global population — are aged under 25. Youth population is bigger than ever, and I envisage with the support of the internet they can become influential leaders.

Let’s take Greta Thunberg for example, who at the age of fifteen, gained online support and was able to organise climate change strikes in 123 countries to protest against the degradation of the environment. If one person can do this, what can we expect from the whole world’s future generation Z?

Similarly, Cameron Kasky, Jaclyn Corin, Alex Wind, Emma Gonzalez and David Hogg the survivors of the 2018 Parkland school shooting in Florida, were able to use the internet to raise awareness about gun violence. They have successfully created a March For Our Lives movement and rallies for gun control. TIME magazine reported that the teens directly registered more than 50,000 people in order to vote. They have truly made an impact that some adults would have never expected them to reach.

I strongly believe that by bridging the digital divide, we can empower individuals and businesses to create a better future for all. As a tech-savvy young citizen of the world, I will work tirelessly to be part of creating this future.