00:00It is a true privilege to be with you today and share my reflections on the power of cross-border,
00:08collaboration and philanthropy, and how together we can tackle some of the most pressing challenges
00:14facing our world today. This year, 2025, has been declared by the United Nations
00:23at the International Year of Peace and Trust. At this moment, we are reminded of a crucial truth.
00:32Global peace and prosperity are built on the foundation of mutual respect, understanding and collaboration.
00:42Philanthropy plays a central role in building the connections that foster such cooperation.
00:48Generosity is a universal language. Let's pause and ask a simple question.
00:57What is philanthropy?
01:01The Encyclopedia Britannica defines philanthropy as voluntary organized efforts intended for socially useful purposes.
01:12It exists in every culture, expressed in countless ways for countless causes.
01:22For me, philanthropy is, at its core, an act of collaboration.
01:29Philanthropy is the art of collective responsibility.
01:33It is how citizens, institutions and communities work together to advance the common good.
01:42And what is remarkable today is that most of the causes philanthropy serves are inherently global and interconnected.
01:55And at the heart of this vision is SDG Goal 17, Partnerships for the Goals,
02:04the understanding that no one can solve global problems alone.
02:10Whether we are addressing health care, education, climate change or cultural preservation,
02:19these issues require global solutions.
02:25They demand global cooperation.
02:27SDG Goal 17 calls for multi-stakeholder partnerships
02:33that engage governments, businesses, civil society and philanthropists.
02:40It recognizes that only through these partnerships can we achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
02:48and build a more equitable and sustainable world.
02:53Take, for example, science and health care.
02:57The recent years demonstrated that philanthropy can catalyze collaboration across borders
03:06to address shared threats to public health.
03:11Health crises do not respect national boundaries.
03:16And solutions must be developed together.
03:18When philanthropists support global health initiatives,
03:23whether in vaccine development, disease prevention or mental health,
03:29they contribute to a network of international collaboration
03:35that improves the lives of millions.
03:39Goal 17 encourages exactly this type of partnership
03:43to ensure that we can respond to future challenges more effectively.
03:51If we think of the global thoughts,
03:55reducing inequalities requires supporting local communities
04:00and empowering them to design their own solutions.
04:03This aligns with SDG Goal 17,
04:09which calls for collaboration to promote the transfer of knowledge,
04:14technology and resources,
04:17ensuring that no one is left behind.
04:21Time and again, we've seen that when local NGOs,
04:25often dependent on international funding,
04:28are given the tools and trust to act,
04:30they create extraordinary change.
04:33By building partnerships that empower them,
04:37we are fostering sustainable,
04:39locally driven solutions to global challenges.
04:42That too is the power of philanthropy,
04:46creating networks of collaborations that uplift communities
04:49and drive transformative change.
04:54In education, the impact of philanthropy is equally profound.
05:00By funding scholarships,
05:01supporting institutions and fostering opportunities
05:06for international study,
05:07we not only increase access to knowledge,
05:11but we also build the global leaders of tomorrow.
05:16Young people who study in different countries
05:18are exposed to different perspectives,
05:20which enables them to understand and solve
05:24the complex issues our world faces
05:27with a sense of shared responsibility.
05:31And, of course, protecting the environment
05:35is a mission that simply cannot be confined by geography.
05:39The ocean's plastic pollution travels from one shore to another.
05:44Greenhouse gases do not stop at borders.
05:50Our planet's challenges demand
05:52coordinative collective action.
05:56And philanthropy has a critical role to play
05:59by funding both large-scale initiatives
06:04and grassroots movements
06:05that work together to protect our shared environment,
06:09independently from government decisions.
06:14In the cultural world,
06:16philanthropy connects us to our collective heritage.
06:21When a donor supports an exhibition,
06:24helps restore a historic site,
06:27or funds a new production in a theatre,
06:30the impact which is far beyond a single country.
06:35Art travels, ideas circulate,
06:39tourists visit,
06:41and people everywhere are enriched.
06:44Cultural philanthropy creates shared experiences
06:49that foster collaboration across continents.
06:54The common thread in all these examples
06:57is partnership, true partnership.
07:00based on trust, transparency, and shared purpose.
07:03Because, at its best,
07:06philanthropy is not about charity.
07:09It is about connection.
07:11It is about bringing together ideas,
07:14people, and resources
07:15to build a more resilient and just world.
07:21As we look towards the future,
07:23SDG Goal 17 provides a vital framework
07:26for tackling the challenges ahead.
07:30Philanthropy is a catalyst for these partnerships,
07:34bringing together diverse sectors
07:37to collaborate on achieving the SDGs.
07:42And this is where we have such an important role to play,
07:46as we are philanthropists,
07:49uniquely positioned to lead by example,
07:52to bridge gaps, build trust,
07:55and inspire collective action.
07:57And in this international year of peace and trust,
08:01we are reminded that peace is built not only through treaties or negotiations,
08:07but through relationships, through trust.
08:11And trust, in turn, is built when people give their time,
08:15their resources,
08:16their expertise,
08:18and their heart.
08:19So let us continue to strengthen this global ecosystem of giving.
08:26Let us deepen partnerships that transcend borders.
08:29Because when generosity travels, it knows no limits.
08:33And when we work together, there is no challenge too great to overcome.
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