As we reflect on 2020, we are full of gratitude.
Thank you for reminding us that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things when we are united. 2020 was a tough year and a transformation for so many of us. For UPG, it was also a year where our mission, methods and message resonated far louder than we had imagined. We touched lives, changed lives and saw our mission come to life across the world. Each number and each update below is rich with beautiful stories and beautiful actions by beautiful souls; and we are grateful for both the destination and the journey. I wish that I could wrap you in the love that we lived this year, the stories below and some of these links may help.
Our Community ended 2020 with over 2,000 Champions and Members; a transformational rise for a Community that counted over 200 at the end of 2019. Over 150 organisations; we had fewer than five in 2019. Over 50 members of the UPG Team; we were 13 a year earlier. There are more numbers further below as well as activity highlights and some invitations too, as we share the love. ♥
And then the pandemic arrived: our biggest projects and activities were immediately suspended. Signed or firm agreements that were supposed to mark progress were suddenly on ice. The disappointment that this ushered in cannot be overstated. Yet the energy remained as we realised that we were fortunate to have life and health. We continued to receive requests to support our stakeholders during the pandemic. And in this moment of despair, we decided to give.
We helped individuals and organisations privately in their pandemic responses. And in this spirit, the COVID-19 Action Hub was born – to provide this help in an open way and to serve even those who may not know us personally. We realised that there is still so much that we can give, despite the pandemic and we featured people taking small and big actions. COVID-19 Action Hub.
#ShapeTheWorld connected us to people that we know and people that we should know, in open conversations that everyone can shape through participation. Among the first sessions was a session that focused on an inspiring farmer, working to help other farmers and to help families that, please watch Cherrie Atilano, who among many accolades we are proud is also a member of the Board of Trustees at UPG. Watch this insight into her work, full of love and full of giving: https://youtu.be/Gzy2y0kq2Nc
One of the ideas of this period was about sharing the spirit of giving to more people than ever and Goodwill Vows was born in a matter of days and in a spark of urgency created by enforced COVID-19 downtime; as we all went into lockdown. The UPG Team rose to the challenge and Goodwill Vows BETA was born. JA Worldwide signed up and the initiative had its first Flagship Partner that brought ideas, resources, expertise and passion to the kitchen. We also welcomed inspiring Advisory Board members for this initiative. You can watch the Highlights of the Launch of #GoodwillVows, full of love, laughter and light:https://youtu.be/WUAHOKImnZk . And you can learn more and #MakeAGoodwillVow here: https://goodwillvows.org/.
One UPG Champion, Amanda Costa, testifies specifically about her United Voices experience, it is a short and touching testament to see how our work impacts real people: https://youtu.be/2XBQD0S1Hzg
We finished the first-ever Empowered People Index! And we could not believe how beautiful it was. The reception was positive and we continue to learn as we interact with individuals and organisations that care. The insights already guide our actions as they shine a light on what makes a difference in building societies with empowered people; and the feedback and the support will make it even stronger. https://epi.unitedpeople.global/
Next we created our first initiative that focused on our elders, you have to be 65 and over to qualify – and we designed it in a way that is relevant for all of us: Wazee is born. I love this. Our elders are part of the solution to #maketheworldbetter and they are overlooked too often. With Wazee we are listening to wisdom from our elders and you can nominate a beloved elder to participate: https://wazee.unitedpeople.global/
Throughout this time, the team was growing and we continued changing on the inside too. New people, new energy, new ideas – new possibilities. Our Membership Team got fired up and a new wave started with more people joining the Community in one month than had joined in the entire year. We started thinking about whether to push for greater transformation, the unanimous decision was to go for it! Very often as a leader, it is important to follow the people that you lead. And I learned a long time ago, never to doubt my team.
And it was timely, we launched a call for the Class of 2021 of UPG Sustainability Leadership full of energy and ideas to ensure that it enables us to create the next generation of warriors for a better world. And the reception has been profound with over 4,000 applicants from over 150 countries and territories. Once again, it has come to life in a beautiful partnership with the Hurricane Island for Science and Leadership and with visionary and loving support from partners that are incomparable. New partners and collaborators are also coming together to build a stronger initiative. https://upglive.org/UPGSustainability. I am sending love to the special Class of 2019 as they continue to blaze a trail; their weekly updates are a constant source of inspiration, joy, energy and gratitude. Here is a message from Dr. Salman Zubair, #UPGSustainability Leader, Class of 2019.
As we approached the end of the year, the winds picked up and we could hardly believe these numbers:
A Community that we serve
And a Community that serves
To #MakeTheWorldBetter
There are many stars to thank. I especially thank our Board of Trustees, our exceptional partners, our collaborators, UPG Champions, UPG Members and every member of the indomitable UPG Team. The UPG Team is professional, committed, talented, fun and incredibly resolute – we work hard and we laugh hard too; it is a blessing working with this dream team. This year, you will see and hear them, even more than before! One of our brilliant colleagues already started recording messages from the team and I look forward to the world meeting the fine men and women who power the magic.
And now we embrace 2021: where shall we go?
How can we serve you this year?
The Team is already cooking up ideas that make us jump out of bed each morning.
And we would love to hear any ideas that you have.
I wish you a prosperous 2021! We continue to focus on service and I hope that 2021 brings us closer together. This year is special as it is the beginning of the final decade in the march to 2030. It is a decade that must herald deeper transformation towards a more sustainable world; as I outline in a short poem here:
I look forward to serving you and to #makingtheworldbetter, together. Join us: https://unitedpeople.global/join
With love,
Yemi
Yemi Babington-Ashaye
President, United People Global
