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Panel 1: Contributions of Civil Society

Panel-1-3-Mr-Sello-Hatang-2Mr. Sello Hatang
CEO Nelson Mandela Foundation (South Africa)

SELLO HATANG, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in South Africa, gave insights from the Nelson Mandela Foundation on the participation in sustainable development. He firstly stated Nelson Mandela’s full support of the UN-led process to identify Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hatang commented on this “process” saying that it reminded him of the constitution drafting procedure in South Africa. He said that both processes emphasized on ensuring that all voices were heard, and they both felt the pulse of humanity, especially that of youth, and harnessed the energies required to strengthen that pulse.

     
Panel-1-4-Dr-Helmut-DinseDr. Helmut Dinse
President Eringerfeld Educational Institution (Germany)
DR. HELMUT DINSE, President of Eringerfeld Educational Institution in Germany, gave a speech on the contribution of the civil society to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals. He started by discussing the role of education in sustainable development. Having considered education a highly complex concept to define, Dr. Dinse used Plato’s allegory of the cave to conclude that only very few individuals are called to develop an enlightened worldview.
Panel-1-5-Besnik-MustafajH.E. Mr. Besnik Mustafaj
President The Albanian Forum for the Alliance of Civilization Fr. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania
H.E BESNIK MUSTAFAJ, President of The Albanian Forum for the Alliance of Civilizations and Former Minister of Foreign Affairs in Albania, delivered a speech that addressed the difficult birth of the civil society in the post communist societies. He said that the fall of the communist system left behind a total void. In parallel to constructing a state abiding by the rule of law and structuring an economy according to the principles of free market, H.E. Mustafaj said that “it was also emergent to bring into being the civil society.
 Savas-MetinSavaş Metin
 Secretary-General, Kimse Yok Mu (Turkey)
 

SAVAS METIN, the Secretary General of Kimse Yok Mu, opens his speech by introducing the non-governental humanitarian aid organization based in Turkey. Kimse Yok Mu has taken significant steps in the process of integrating itself with global partnerships in order to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals in an efficient and productive way. Metin proceeded to discuss the topic of sustainable development, stating “sustainable development offers a better life for each person without depleting vital resources”.

 
 
Panel-4-4-Erik-KaberaErik Kabera
Director, Kwetu Film Institute (Rwanda)
ERIC KABERA, Director and Founder of the Kwetu Film Institute based in Rwanda, presented in his speech the three main priorities of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as his experience as a filmmaker. Mr. Kabera started his remarks by reflecting on the fast growth rate of Africa in the recent years. He reassured the audience that the Africa is no longer allowing others to define it as an exotic and wild place only for safaris and charity. Mr. Kabera said that such image of everlasting wars, displacements, and hungry children have been prejudicial to Africa.