GLOBAL GOALS S02E15: The Invisible Citizens

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Our 21st century city must shed its prejudices. Exploited migrants - whether in forced labour or sex trafficking - have equal rights and opportunity to everyone else, as long as governments and private citizens provide the support they uniquely need.

In today’s episode, we discuss why education is essential on two fronts.

Of course, it is important for the displaced to learn the language, laws and skills to navigate and make the most of their new homes.

But secondly, their hosts must understand the scale and reality of what they - their neighbours - have been through. Sadiki John’s story is a testament to how this can make a difference.

Next, jobs, jobs, jobs. As Monique Villa points out, employers must provide meaningful, appropriate work that does not just pay the bills, but, at the very least gives new members of society dignity, and may well leverage the skills they bring. This is in line with SDG 8.

Finally, collective support. Victims of human trafficking and forced labour, and refugees will likely have experienced extraordinary trauma. We must work with local authorities and use our agency to support these individuals and families, and make them feel safe and welcome.

SPEAKERS

Author of A Circular Economy Handbook, Consultant and Host of the Circular Economy Podcast Catherine Weetman is an international speaker, workshop facilitator, coach, consultant and host of the Circular Economy Podcast. She founded Rethink Solutions to help businesses, social enterprises and community groups to use circular economy approaches to build a better world. Catherine's award-winning book, A Circular Economy Handbook, explains the what, why and how of the circular economy. The second edition, due out in November 2020, includes a new chapter on packaging, over 100 new examples, and many more updates. Catherine qualified as an Industrial Engineer and began her career in garment manufacturing, before moving onto logistics solution design, project management, business intelligence and supply chain consulting, including senior roles with Tesco, Kellogg's and DHL Supply Chain. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, a Fellow of The RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce), a university lecturer and has a Master's Degree from Cranfield University. She supports the Circular Economy Club as a mentor and Chapter lead for the Tees Valley, in the UK.

Sadiki John

Founder,

Lazima Nipate Academy

Sadiki John is a social entrepreneurship, education, and technology enthusiast. He firmly believes the most rewarding experience is the positive impact he can have on society. He energizes the Outreach Role at the Social Innovation Academy (SINA), and he is the co-founder of Lazima Nipate Academy, a SINA community in Kampala, Uganda, which empowers young urban refugees to unleash their potential and create their own opportunities.At the age of 13, his family was forced to flee to Uganda from his home country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, due to a war between rebels and government forces in his village. In Uganda, he settled in a refugee camp for four years before relocating to the capital city.

Founder and Creative Director, Biomimicry Innovation Lab Richard loves to explore fresh ideas and concepts and is ever curious about the environment around him. He is an award-winning designer and has worked worldwide in cities, manufacturing, food systems and product design. Richard’s passion is to develop innovation models to reduce costs and improve efficiency and resilience in the design and manufacturing process. He taught at some of the top design schools in the world: from The Royal College of Art (UK); The Pratt Institute (USA); Vellore Institute of Technology (India); and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (Hungary). Richard is also the founder of the non-profit Biomimicry UK, an equine technology startup, Smart Stable Limited, whilst sitting on several advisory boards. He combines design work with research development via the Design Society and the ISO Standards in Biomimetics.

Monique Villa

Journalist, Author, Philanthropist and Former CEO Thomson Reuters Foundation,

Multiple

Monique Villa is former CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, a global leader in the charity world, an esteemed journalist and specialist of press freedom and the author of Slaves Among Us. She has been ranked among the world’s 100 most influential people in Business Ethics by Ethisphere since 2014 and was fourth in the UK’s 2018 Top 100 Corporate Modern Slavery Influencers’ Index. Villa received the Champions for Change Award in 2015 for her vision and effort in the fight against human trafficking and modern slavery, and was the recipient of ECPAT-USA’s inaugural Freedom Award in 2017 in recognition of her leadership in the fight to end child trafficking. She is also a Champion of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.