Unfortunately, Fiel dos Santos from Mozambique wasn’t able to participate at yesterday’s session since he wasn’t able to get a visa in time. I wonder why the authorities weren’t able to provide a speaker at the Skoll World Forum with a visa. We’ll probably nether know.

Anyways, Jude Kelly started the session with stating how important it was “to detect how your personal story relates to what you’re doing” in your professional life. And that ran through the whole session.

So, we got to hear really fascinating stories. Jude Kelly – who had a difficult childhood and described herself as a criminal – is now artistic director of the South Bank Centre in London, probably the largest cultural centre of its kind. For her, story-telling is about being able to express yourself. And that has also influenced her work with the project Metal which is about providing artists with greater freedom of creative expression.

Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa told the story of how he – as a psychologist – started the comic series “The 99” where the 99 characters are from 99 different countries, which is based on the Islamic culture and history and which is based on a concept known to Muslims all over the world. He presented a powerful video which can be seen here.

He was followed by Dr. Thomas Clark who stressed again how inspirational it is to hear everyone’s stories. In his eyes, role models become what they are by telling their stories. And another powerful video about Grassroot Soccer! For him, soccer is one of many “useful mechanisms of getting the message out”.

Oxford alumnus Peter Bisanz presented his work and his belief in the good in the world. I think his work can be best presented by yet another video.

The session was really inspiring because everyone on the panel is working in her or his way to promote cross-cultural understanding and to make this world a better place. Asked whether it was not strange that if their work was successful they would make themselves needless I think Peter Bisanz’ answer is representative for everyone trying to make this world a better place: “The irony that if our work was successful that then we would be out of work? I would be happy to move on to something else.”