In an age where we rely on email, texting and the Internet to communicate, Bruce Dickinson’s latest keynote address set a challenge to see what could be achieved by putting down technology and talking to people instead.
His call to arms to put down our cell phones and step away from messaging apps came during a speech he gave to students attending The WE Day Event on 22 March at The SSE Arena in Wembley, London. He told an audience of young students that his appreciation of the power of communication resulted from meeting a 12 year old boy in Sierra Leone, whilst working as a pilot.
The young boy greeted Bruce in Russian. Bruce then discovered the boy was able to speak 14 African dialects as well as five European languages. However, despite his obvious linguistic skills he told Bruce that he was unable to attend school due to a lack of funds. Coming from a culture where educational opportunity is the norm, Bruce questioned why children with such obvious talent were being let down.
“They’re going to throw that kid on the dustbin because nobody can afford to send him to school.”
He then saw that simply speaking to one another might prove the catalyst for change.
“I talk to people. And you can start a little movement right now because me talking to that little kid in the bush told me something in my life, we should be able to do something about this. We need to talk to people, not text them or email them. Talk to them.”
“The most powerful thing you can do in the world is be in a room and talk to people. It’s more powerful than YouTube and more powerful than anything else in the world, that’s why you’re here and not watching this on Skype. When you leave here, run for the hills and talk to people, go back to your schools and communities and make something happen, give the gift of communication, talking and education.”
The WE Day event was the platform for sending this message to tens of thousands of young students committed to working with their local communities to bring about positive change. Bruce’s story was one of many on a day of inspirational talks from world-renowned speakers. They had gathered together to help empower young people to transform lives through working toward a culture of “we” not “me”.
Attendees had earned their event tickets through the WE School educational programme; taking part in activities such as collecting food for homeless shelters and raising money to build classrooms overseas. We Schools engages and empowers young people to become compassionate leaders and active citizens.
To hear Bruce speak about the power of communication at your event please contact Dave Daniel on +44 1628 601 411 or email dave@speakers.co.uk.
