Sikander Sabeer: The 'Love NOT Hate' Campaign

Sunday, February 3, 2013

The 'Love NOT Hate' Campaign

The 'Love NOT Hate' Campaign

As Sri Lanka emerges out of decades of internal conflict, the urgency of building trust between polarized communities has to assume the centre of discourse. A population previously burdened with conflict and the tsunami now has an unprecedented opportunity to join hands and work together towards a peaceful and prosperous Sri Lanka. Previously, parallel communities have lived side by side in tolerance with each other. This culture has to change from mere tolerance to respect, understanding and acceptance of the „other‟. This will in turn create an environment for respecting cultures, religions and values together with the aim of developing a society that understands each other. In order to do this love, and not hate, is of utmost importance.

Against this backdrop, the focus on ensuring the harmonious coexistence of Sri Lankan citizens rests at the pinnacle of efforts towards building trust between communities and ultimately contributing towards lasting reconciliation of the society, where the past is used constructively to build for the future. Stressing the value of compassion (where we treat others as we expect to be treated), a commitment to respect, understanding and acceptance leading to coexistence would celebrate love and not hatred.

Born into an atmosphere of prevalent conflict, we the citizens of mother Sri Lanka wholeheartedly espouse the sentiments of this commitment. Convinced that genuine reconciliation can only be achieved through compassion, respect, understanding, acceptance and peaceful coexistence, it is our intention to encourage and garner widespread awareness and support. As youth inherit the task of shaping the future of the country, it is not merely an endeavour, but a responsibility to promote the realization of a united Sri Lanka.

“I pledge to Love not Hate” welcomes the active support and cooperation of everyone in this pledge for coexistence, to Love and not to Hate. It is envisaged that this pledge will represent an appreciation of the importance of reconciliation and a commitment to lasting peace in Sri Lanka.

I pledge to abide by the principle of compassion which calls upon us to always treat others as we wish to be treated ourselves.

I pledge to speak a kind word to a fellow human being, every day.

I pledge to speak good about others in humanity

I pledge to help the one who needs my help and do my utmost to alleviate poverty.

I pledge to stand up for social justice.

I pledge to do my part to develop my country.

I pledge to respect one another.

I pledge to build trust.

I pledge to be a voice for the voiceless.

I pledge to stand for a united Sri Lanka.

I pledge to love, not hate.

We hope to launch this campaign online on the 4th of February 2013, on the 65th Independence Day of Sri Lanka.

How can you help?

1. Spread the word, through Facebook [www.facebook.com/PledgeLoveNotHate], Twitter [@lovenothatelka #LoveNotHate] etc.

2. Change your cover page to “Image 1” on the 2nd and 3rd of February 2013.

3. Change your cover page to “Image 2” on the 4th of February 2013 onwards.

4. Take the Pledge to 'Love NOT Hate' at www.love-nothate.org starting 4th February 2013

Thanks & Regards,

The 'Love NOT Hate' Campaign

www.facebook.com/PledgeLoveNotHate

www.love-nothate.org

www.twitter.com/lovenothatelka

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About Me

Sikander Sabeer is a product of Isipathana College and holding a first class with distinction Bachelors of Science (BSc) degree on Biotechnology, Biochemistry and Microbiology from Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology (Sri Lanka), an outreach campus of University of Mysore (India). Presently reading for his Masters of Science (MSc) on Business Management at National School of Business Management (Sri Lanka), an outreach post-graduate institute of University of Dublin (Ireland).

Sikanders’ development work can be categorized into three avenues, namely community service and community development; youth empowerment and professional development; climate change and sustainable development. Meanwhile his development work is two phased, firstly action oriented, secondly strategic and advocacy. In the action oriented phase, he gets in to the field and implements his ideas. He works very closely with multi-stakeholders such as children, school students, youth, corporates & business firms, UN agencies, non-governmental and government organizations on diversified projects at different levels and on different capacities. With his strong grass-root level initiatives and experience, he invests equal time on advocacy, mentorship and youth policy framework, which is a unique, and a strategic bottom up approach.

Sikanders’ voluntary action oriented initiatives and his strategic thinking has given him numerous opportunities to be a guest speaker and youth facilitator; to share his experiences, best practices to motivate and inspire youth at number of National and International youth conferences. He has represented his country and fellow youth (1/4th of Sri Lankan population) at high profile youth conferences and high level UN summits/conferences, at some of the UN meetings I have served as an ‘Official Youth Delegate’ of the National Delegation team headed by HE president. Half of the world’s population is made up of young people and as a youth representative and a major stakeholder he had made several interventions on behalf of Global Youth and Sri Lankan youth at some of the UN conferences.

He has held several key positions in organizing several national and international events/programmes and he is one of the co-creators of the YOUTH is the word –Guinness World Record, where 1500 Sri Lankan youth stood to gather to form the largest human mosaic in the world.

His local, national and international initiatives on youth led community development, Climate Change; youth empowerment and youth advocacy led him to earn the most prestigious “Commonwealth Youth Awards (CYA)” for Excellence in Development Work (2012), The CYA’s celebrate and recognize extraordinary young people among one billion audiences from 54 member states of Commonwealth who are making a positive difference to the lives of others through development initiatives ranging from poverty alleviation to education and protection of the environment. This is awarded by Commonwealth Secretariat (CYP) headed by HM Queen Elizabeth II. He earned the "Global Changemaker" title of British Council Youth Empowerment Programme on 2010 for outstanding contribution for Voluntary Activities. He serves as a Youth Ambassadorial role for climate change and serves as a Youth Facilitator for climate sustainability under British Council International Climate Champion program. Apart from these major recognitions his team earned U.S. Department of States Federal Assistant Award Grant for “Green the Home” project and Global Changemakers Community Action Project (CAP) and Regional Action Project (RAP) grants for Youth Empowerment Initiatives.

Presently Sikander is serving as an Assistant Manager for Business Development and Project Officer for recycling solutions for Neptune Recyclers (Neptune Papers [Pvt.] Ltd) in Sri Lanka, a member of multinational corporate Expolanka Holdings PLC. He works very closely with multi- stakeholders, especially with school students, Industries and Corporates on recycling solutions which create an additional income from the trash while minimizing the environmental pollution.

"Do as much as voluntary activities, because volunteers Inspire in Action, they make a real change in their community, they talk less and work a lot, but never expect any personal benefits from their action, Indeed one day they will earn the rewards, that’s confirmed; Install this in your mind “I will do the best I can”

-Sikander Sabeer-