As we take pride in our diversity and innovative ideas, why keep neglecting such a large asset of our society? Instead of aiming simply to improve indigenous peoples' relationship with the state, let's cultivate innovation for economic and social development and benefit the whole country.

On the mountainside, listening to the World Vision Bolivia staff who guided us explain just how many kids get sick, and even die from the same disease I had suffered from, I wanted to cry. Children all over Bolivia battle this kind of illness every day. Little kids, especially those under five years old, undernourished already and with developing immune systems, are struggling to stay alive just because of the basic human need for water. Waterborne illness is easy to catch, as I discovered. But for children all over Bolivia, it is very difficult to get rid of.

It's International Women's Day and what better way to celebrate than to take a bite of a sweet, red chili pepper. You may not know it, but these can be a critical ingredient of women's empowerment. Well, they're actually a critical ingredient for picante de pollo, a popular chicken dish in Bolivia. But stay with me and I promise this will become clear shortly.

I've been lucky to have a fulfilling marriage, a job that I love and a life filled with meaning. But like anyone, I'm familiar with the stretches of hopelessness that can come when life gets to be too much -- or not nearly enough. I began sponsoring Alejandro in Bolivia when he was just five, sure that I'd be improving his life. What took me completely off-guard was the way that he's lifted mine.

Good nutrition is one of the best gifts a caregiver can give a young child. The same is true for caregivers around world, especially in places where food quality and quantity are an issue. Imagine the worries for caregivers in a context where healthy foods are not available, just not affordable or extremely time consuming to prepare, with lack of access to clean water. 

There are a group of people often overlooked in the fight against climate change and they can be one of our greatest allies as we figure out how to limit the damage from extreme weather, rising seas and threats to food security. They are the millions of indigenous people who live in the world's remaining forests. Often overlooked, ignored, marginalized and attacked, they stand at the heart of a global solution on climate change that all of us, whether we live in big cities or remote villages, can benefit from.