Last week, as I finished writing my own annual letter, I invited students from all over the world to submit letters about how they'd like to see the world change. I've been really impressed by the number and quality of the submissions so far. We've gotten letters from students in more than 20 countries. Seeing the way young people think about the world reinforces my optimism about the future. Here are a few excerpts from my favorite submissions:
Innovations and technology must ensure that the farmers in India are able to work easily and provide them with some sort of relief. It must bring in an innovative way to spread education; basic and good educational foundations must be laid for technology to have any kind of impact.
--Yunus Lasania, Journalism Student, India
Women are the single most valuable economic resource in the world. Any economist will tell you that knowledge capital is the only sure investment an economy can make, as it does not experience diminishing returns. The education of girls and women will not only benefit them, but their children, family, and then their country. An increase in the proportion of a nation's women with a secondary school education largely increases that nation's annual per capita income.
--Kimberly Abbott, College Student, Australia
Illiteracy is not the leading cause of death anywhere, but with more educated and creative people in the world I feel that many problems could be solved. Essentially then, you are building a legacy, not of aid, but of empowerment. You are giving people the tools to set themselves free. When you build a school you are giving people the power to solve both the long-existing problems of yesterday and the unforeseen ones of tomorrow.
--Robert Clark, High School Student, United States
A big part of the reason why I write my letter is that I hope to get people talking about issues facing the world's poorest--about all the lives smart investments have already changed, and about all the lives they will change in the future. My letter comes out Jan. 25 and I hope you'll read it and let me know your thoughts. And if you have ideas for how you'd change the world, send me your annual letter. You can submit your letter to annualletter@gatesfoundation.org. The video below gives you more information about what we're looking for.
Bill Gates is the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He regularly posts his thoughts about the Foundation's work and other projects on his personal website, The Gates Notes.