My second oldest child left home last week, hopping on a plane to spend a gap year abroad before she starts college. The year before, I sent my oldest daughter off on pretty much the same trip so you'd think I would know what I was doing.

While everyone else has been focused on what they do, I've been educating myself on how to be.

Imagine a world where a generation of young people engaged outside the bubble they grew up in through meaningful volunteer work, civil service or ethical travel. They would uncover a truth that is often drowned out by the noise of media, pundits and unconscious prejudice: we are all human, deserving of love, compassion and respect. In a word, ubuntu.