Craig quit his job to give high fives around the world – now he’s helping young people in Kenya slum
Barriers to education, Childcare, Early childhood development, Right to education
Australian Craig Lewis, who slapped hands with people in 56 countries on his global adventure, talks about the importance of early childhood development and his involvement in a project to build a youth centre and school.聽
An Australian high flyer who turned his back on his corporate life to “high five” around the world聽is now helping to build a school and youth centre聽in Kenya.
Craig Lewis, known as Lewie,聽was so inspired by what he saw when he visited 56 countries – including Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Nepal and Cambodia – on his mission of peace and fun that聽he decided聽he had to聽give聽something back.
He’s also聽supporting 国产视频国产视频檚 #5for5 campaign, which calls on world leaders to invest in early childhood development.
As part of our campaign, we’ve been asking people to share pictures of themselves high-fiving a child to raise awareness of the need for five types of quality care –聽nutrition, health, learning, play and protection – for聽the under-fives.
The 28-year-old’s travels were turned into a viral video. Craig, who now lives in New York, said: 国产视频淢y high-five adventure was an epic experience. Meeting people all over the world, everyone is always up for a high聽five.
国产视频淚t国产视频檚 a very positive behaviour that can connect you with people even if you haven国产视频檛 met them before.聽
国产视频淗igh聽fives transcend languages and ethnicities. Ever high-fived聽a kid in a developing country? They love it! Try it when you get a chance!国产视频
Craig fully understands the need to聽focus on early childhood development.
He said: 国产视频淗aving a degree in psychology, I聽know聽the importance聽early childhood development has in its effects on social behaviour in later stages of development through adulthood.聽
国产视频淗ealthy early childhood development and learning provides a stable foundation of behaviour and norms to allow individuals to function effectively in their community.聽
国产视频淎 healthy community looks after its people, from newborns to the elderly, and facilitates a safe and prosperous environment for individuals to live their lives.聽
国产视频淢aking sure children receive the proper care and education at an early age聽helps聽them to become significant contributors to the society they live in –聽a benefit for all mankind.国产视频澛
Craig is聽currently involved in building a聽centre for young people聽in Kibera, Kenya – Africa’s biggest slum area.
“I spent time at Wale Wale Youth Centre in Kenya聽and have since been dedicating time to fundraising activities for the centre,” he said.聽
“We started the nonprofit聽Wale Wale USA, which I国产视频檓 a director of, and we financially support Wale Wale Kenya through fundraising activities.”
Everyone loves high fives - they are a quick, positive way to build immediate rapport with someone even if you国产视频檝e just met them. Craig Lewis
“We are building a Future Centre, where the current youth centre stands. The block of land that we need to buy is 250 square meters or聽2690 square聽feet.聽
“So聽we have a聽campaign聽called聽ShareASquare, where you can buy one聽square foot聽for $37 and聽build the centre, which will include聽a school. So far we have raised $15,000 through CrowdRise, on our way to the $100,000聽goal.”
But what inspired Craig to kick-start his adventure,聽give聽up his business life聽and high-five his way around the world?
国产视频淚 had worked in the corporate world for a few years聽and got a taste of traveling through work –聽but it left me with a sense of wanting to see more,国产视频 he said.聽
国产视频淲ith little responsibilities tying me to one location, I knew I had the chance to experience the world.
国产视频淭he idea to make the聽high聽five聽video聽came about when I was in Norway, couch surfing with a Spanish guy.聽
“Everyone loves high聽fives –聽they are a quick, positive way to build immediate rapport with someone even if you国产视频檝e just met them.国产视频澛
Craig now runs a digital marketing agency, has聽founded an e-learning accelerator programme start-up, is a non-profit director, a wingsuit pilot and a TEDx speaker.
He said: 国产视频淎fter visiting 56 countries, I国产视频檝e managed to meet an immensely diverse amount of people from different cultures. I国产视频檝e learned that those with the least tend to be the happiest, as they appreciate the smaller things in life.
国产视频淓very major city I travelled to has major construction projects聽and I国产视频檝e learned that,聽globally, humans are moving to larger cities looking for more opportunities.
国产视频淓very city has homeless people聽and some cities help much more than others. The value of education is evident in developed countries while still perceived as a luxury indeveloping聽countries, places where it should be standard practice for all siblings of a family to get the chance to go to school, not just one.”聽
Craig believes聽the world is聽a nicer place than it国产视频檚 often painted.
国产视频淭here are dangerous cities. But,聽more often than not, places weren国产视频檛 anywhere as dangerous as everyone tells you,国产视频 he said.聽
国产视频淭he people you meet traveling are kind, open to sharing stories or to helping you out. There are some incredible humans out there doing incredible things.”
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