Paddling our Boats - By Jonathan Broekman

Something incredibly poignant struck me as I reflected upon my recent trip to Singapore.  We can accomplish much more when we work together as a unit rather than as individuals going at it alone. 

During my week in Singapore, I witnessed firsthand how the city-state had transformed from one of the poorest post-war nations into an economic superpower. What surprised me most was how the citizens worked together to make that transformation possible. An almost innate cultural desire to succeed as a nation is achieved by all working as a team.
 

It took one man's vision, but everyone's participation

Lee Kuan Yew, the Prime Minister of Singapore for over 30 years, dedicated his time in office to ensuring economic freedom for his citizens. He turned Singapore into a shining example of what can be achieved through hard work, dedication, and a shared vision. Incredibly, this transformation happened in a country half the size of Johannesburg (and 1/20th the size of Gauteng), driving its unemployment rate to just 3%.
 

An unexpected analogy
 
While watching the preparation for a Dragon Boat Event at the beautiful man-made Marina beside the Formula1 Grand Prix circuit, it struck me that we're all paddling our boats in South Africa. Some of us are ahead, some are drifting, and some are stationary. 

But in a dragon boat, everyone is together as a team, in time, and working in sync. That's the kind of teamwork we need in our country to achieve our shared goals and dreams.

Everything can be taught, especially respect! Whenever we stopped at a bus or train station to look up a route or timetable in Singapore, a stranger asked if they could help. They then asked where we were from and if we were enjoying our visit to Singapore. This level of kindness and generosity towards strangers is something that we can all learn from. Consideration for one's fellow man or woman.
 

Focus on the common goal

While we may all agree that achieving a better future through education and skill development is a given, it requires more than individual efforts. It requires collaboration and cooperation between the government, civil society, and the private sector. By working together towards a common goal, we can leverage our collective strengths and resources to achieve greater impact and sustainable development.
 

Take care,
Jonathan Broekman