Amazing Grace: Freedom from Slavery For All
I just rented Amazing Grace, the inspiring story of William Wilberforce, a Cambridge graduate turned politician and philanthropist, who tirelessly advocated for the abolition of slavery in England during the late 17th century. During college, he became friends with William Pitt, who later became the future Prime Minister. In 1780, both Wilberforce and Pitt joined the House of Commons and four years later, Wilberforce became a Christian. Passionate with the rights and justice for all men, Wilberforce became a strong voice for African men, women and children who were forced into a life of servitude and abuse by English plantation owners. Although he contemplated leaving politics, William Pitt and John Newton, a former slave trader turned abolitionist minister and the one who penned the song "Amazing Grace", convinced Wilberforce to remain and to become the chief parliamentary abolitionist speaker. This single decision to stay in politics and advocate for slaves became his lifetime legacy.
Not surprisingly, Wilberforce's campaign to destroy the slave trade in England was wrought with opposition, especially by those who feared an economic and political collapse of their beloved country. Wilberforce fought this battle with faith, courage and a conviction; he believed that every human had a God given right for freedom and dignity. Just three days before his death on July 29, 1833, Wilberforce received the glorious news that the Emancipation Bill was passed by the House of Commons. He lived to see his years of work change the course of history.
Fast forward more than 170 years, the world is still plagued by slavery. Studies show that modern day slaves number 27 million, including men, women and children. The Amazing Change is the call to action today.
In closing, I'd like to remind you of the words to the song that inspired Wilberforce's call to justice:
AMAZING GRACE
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That sav’d a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev’d;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ’d!
Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis’d good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call’d me here below,
Will be forever mine.
"Amazing Grace" is a well-known Christian hymn. The words were written late in 1772 by Englishman John Newton. They first appeared in print in Newton's Olney Hymns (1779), which he worked on with William Cowper.
Launching an Internet Cafe in Guatemala
In January of 2001, I moved to San Pedro La Laguna, a village on the shores of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala to launch PlanetOutreach, the first ever satellite internet cafe and telecenter around the lake. We received a generous grant from the eBay Foundation and another grant from the Skoll Foundation to help us get started. The village for this internet cafe was selected based upon one of my business partner's relationship with Colegio Bethel, a local school in the village. The goal, aside from providing travelers and locals the ability to communicate with their loved ones and bridge the digital divide, was to support teachers' salaries with profits generated from the internet cafe. (Years later, after I had left the project, I learned that they school never did receive any support from the internet cafe. Naturally, this was distressing for me to hear.) To help locals get tech savvy, we provided computer classes in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Indeed, it was an amazing 1.5 years of my life. I learned so much about living in a foreign country, setting up a social enterprise, living amongst the poor, and the humility of being a non-native Spanish speaker in a Tzutuhil and Spanish speaking village!
(eBay Belt Project and Meg Whitman in San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala - July 2001)
With my three business partners stateside, we communicated through email, instant messaging and a webcam on a regular basis. They came down a couple of times for a week or two, but I was the one on the ground 24/7. In addition to the internet cafe, I worked with a large group of Mayan women to produce various fair trade products, including 3300 handwoven and embroidered belts for the employees and Board of Director's of eBay. In addition, I worked with artisans to design and market fair trade, handwoven and/or embroidered products, like aprons and hammocks.
In 2003, Adam Cohen published a book about eBay called "The Perfect Store". I was surprised to learn that the last chapter was about PlanetOutreach and, although well-written, had many erroneous facts about the launch of the internet cafe. It was disappointing for me that eBay would highlight this project when they only provided us grant money and had zero legal ownership. In addition, although one of my stateside partners worked for the eBay Foundation, I was never paid by eBay to launch the social enterprise, yet they took the story and made it appear their own. If I had it to do all over, however, I would do it again. Why? Because my passion for social justice remains and because it was a life changing experience.
Although the internet cafe has moved a few times, the technology center continues to this day, now managed and run by local Mayans. One of my first employees, Otto, has since named his first daughter after me, truly an honor for me. Indeed, my time in San Pedro was foundational for the development work I do now to empower the poor through fair trade, education and business. To learn more, click here and here.
